After reviewing at a simple level what the subject of control engineeringdeals with, several general control engineering challenges are described withthe aid of examples - the challenge of complexity, as illustrated by flight controldesign, the challenge of achieving robustness, as illustred by a guided vehiclecontrol system, and the challenge of achieving adaptivity, as illustrated bysugar mill and alumina calciner control problems. The controller implementationchallenge -of obtaining a simple computer-based controller to work witha complex plant -is also described.