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Control Theory
Posted @ 3/29/2012 7:18 AM by Steven | Files in Control & Automation

Control theory looks at how systems work and are controlled from a mathematical view. This note gives a brief introduction to some of the concepts more of a notepad of concepts really, which can be added to over time.

Introduction

The diagram illustrates a control system at its simplest. The required output of the system is the reference. A sensor measures the system output and a controller compares this to the reference to determine the necessary actions to ensure the output moves towards the value given by the reference. The taking of the system output back to the input of the controller and using this (in conjunction with the reference) is called feedback. There are two types of feedback:

Negative where the system responds in the opposite direction to the error (difference Positive where the system responds in the same direction as the error.

between the measured output and reference). For example a thermostat at a set temperature will turn off when the room temperature exceeds this, thus cooling the room. An example of positive feedback would be placing a microphone near a speaker, where the sound will grow louder and louder.

Electrical Analogies

Building blocks for electrical, mechanical, fluid and thermal systems are often similar and analogous to each other. The use of analogies is often helpful in explaining how things work and is particularly useful in control systems. Voltage (V) Current (i) Resistor (R) Capacitor Inductor

Electrical Mechanical
Force (F) Velocity (v) Dashpot (c) Spring Mass

Pressure (p) Flow (q) Hydraulic Resistance (R) Hydraulic Capacitance (C) Hydraulic Inertance (I)

Fluid

Temperature (T, T1-T2) Heat Flow (q) Thermal Resistance (R) Thermal Capacitance(C) No Equivalent

Thermal

Energy Dissipation
Electrical Mechanical - Linear

Describing Equation

Energy / Power

Analogous Constant

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Mechanical - Rotational Fluid - Hydraulic Fluid - Pneumatic Thermal

Energy Storage (Inductive)

Electrical Mechanical - Linear Mechanical - Rotational Fluid - Hydraulic Fluid - Pneumatic Thermal
Energy Storage (Capacitive)

Electrical Mechanical - Linear Mechanical - Rotational Fluid - Hydraulic Fluid - Pneumatic Thermal -

More This is an introductory post, I together as things were being moved across from the old Wiki. If there is anything you would like adding to the post, please let me know below and Ill look at adding it.