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control system (Definition)

The sole objective of control system is to generate feasible inputs to the plant (e.g. dynamic systems) such that it will operate as it intended to under a wide range of operating conditions.

Examples of control systems: Cruise control, auto pilot, rice cooker.

For a general finite dimensional dynamic system in its ODE form,

$\displaystyle \dot{x}$ $\displaystyle = f(x(t),t) + g(x(t), u(t), t),$ (1)
$\displaystyle y$ $\displaystyle = h(x(t),t),$    

where $ x \in \mathbb{R}^n$ is the state, $ y \in \mathbb{R}^l$ is the output and $ u \in \mathbb{R}^m$ is the control input of the system. In the control literature, equation 1 is general referred as the plant, where the function $ f: \mathbb{R}^n \times \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^n$ governs the system dynamics, $ g: \mathbb{R}^m \times \mathbb{R}^n \times \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^n$ determines how the input (control signals) influence the state $ x$ via actuators (e.g. gas turbine) and $ h: \mathbb{R}^n \times \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^l$ determines how the state generates the output signal. If $ m$ is equal to $ n$, the plant is fully actuated. If $ m < n$ then the plant is under actuated and otherwise the plant is over actuated. For a plant that is not explicitly dependent in time $ t$, such system is called a Autonomous system. The main differece between a control system and a general dynamic system is the additional signal $ u(t)$.

For example, to control an airplane, the control system has to control the thrust, flaps, aileron and rudder, which they are the control signals of the system $ u$. Those control input influence the system state $ x$ such as speed (with thrust), attitude and orientation (with flaps, aileron and rudder). To physically alter the state of the airplane, actuators such as gas turbines are needed, which are controlled by the control signals $ u$.

The control signal $ u$ can be generated in a closed-loop fashion or open-loop fashion. An open-loop control system generates $ u$ with the user, or operator supplied reference state $ x_{d}$ or output $ y_{d}$ only; meanwhile closed-loop control system uses both reference and feedback signals that are usually measured from sensors. In the airplane attitude control example, the desired attitude is usually represented in roll-pitch-yaw angle representation, and these signals are measurable by attaching sensors to the flaps, aileron and rudder. In engineering practice, only closed-loop control systems should be used, since open-loop systems are not robust against uncertainties, modeling errors and measurement errors.

If a closed-loop control system is based on state feedback, such contol system is called a state-feedback control system. By the same token, a output-feedback control system is based on output feedback only. Notice that output signals are available for feedback by definition, however in reality not all the states are mesurable. If a state-feedback control system with all the states available for feedback, it is called a full-state feedback system and otherwise is call partial-state feedback system, which usually requires a state observer (e.g. Kalman filter) to estimate the unavailable states.

To illustrate the simple concept of control systems, we will use a simple example. A truck driver is required to travel 1000 Km in 10 hours. To relive the stress on the driver's heel, he has placed a stick to the gas paddle so the car travels at $ \,\mathrm{100Km/h}$. Under perfect conditions, the driver will reach the destination in the allocated time. However, a certain section of the road is up-hill, so the truck slowed down by a considerable amount and will not arrive it's destination in time. To remedy this problem, the driver 'implemented' a simple solution using the speed-o-meter such that the gas paddle position $ p_{set}$ of the truck is now depends on the current speed $ v_{current}$ of the truck, $ p_{set} = -K (v_{current} - \,\mathrm{100Km/h})$, where $ K$ is just an adjustable parameter. So if the truck is running too slow (e.g. up-hill), $ p_{set}$ will be positive (more gas to the engine) hence speed will increase to maintain the desired speed, so vice-versa for the down-hill case.

In this example, we have outlined all the major components of a typical control system:

  • Actuator: engine,
  • Sensor: speed-o-meter,
  • Plant: truck,
  • Control input: gas paddle,
  • Control objective: 1000 Km in 10 hrs,
  • Control law: $ p_{set} = -K (v_{current} - 100Km/h)$,

The science aspect of control systems is the study of design, synthesis and analysis of control systems using mathematical concepts, and the engineering aspect of controls systems is to implement, construct and adjust the control system according to real-life situation and limitations.



"control system" is owned by ppirrip.
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controllability (Definition) by GeraW
observability (Definition) by GeraW
output controllability (Definition) by GeraW
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Cross-references: design, components, positive, running, parameter, current, solution, section, perfect, simple, estimate, filter, measurable, representation, angle, or operator, orientation, system state, autonomous, function, equation, ODE, finite dimensional, range, feasible, generate
There are 5 references to this entry.

This is version 6 of control system, born on 2004-05-31, modified 2004-06-03.
Object id is 5876, canonical name is ControlSystems.
Accessed 5294 times total.

Classification:
AMS MSC: 93A10 (Systems theory; control :: General :: General systems)
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