What are the components of automatic control technology?

From the point of view of the way of control, there are two kinds of automatic control systems: closed-loop and open-loop.

Closed-loop control

Closed-loop control, which is also known as (negative) feedback control, is similar in principle to the purposive behavior of humans and animals, and consists of a system

including sensors (equivalent to the senses), a control device (equivalent to the brain and nerves), and an actuator (equivalent to the arms, legs, and muscles). The sensor detects the state information (output) of the controlled object and converts it into a physical (electrical)

signal that is transmitted to the control device. The control device compares the deviation of the current state (output) of the controlled object to the desired state (given amount), generates a control signal, and drives the controlled object through an actuator so that its state of motion

approaches the desired state. In practice, the closed-loop (feedback) control methods are varied, used in different fields and various aspects of the current widely used and rapid development of: optimal control, adaptive control, expert control (i.e., based on the knowledge base of experts to establish the control rules and procedures), fuzzy control, fault-tolerant control, intelligent control and so on.

Open-loop control

Open-loop control is also called program control, which is in accordance with a pre-determined program, in order to send out signals to control the object. According to the conditions of signal generation, open-loop control has time limit control, sequence control, conditional control. since the 1980s, with microelectronics technology to produce programmable controllers in industrial control (elevators, multi-step machine tools, water plants) in a wide range of applications. Of course, some complex systems or processes often use a combination of multiple control types and multiple types of control programs.

Technology

With the development of electronic computer technology and other high technology, automatic control technology level is higher and higher, more and more widely used, more and more important role. Especially in the automation of the production process, factory automation, robotics, integrated management engineering, aerospace engineering, military technology and other fields, automatic control technology plays a key role.