Control System - is a system, which provides the desired response by controlling the
output. The following figure shows the simple block diagram of a control system.
Classification of Control Systems
Based on some parameters, we can classify the control systems into the following
ways.
Continuous time and Discrete-time Control Systems
Control Systems can be classified as continuous time control systems and
discrete time control systems based on the type of the signal used.
In continuous time control systems, all the signals are continuous in time. But,
in discrete time control systems, there exists one or more discrete time signals.
SISO and MIMO Control Systems
Control Systems can be classified as SISO control systems and MIMO control
systems based on the number of inputs and outputs present.
SISO (Single Input and Single Output) control systems have one input and one
output. Whereas, MIMO (Multiple Inputs and Multiple Outputs) control systems
have more than one input and more than one output.
Open Loop and Closed Loop Control Systems
Control Systems can be classified as open loop control systems and closed loop
control systems based on the feedback path.
In open loop control systems, output is not fed-back to the input. So, the control
action is independent of the desired output.
The following figure shows the block diagram of the open loop control system.
In closed loop control systems, output is fed back to the input. So, the control action
is dependent on the desired output.
The following figure shows the block diagram of negative feedback closed loop control
system.
The differences between the open loop and the closed loop control systems are
mentioned in the following table.
Open Loop Control Systems Closed Loop Control Systems
Control action is independent of the desired Control action is dependent of the desired
output. output.
Feedback path is not present. Feedback path is present.
These are also called as non-feedback control These are also called as feedback control
systems. systems.
Easy to design. Difficult to design.
These are economical. These are costlier.
Inaccurate. Accurate.
Control Systems - Feedback
Feedback plays an important role in order to improve the performance of the control
systems. In this chapter, let us discuss the types of feedback & effects of feedback.
Types of Feedback
There are two types of feedback −
Positive feedback
Negative feedback
Positive Feedback
The positive feedback adds the reference input, R(s) and feedback output. The
following figure shows the block diagram of positive feedback control system.
The concept of transfer function will be discussed in later chapters. For the time being,
consider the transfer function of positive feedback control system is,
Where,
T is the transfer function or overall gain of positive feedback control system.
G is the open loop gain, which is function of frequency.
H is the gain of feedback path, which is function of frequency.
Negative Feedback
Negative feedback reduces the error between the reference input, R(s) and system
output. The following figure shows the block diagram of the negative feedback
control system.
Transfer function of negative feedback control system is,
Where,
T is the transfer function or overall gain of negative feedback control system.
G is the open loop gain, which is function of frequency.
H is the gain of feedback path, which is function of frequency.
The derivation of the above transfer function is present in later chapters.
Effects of Feedback
Effect of Feedback on Overall Gain
'G' and 'H' are functions of frequency. So, the feedback will increase the overall gain of
the system in one frequency range and decrease in the other frequency range.
Effect of Feedback on Sensitivity
Sensitivity of the overall gain of negative feedback closed loop control system (T) to
the variation in
.
Effect of Feedback on Stability
A system is said to be stable, if its output is under control. Otherwise, it is said to
be unstable.
In Equation 2, if the denominator value is zero (i.e., GH = -1), then the output of
the control system will be infinite. So, the control system becomes unstable.
Effect of Feedback on Noise
Consider an open loop control system with noise signal as shown below.
The open loop transfer function due to noise signal alone is
It is obtained by making the other input R(s)equal to zero.
Consider a closed loop control system with noise signal as shown below.
The closed loop transfer function due to noise signal alone is
