Classification of Control Systems
Control System
Manual Automatic
closed-loop with
positive feedback
Open-loop Closed-loop
(Non-feedback loop) (feedback loop) closed-loop with
negative feedback
Nonlinear Linear Nonlinear Linear
Time variant Time invariant Time variant Time invariant
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1. Automatic Control System
What is Automatic Control ?
❑In general, it is not manual.
❑Automatic Control is a device (system) consists of number of
components connected together to perform a specific operation, in
which it provides a desired response (output signal) by controlling
reference data(input signal)
Input Output
Process
For example: manual and automatic
water level control system
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2. Open-loop and Closed-loop Systems
• Open-loop control system
Input Controlled Actuating Output
signal signal signal signal
Controller Actuator Plant
• Closed-loop control system
Input Error Controlled Actuating Output
signal signal signal signal signal
Controller Actuator Plant
+ _
Feedback signal Output signal
Sensor
Feedback
element
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2. Open-loop and Closed-loop Systems
Open-loop control system Closed-loop control system
Accuracy Inaccurate Accurate
Cost Less More
Design Simple Complicated
Feedback Not available Available
Error detector Not available Available
Reliability Not reliable Reliable
Stability Mostly stable Can be stable or unstable
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3. Closed-loop with Positive-feedback and Negative-feedback
• Closed-loop control system with negative feedback
Output
Input + Controller Actuator Plant
signal
signal
_
Feedback signal
Sensor
• Closed-loop control system with positive feedback
Output
Input + Controller Actuator Plant
signal
signal
+
Feedback signal
Sensor
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4. Linear and Nonlinear Systems
• A Control System is called linear when the output varies linearly with
the input.
Input u(t) Control Output y(t)
System
• A control system is called nonlinear when the relationship between
input and output is nonlinear relationship
Input u(t) Control Output y(t)
System
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5. Time-invariant and Time-variant Systems
• A system is called time invariant when its parameters do not change
with time.
• A system is called time variant when its parameters vary with time.
time invariant time variant
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Classification of Control Systems
In this course, we will study only linear time-invariant (LIT) automatic control systems
Linear Time-invariant (LIT) Control Systems
Control System
Manual Automatic
closed-loop with
positive feedback
Open-loop Closed-loop
(Non-feedback loop) (feedback loop) closed-loop with
negative feedback
Nonlinear Linear Nonlinear Linear
Time variant Time invariant Time variant Time invariant
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