Feed-forward control system

With feed-forward or feedforward control, the disturbances are measured and accounted for
before they have time to affect the system. In the house example, a feed-forward system may
measure the fact that the door is opened and automatically turn on the heater before the house
can get too cold. The difficulty with feed-forward control is that the effects of the disturbances on
the system must be accurately predicted, and there must not be any unmeasured disturbances.
For instance, if a window was opened that was not being measured, the feed-forward-controlled
thermostat might let the house cool down.

Feedforward control requires a mathematical model of the plant (process and/or machine being
controlled) and the plant's relationship to any inputs or feedback the system might receive.

Feedback is reactive: there must be an error before corrective actions are taken.
However, in some circumstances, it is possible to measure a disturbance before the
disturbance has influenced the system. The effect of the disturbance is thus reduced by
measuring it and generating a control signal that counteracts it. This way of controlling a
system is called feedforward.

Open loop system

Close loop system (Feedback system)

 Close loop system (Feed forward system)

Difference between feedback and feed forward

Feed-back Feed-forward
Control systems in which corrective Control systems in which corrective
action is taken after disturbances affect action is taken before disturbances
the output. affect the output.

They are reactive. They are proactive

It does not require system/process It requires a process / system mathematical

mathematical model for implementation model for implementation

It is simple to implement It is rather complex to implement

It requires all the disturbances to be taken It does not require disturbances to be taken
into account. Otherwise the control will fail into account.
to be implemented

Variables are adjusted depending on Variables are adjusted based on prior

errors. knowledge and predictions.

Diagram of feedback back system Diagram of feed forward system