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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