An example includes a combustion device comprising: a burner; a feed duct; an actuator adjusting a feed of fluid through the feed duct; and a control apparatus programmed to adjust the actuator. The actuator, upon receipt a request signal, checks for a stored rate of change in an associated memory and, if the stored rate of change is present, sends a response signal to the control apparatus. The control apparatus determines a rate of change from the response signal, and generates a first automation signal as a function of the stored rate of change. The first automation signal causes the actuator to change a mechanical variable of the actuator so the mechanical variable changes no faster than the stored rate of change.

Various embodiments include a combustion apparatus comprising: a burner; a supply channel in fluid communication with the burner; an actuator affecting a supply of a fluid through the supply channel; and a control facility communicatively coupled to the actuator. The control facility is configured to: generate a first change signal from a first end value and to send the first change signal to the actuator; and generate a second change signal from a second end value and to send the second change signal to the actuator. The actuator comprises a processing unit configured to: receive the first and the second change signal; determine a first change speed with the aid of the processing unit, based on the first and the second change signal; and begin a first change of a speed or of a position of the actuator using the first change speed.