The aim of the invention is rapid automatic tuning the parameters of a digital proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller by analog feedback of an actual value for automation of technological processes with programmable logic controllers (PLCs).

The proposed invention is based on the use of nine tuning equations derived by reverse engineering of a PID controller.

Adjusting the PID controller parameters K.sub.p, K.sub.i and K.sub.d is performed in a closed control loop with negative feedback separately in time, i.e. independently of each other in iteration steps k for K.sub.p, m for K.sub.i and n for K.sub.d (see FIG. 1).

The adaptive tuning method is compact, independent of other methods and algorithms, mathematically balanced (i.e. minimal computational resource requirements), and easy to implement.

Setting up a PID controller by this method does not require a preliminary evaluation of a controlled system and the creation of its mathematical model. This implies its universal applicability.

New and/or alternative approaches to physical plant performance control that can account for the health of the physical plant. In one example, a control algorithm is enhanced by inclusion of terms related to optimized performance and terms related to physical plant health. In another example, a performance optimized control solution is determined, a maximum allowed deviation is defined, and a final solution for physical plant control is determined taking into account health factors to minimize health impacts within the maximum allowed deviation from optimized performance, using for example a two-stage analysis. Another example uses a two level system with a low level controller and a supervisory controller, in which the supervisory controller observes health impacts of ongoing operations managed by the low level controller, and modifies one or more parameters used by the low level controller.

A control apparatus includes: a control computing unit that generates an operation amount based on a control deviation, calculated by performing subtraction of a command value and a control amount, and a control gain; an adjustment-execution-command generating unit that generates an adjustment-execution command value indicating ON or OFF; a binary output unit that generates an adjustment-time addition value based on the control deviation and a hysteresis-width setting value; a standard-deviation estimating unit that calculates a low-frequency-component removed signal obtained by removing low-frequency components of the control amount or the control deviation and calculates a standard-deviation estimated value, which is an estimated value of a standard deviation; and a hysteresis-width computing unit that calculates a hysteresis-width computed value based on the standard-deviation estimated value and changes the hysteresis-width setting value of the binary output unit to the hysteresis-width computed value.

Systems and methods for control of the delivery of contaminates are provided. A conveyor moves contaminate particles from a hopper into an airflow. The contents of a hopper at multiple time points within a sliding window of time are weighted with a scale. A processor applies linear regression to a data set comprising the time points as an independent variable and the weight measurements as a dependent variable, resulting in a determination of a line fitting the data set. A processor determines a current mass flow rate of the contaminate particles from the slope of the line. The processor determines an estimated change in the conveyor motor speed needed to achieve the target mass flow rate, the estimated change determined from a predetermined mapping of flow rates to motor speeds, the estimated change based on the current mass flow rate, the target mass flow rate, and a predetermined fraction.

This invention provides an electronic control for combination (fuel-fired boiler and electric heat pump) building space and water heating systems that optimizes operation of such within the operating temperature limits and heat capability of both the heat pump and boiler unit in the combination system. In a diagnostic mode, the controller assesses the ability of existing heat radiation systems in thermostatically controlled zones to meet heating loads at different operating temperature limits of the heat pump and boiler. The system/controller provides information to guide most effective deployment of system heat-dissipation devices. In its normal operating mode, the controller is capable of receiving input signals from zone thermostats, the boiler and heat pump, along with current outdoor temperature and other data, processing and evaluating inputs over time, and outputting control signals. The controller facilitates use of a combined heat pump and boiler heating system with minimum equipment, installation, and operational cost.

An atherectomy system includes a drive mechanism that is adapted to rotatably actuate an atherectomy burr and a controller that is adapted to regulate operation of the drive mechanism. In some cases, the drive mechanism includes a drive cable that is coupled with the atherectomy burr and an electric drive motor that is adapted to rotate the drive cable. The controller is adapted to regulate operation of the electric drive motor such that the drive mechanism emulates one or more performance parameters of an air turbine.

The invention relates to a method for the two-position control of an actuator (1) on the basis of a binary sensor signal (y) of a sensor unit (2), which senses a process variable (P), which can be influenced by the actuator (1), in such a way that the sensor unit outputs a first sensor signal value (y1) when a first switching value (Sw1) is exceeded and a second sensor signal value (y0) when a second switching value (Sw1, Sw2) is fallen below, wherein: the actuator (1) is controlled with a manipulated variable (u), which assumes either a first control value (u1) or a second control value (u2); the first control value (u1) and the second control value (u2) are dynamically adapted during the operation of the actuator (1), in dependence on a fall time (t_fall) corresponding to the duration of the first sensor signal value (y1) and a rise time (t_rise) corresponding to the duration of the second sensor signal value (y0), in such a way that the first and second control values converge. The invention further relates to a two-position controller (10) designed to carry out the method and to an actuator (1) comprising said two-position controller (10).

An optimization device includes a tool path, an analysis/evaluation unit for inputting one or more evaluation indices each including an evaluation item and weighting, analyzing and evaluating the tool path for each evaluation item, and outputting one or more analysis/evaluation results, and a normalization unit that normalizes the analysis/evaluation results considering the weighting, and outputs one or more normalized analysis/evaluation results. The optimization device also includes a determination unit for inputting a determination criterion, and determining the necessity of path adjustment based on the determination criterion and the normalized analysis/evaluation results such that, when a path adjustment is required, a determination result is outputted including either the normalized analysis/evaluation results or an item requiring adjustment selected from the evaluation items, and a path adjustment unit that performs an adjustment of the tool path based on the determination result, and outputs a path adjustment result including the adjusted tool path.

Systems and methods for control of the delivery of contaminates are provided. A conveyor moves contaminate particles from a hopper into an airflow. The contents of a hopper at multiple time points within a sliding window of time are weighted with a scale. A processor applies linear regression to a data set comprising the time points as an independent variable and the weight measurements as a dependent variable, resulting in a determination of a line fitting the data set. A processor determines a current mass flow rate of the contaminate particles from the slope of the line. The processor determines an estimated change in the conveyor motor speed needed to achieve the target mass flow rate, the estimated change determined from a predetermined mapping of flow rates to motor speeds, the estimated change based on the current mass flow rate, the target mass flow rate, and a predetermined fraction.

New and/or alternative approaches to physical plant performance control that can account for the health of the physical plant. In one example, a control algorithm is enhanced by inclusion of terms related to optimized performance and terms related to physical plant health. In another example, a performance optimized control solution is determined, a maximum allowed deviation is defined, and a final solution for physical plant control is determined taking into account health factors to minimize health impacts within the maximum allowed deviation from optimized performance, using for example a two-stage analysis. Another example uses a two level system with a low level controller and a supervisory controller, in which the supervisory controller observes health impacts of ongoing operations managed by the low level controller, and modifies one or more parameters used by the low level controller.