This is a real-world problem, not an academic exercise.
I have an analog proportional hydraulic flow control valve and its output flow is nonlinear with respect to its input signal. I would like to linearize it, because the joystick adjustment can be tricky, especially in the upper range of movement, between 80% and 100% flow.
I am currently writing an overly complicated 7-point piecewise scaling equation using the 7 points listed below.
This should work just fine, but if there's a way I can reverse-engineer this line and describe it with a single equation that would be ideal. The only thing I know to do is bust out the graphing calculator and plot an exponential curve and then start tweaking values until it looks close; so far I haven't come up with anything close enough to be acceptable (best was y=0.01x^2).
I know there's a better way to approach this, so what is it? Is there some software that could help a math dummy like me, or can someone please school me on how to do this the honest way?
Thanks,
Stantor
I have an analog proportional hydraulic flow control valve and its output flow is nonlinear with respect to its input signal. I would like to linearize it, because the joystick adjustment can be tricky, especially in the upper range of movement, between 80% and 100% flow.
I am currently writing an overly complicated 7-point piecewise scaling equation using the 7 points listed below.
This should work just fine, but if there's a way I can reverse-engineer this line and describe it with a single equation that would be ideal. The only thing I know to do is bust out the graphing calculator and plot an exponential curve and then start tweaking values until it looks close; so far I haven't come up with anything close enough to be acceptable (best was y=0.01x^2).
I know there's a better way to approach this, so what is it? Is there some software that could help a math dummy like me, or can someone please school me on how to do this the honest way?
Thanks,
Stantor