Hello everyone,
I have experience with microcontrollers and basic signal processing algorithms but I wanted to learn more about proper control systems (PID controllers, etc). I understand I can use either a microcontroller or an analog system to approach a given problem and have looked through a number of problems to solve for a given transfer function. The problem I'm having is being able to visualize how to take a given problem and turn it into a transfer function so that it can be solved.
For example, I'm brewing my own beer. If I am trying to regulate a temperature of the liquid between, say 150 and 165F and I turn off the temperature when it reaches 165, it will likely continue rising as the pot itself is still warm. So I can either have it shut itself off at a given temperature or I can look at it from a control systems approach. The problem I'm having is how do I characterize the situation I have to turn it into a transfer function that I can work with?
In this case, would I put a thermistor into the pot, turn it up to a given temperature, and measure the rise? Would I shut it off at various points or and see the effects? Basically, how would I approach this so I could characterize the situation from a control system approach?
Maybe this is not the best example to learn from and if so, that's fine too. If you guys can point me to any real life examples on how I would collect and characterize a problem so I can approach it, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks for all your help!
I have experience with microcontrollers and basic signal processing algorithms but I wanted to learn more about proper control systems (PID controllers, etc). I understand I can use either a microcontroller or an analog system to approach a given problem and have looked through a number of problems to solve for a given transfer function. The problem I'm having is being able to visualize how to take a given problem and turn it into a transfer function so that it can be solved.
For example, I'm brewing my own beer. If I am trying to regulate a temperature of the liquid between, say 150 and 165F and I turn off the temperature when it reaches 165, it will likely continue rising as the pot itself is still warm. So I can either have it shut itself off at a given temperature or I can look at it from a control systems approach. The problem I'm having is how do I characterize the situation I have to turn it into a transfer function that I can work with?
In this case, would I put a thermistor into the pot, turn it up to a given temperature, and measure the rise? Would I shut it off at various points or and see the effects? Basically, how would I approach this so I could characterize the situation from a control system approach?
Maybe this is not the best example to learn from and if so, that's fine too. If you guys can point me to any real life examples on how I would collect and characterize a problem so I can approach it, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks for all your help!