closed-loop system
Definition
Noun: A closed-loop system is a control system that uses a feedback loop to automatically monitor and adjust its operation. The system continuously compares its actual output with a desired setpoint and makes corrections to minimize any error.
Usage
A closed-loop system is designed to maintain stability and achieve a specific goal automatically, without needing constant manual intervention.
Examples
- The thermostat in your home is a classic example of a closed-loop system; it measures the room temperature and turns the heater on or off to maintain the set temperature.
- An autopilot in an aircraft is a sophisticated closed-loop system that constantly adjusts the control surfaces to follow a programmed flight path.
- In industrial manufacturing, a closed-loop system controls the speed of a conveyor belt based on sensor feedback to ensure consistent product flow.
Advanced Usage
- Engineering Context: The term is fundamental in control theory and engineering. The "loop" refers to the continuous cycle of measuring an output, comparing it to an input (the setpoint), calculating an error, and applying a corrective action (the control signal).
- Contrast with Open-Loop: A closed-loop system is often contrasted with an "open-loop system," which operates without feedback and cannot correct for disturbances or errors on its own.
Variants and Related Words
- Feedback Control System: A more descriptive synonym for a closed-loop system.
- Closed-Loop Control: The method or principle of using feedback for automatic regulation.
Synonyms
- Feedback control system
- Automatic control system
- Regulator
Related Phrases
- Closed-Loop Recycling: An industrial process where waste materials are continually reused to create new products, minimizing resource input and waste output. (This is an application of the control system concept to environmental management).
- Close the loop: An idiomatic expression meaning to complete a cycle of communication or action by providing final feedback or a resolution.
Noun
-
a control system with a feedback loop that is active
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