Adaptive control systems adjust in real-time to changing parameters, such as traffic patterns or aircraft weight. They can improve efficiency and reduce costs in manufacturing and other processes. Advances in computing have led to more intuitive and capable designs, with decreasing costs.
Adaptive control systems can adapt in real time to changing parameters. A common example can be seen with semaphores. Historically, traffic lights ran on fixed timers programmed by officials who used studies of traffic patterns to determine optimal times. This has created bottlenecks and other problems as traffic patterns have shifted over time. When a traffic light uses adaptive control, a computer tracks traffic in real time and determines the timing of the lights to keep the traffic moving optimally.
Such systems have widespread applications in managing a variety of processes where parameters can change, sometimes in unpredictable ways. Aircraft, for example, can use adaptive control systems as part of an autopilot program to adjust for both predictable variables, such as weight reductions as the aircraft burns fuel, and unexpected events such as turbulence. Manufacturing processes can also involve changing parameters on the production floor, as well as control systems used for scientific experiments and research applications.
This varies from a fixed control system where a programmer needs to be aware of the system and the parameters that may be encountered. Programmers must anticipate a variety of possible outcomes and structure them into the program so that it can respond. In contrast, adaptive control systems don’t need to be programmed with instructions for different situations, because they can independently read and respond to them. This also allows them to address a much wider range of problems, since any number of changing variables can be addressed.
The use of adaptive control systems can allow for greater efficiency, which translates into long-term cost savings. In manufacturing, for example, schedules don’t have to be constrained to compensate for the worst-case scenario. If a problem occurs in production, the adaptive control system can compensate for the problem. Therefore, production lines are not slowed down by scheduling limitations. Similarly, drivers can’t sit in a turn lane for 15 minutes in the middle of the night, waiting for the timer to change.
Advances in computing have led to significant improvements in adaptive control systems. The new designs are more intuitive and capable of more complex tasks than their predecessors. The tests also allow researchers to identify weaknesses and areas for improvement needed so they can build the next generation of systems to make them more reliable. Costs also decrease with each iteration, allowing the technology to be integrated into more products and settings.
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