In
control theory
Control theory is a field of control engineering and applied mathematics that deals with the control system, control of dynamical systems in engineered processes and machines. The objective is to develop a model or algorithm governing the applic ...
, a closed-loop transfer function is a
mathematical function
In mathematics, a function from a set (mathematics), set to a set assigns to each element of exactly one element of .; the words ''map'', ''mapping'', ''transformation'', ''correspondence'', and ''operator'' are sometimes used synonymously. ...
describing the net result of the effects of a
feedback control loop on the input
signal
A signal is both the process and the result of transmission of data over some media accomplished by embedding some variation. Signals are important in multiple subject fields including signal processing, information theory and biology.
In ...
to the
plant
Plants are the eukaryotes that form the Kingdom (biology), kingdom Plantae; they are predominantly Photosynthesis, photosynthetic. This means that they obtain their energy from sunlight, using chloroplasts derived from endosymbiosis with c ...
under control.
Overview
The closed-loop
transfer function
In engineering, a transfer function (also known as system function or network function) of a system, sub-system, or component is a function (mathematics), mathematical function that mathematical model, models the system's output for each possible ...
is measured at the output. The output signal can be calculated from the closed-loop transfer function and the input signal. Signals may be
waveforms,
images, or other types of
data streams.
An example of a closed-loop block diagram, from which a transfer function may be computed, is shown below:
The summing node and the ''G''(''s'') and ''H''(''s'') blocks can all be combined into one block, which would have the following transfer function:
:
is called the
feed forward transfer function,
is called the
feedback
Feedback occurs when outputs of a system are routed back as inputs as part of a chain of cause and effect that forms a circuit or loop. The system can then be said to ''feed back'' into itself. The notion of cause-and-effect has to be handle ...
transfer function, and their product
is called the open-loop transfer function.
Derivation
We define an intermediate signal Z (also known as
error signal
In mechanical engineering, mechanical and control engineering, a servomechanism (also called servo system, or simply servo) is a control system for the position and its time derivatives, such as velocity, of a mechanical system. It often includes ...
) shown as follows:
Using this figure we write:
:
:
Now, plug the second equation into the first to eliminate Z(s):
: