Kontrollitav

Kontrollitav is a term used in Finnish-language control theory and automation literature to denote the intended state or trajectory that a control system aims to reach. It is often described as the reference signal or target for the plant to track. In a feedback control loop, the kontrollitav is compared with measured process variables to generate error signals that inform the controller actions.

Kontrollitav can be static, such as a fixed setpoint (for example, maintaining a constant temperature), or dynamic, such as a prescribed trajectory over time (for instance, a robot moving along a path). The precise interpretation depends on the modeling framework, but the core idea is to provide a desired outcome that guides control decisions.

Design considerations for selecting a kontrollitav include process safety, operability, and performance requirements. Noise, delays, disturbances, and actuator limits affect how closely the system can track the kontrollitav, and controllers are designed to balance tracking accuracy with robustness.

Applications span process industries (chemical, energy), robotics, and building automation. In practice, multiple kontrollitav may be used within a single system to reflect different operating modes or constraints.

Relation to related concepts: it is closely tied to the setpoint, reference signal, and target state, and it is used in conjunction with tracking error metrics to evaluate controller performance. Common control methods for achieving tracking include proportional-integral-derivative control, state-space controllers, and model predictive control.

History and usage: the term appears in Finnish technical writings and theses, serving as a descriptive label for the goal of control rather than as a rigid standard. Terminology may vary by author.

See also: Setpoint; Reference signal; Tracking; Model predictive control; State-space control.