Vorwärtsregelung

Vorwärtsregelung, also known as feedforward control, is a control system strategy that aims to counteract disturbances before they affect the system output. Unlike feedback control, which measures the output and corrects deviations, vorwärtsregelung anticipates disturbances and takes corrective action based on a model of the system and the anticipated disturbance. This approach can significantly improve system performance by reducing overshoot and settling time.

The core principle of vorwärtsregelung involves identifying a disturbance, measuring its magnitude or predicting its occurrence, and then using a model of the process to calculate a control signal that will counteract the expected effect of the disturbance. For instance, in a heating system, if the outside temperature is a known disturbance, a vorwärtsregelung system could increase the heating power proactively when a drop in outside temperature is detected, rather than waiting for the room temperature to fall.

Vorwärtsregelung is often used in conjunction with feedback control. While feedback control handles unmeasured disturbances and model inaccuracies, vorwärtsregelung addresses known and measurable disturbances more effectively. This combination, known as a combined feedforward-feedback control system, can achieve superior performance compared to either strategy alone. However, the effectiveness of vorwärtsregelung is highly dependent on the accuracy of the system model and the ability to accurately measure or predict disturbances. If the model is inaccurate or the disturbance is not properly accounted for, the feedforward action can even worsen the system's response.