logikregulator

Logikregulator is a term used in German-language automation and control literature to describe a regulator that governs a process primarily through logical rules rather than continuous mathematical control laws. In practice, a logikregulator evaluates inputs through a predefined set of if-then rules and produces corresponding actuator commands. The approach emphasizes discrete decision making and can operate with digital or discretized input signals, often yielding on/off or stepped outputs rather than smooth analog changes.

Principle and architecture: A logikregulator consists of a rule base, an inference mechanism, and an actuator interface. The rule base encodes the desired behavior as logical statements, potentially with priorities and timing elements such as hysteresis or timers. The inference engine processes current sensor readings and setpoints to determine the appropriate control action. Outputs are typically digital or binary in nature, though multi-valued states or pulse-width modulation can be used in some implementations to approximate graded control.

Design considerations: Key factors include defining robust rule sets that cover operating conditions, handling conflicts between rules, and ensuring stable behavior under disturbances. Discretization of measurements, response speed, and integration with other control layers (such as a higher-level planner or a traditional regulator) are common design topics. Implementation choices range from PLC-based solutions to firmware on microcontrollers.

Applications and context: Logikregulator concepts are found in simple automation tasks, sequencing and safety interlocks, educational contexts, and systems where transparent, easily auditable decision logic is valued over continuous optimization. They are often contrasted with PID and other continuous-control schemes.

See also: PID controller, logic controller, PLC, rule-based control, discrete-event control.