steuerungstechnischen

Steuerungstechnik, or control engineering, is a branch of engineering that focuses on designing, analyzing, and implementing systems that direct the behavior of dynamic processes. It encompasses the selection of sensors, actuators, and controllers, the development of control logic, and the integration of hardware and software to achieve defined objectives.

Typical control systems combine sensors to measure process variables, controllers to compute control signals, actuators to influence the process, and communication links to exchange data. Hardware platforms include programmable logic controllers (PLCs), embedded controllers, and distributed control systems (DCS). Software models range from simple proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controllers to advanced state-space and model predictive controllers.

Control strategies may be open-loop (feedforward) or closed-loop (feedback), with modern approaches emphasizing robustness, adaptivity, and optimization. Model-based design, simulation, and digital twins enable design-time validation. Standards guiding hardware and software in control systems include IEC 61131-3 for PLC programming and safety-oriented norms such as IEC 61508 and ISO 13849.

Applications span manufacturing automation, process industries, automotive and mechatronics, robotics, energy systems, and building automation. In research and industry, Steuerungstechnik intersects with mechatronics, instrumentation, and cyber-physical systems, addressing challenges such as real-time operation, reliability, cybersecurity, and sustainable performance.

Education and professional practice in German-speaking regions typically cover electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and mechatronics programs, with specialized courses in control theory, signal processing, and automation engineering.