wijsturen

Wijsturen is a Dutch term that roughly translates to direction steering or guidance control. In general use it denotes steering or directing a system by indicating directions or signals rather than by applying direct, continuous power to drive movement. The exact meaning depends on the field, but the core idea is guiding a process through directional cues.

In engineering and automation, wijsturen refers to control strategies that steer a mechanism along a desired path using directional information, such as vectors, waypoints, or reference directions, with feedback from sensors. The emphasis is on guiding the trajectory rather than issuing continuous actuation commands. Typical components include a planner that specifies directions, a controller that computes commands, actuators that execute them, and sensors that close the feedback loop.

In robotics and autonomous systems, the concept underpins steering algorithms that convert a planned route into steering actions for wheels, joints, or other actuators. Methods commonly associated with this approach include proportional-integral-derivative control, model predictive control, and vector-field guidance, all aimed at maintaining a safe and efficient trajectory.

In traffic management and wayfinding contexts, wijsturen can describe approaches that influence movement through signs, signals, and guided lanes. Here the focus is on directing flows and resolving conflicts at intersections or in corridors, often combining physical infrastructure with information cues.

Etymologically, the term combines wijzen (to point or indicate) and sturen (to steer or direct). Because usage varies by discipline, wijsturen is most often encountered in technical or academic Dutch texts rather than in everyday speech.