Some Design Criteria for Automatic Controls

The design of automatic control systems to give ``optimum'' response is discussed in terms of the area between a step disturbance and the control response. It is shown that this ``control area'', and also a ``weighted control area'' may be calculated directly from the system parameters without finding the roots of an algebraic equation. Assumed optimum values of these areas permit direct synthesis of the necessary control sensitivities for an ``optimum'' control response. An example of an aircraft engine control is given and the connection with zero velocity error servos is shown.