The Use of Models in Orientation, Learning, and Control Applications

Man has used models since prehistoric times to represent various aspects and functions of his known and even of his unknown environment. He appears to need these models as conceptual crystallization centers, to adjust himself to his environment and as tools to control it. In learning, he readjusts the structure and detail of these models to match specific needs and chooses between various analogies in different media-including that of purely mathematical formulation. For control purposes, he predicts on the basis of such model behavior the probable effects of any control and chooses the mode and magnitude of his actions. This paper covers recent developments in this field of control.