Sampled-data processing techniques for feedback control systems

IN THE past few years there has been considerable interest in sampled-data feedback control systems.1¿6 In most cases, this interest was brought about by the fact that many data-gathering and transmission systems, such as radars, data links and similar components handled data in a sampled form. More recently, the contemplated use of digital computers, in essence sampled-data devices, in connection with process control, has necessitated some study of means for utilizing their capacity to compute for purposes of stabilizing and shaping control systems.7,8 By their nature, digital computers are sampled-data systems since their output is intermittent and in numerical form.