Experimental study of control systems with discontinuous parameter variation

The potential for improving the response of second-order servomechanisms by discontinuously varying system parameters has long been recognised. This paper reports the application of these methods to electromechanical systems. The general investigation is carried out by analogue simulation for higher-order systems, and experimental results are obtained on a practical position-control system. In the course of the investigation, a strategy is evolved for the application of discontinuous-parameter-variation methods to higher-order systems. The effects of relative parameter magnitudes are discussed, and practical high-speed-switching techniques are presented. Improved response to harmonic inputs results, and the limitations in the performance of these systems, in the steady state and in response to step inputs, are discussed.