Fuzzy control in Japan-learning lessons

Zadeh proposed fuzzy sets in 1965 because, he has said, of this dissatisfaction with `increasing precision´ in control theory. Zadeh later gave example of how fuzzy logic may be used for expressing human derived decision rules, but did not anticipate that this can be used for feedback control. The fuzzy logic control (FLC) method first described 19 years ago is in widespread use to-day in substantially the same form as was discussed in that original paper. Large scale applications began in Japan but in the last year or so the German and US industries have also increased the applications of FLC. Industrial applications of fuzzy control in Japan range from automatic train operation to the control of pumping stations in a sewage plant, automatic drink vending machines, gas supply control in steel works, and many more. However, FLC´s main impact has so far been on consumer products such as cars, image processing equipment (including cameras and camcorders), washing machines, rice-cookers and so on