Synthesis of a digital computer controlled optimal and adaptive control system

This thesis describes the synthesis of a novel digital method for optimization and adoption of certain second order systems which may be represented in the phase plane.;The plant includes a large load mass to approximate a pure inertia system. It is believed that the method of applying control to the armature of a d.c. motor is novel.;In the control scheme, the optimal switching curve is stored in memory at the locations given by the velocity which is approximated by a difference of error readings over a constant sampling time. A new optimal switching curve is continually stored during each control cycle.;The program was written with the limited number of instruction steps, possible on the controller, in mind. It was found that the program could not be accommodated on the present controller. To carry out meaningful studies, the controller must be expanded or a controller with greater input and memory facilities used.;A digital controller had been partially constructed when the project was begun, therefore, only details of the modifications and additions to the controller are given in this report.