4 - Control Subsystem

Abstract

The control subsystem is the core component of automation systems and coordinates and controls the functions of other. A control subsystem is a device or a set of devices to manage, command, direct, or regulate the behavior of the process. The control subsystem is an essential mechanism for manipulating the output of a specific process to achieve the desired result. The subsystem acquires information from the process through instrumentation subsystem (process inputs) and from the human interface subsystem, process information, analyse it, and makes decision for correction to the behavior of the process, if required. The subsystem then generates and transmits control commands to the process through instrumentation subsystem and driving process parameters of interest for display on the human interface subsystem. The control subsystem is divided into automation strategy (responsible for managing automatic control) and interfaces for information exchange with instrumentation and human interface subsystems.