Transfer of tracking performance in manual control as a function of plant dynamics

Abstract

This paper considers the transfer of tracking performance in manual control as a function of plant dynamics, where four different plants, i. e., 1/s, 1/s (s+1), 1/s (s+0.1), and 1/s2 are chosen. Using a one-dimensional compensatory tracking system with random function input, the transfer is investigated according to the response patterns, learning curves and indices of transfer.Going from an easy task to the most difficult task (plant 1/s2) yields positive transfer when the two tasks vary little in difficulty, but it does not yield remarkable transfer when the two tasks are widely different in difficulty. Going from a difficult task to the easiest task (plant 1/s) always yields negative transfer regardless of the difference of two tasks.