Abstract: A control system (1) for controlling a plant (2) comprises a feedback loop including an integrator (7); a signal generator (32); and a scaling unit (10). The feedback loop comprises an input suitable for connection to an output (18) of the plant. The integrator integrates a signal received from the input to generate a state signal x. The signal generator generates a periodic base perturbation signal (34) with an initial amplitude. The scaling unit generates a scaling factor (30) having a first value if the variance of the state signal var(x) is zero, or a second value if the variance of the state signal is non-zero, wherein the second value is proportional to (formulae 1) The scaling unit is arranged to multiply (16) the initial amplitude of the periodic base perturbation signal by the scaling factor to produce a state dependent perturbation signal (35, 36), which is applied to an input of the plant.

Abstract: A control system (1) for controlling a plant (2) comprises a feedback loop including an integrator (7); a signal generator (32); and a scaling unit (10). The feedback loop comprises an input suitable for connection to an output (18) of the plant. The integrator integrates a signal received from the input to generate a state signal x. The signal generator generates a periodic base perturbation signal (34) with an initial amplitude. The scaling unit generates a scaling factor (30) having a first value if the variance of the state signal var(x) is zero, or a second value if the variance of the state signal is non-zero, wherein the second value is proportional to (formulae 1) The scaling unit is arranged to multiply (16) the initial amplitude of the periodic base perturbation signal by the scaling factor to produce a state dependent perturbation signal (35, 36), which is applied to an input of the plant.

Abstract: A method of managing collisions, the method comprising: identifying a first crash structure (22) and determining an initial stiffness of the crash structure; determining a level of aggressivity of the collision based on the predicted energy absorption for each vehicle; identifying a first crash structure whose stiffness can be adjusted, and determining a subsequent stiffness value for the crash structure based on the determined amount of energy to be absorbed by each of the vehicles such that the energy absorbed by the crash structure is changed and the level of aggressivity is reduced; and stiffening the first crash structure to the determined stiffness value.

Abstract: A method of managing collisions, the method comprising: identifying a first crash structure (22) and determining an initial stiffness of the crash structure; determining a level of aggressivity of the collision based on the predicted energy absorption for each vehicle; identifying a first crash structure whose stiffness can be adjusted, and determining a subsequent stiffness value for the crash structure based on the determined amount of energy to be absorbed by each of the vehicles such that the energy absorbed by the crash structure is changed and the level of aggressivity is reduced; and stiffening the first crash structure to the determined stiffness value.

Abstract: In a method of and system for controlling the air/gas ratio in a lag-lead combustion plant the lead and lag parameters are monitored to provide lead and lag signals representative of the values of the parameters. These are compared to provide an error signal representative of the deviation of the ratio of the lead and lag parameters from a preselected ratio. The lag parameter is then adjusted to reduce the deviation in response to the deviation exceeding a preselected deviation.

Abstract: An edge support for a margin of a lawn comprises an elongate generally L-shaped support member having a base part fixable to ground beneath the lawn, and an upstanding wall part to retain an edge of the lawn. The base part has elongate apertures to allow grass roots to grow therethrough. The base part may have several zones at which it may be cut or broken to permit bending of the wall part. The edge support may be provided with connectors to connect it to further edge supports via flanges on the wall part and the base part.

Abstract: A compensating controller for controlling a non-linear parameter of an industrial process in a control system for said process comprises means (106) for producing a weighted linear response, means (108, 24) for producing a weighted non-linear response, and summation means (112) for summing the weighted responses to produce an optimal controller response.

Abstract: An edge support for a margin of a lawn comprises an elongate generally L-shaped support member having a base part fixable to ground beneath the lawn, and an upstanding wall part to retain an edge of the lawn. The base part has elongate apertures to allow grass roots to grow therethrough. The base part may have several zones at which it may be cut or broken to permit bending of the wall part. The edge support may be provided with connectors to connect it to further edge supports via flanges on the wall part and the base part.