TY - BOOK ID - 8360910 TI - Control theory in the plane PY - 2009 SN - 3540852549 3540852557 PB - Berlin : Springer, DB - UniCat KW - Control theory KW - Operations Research KW - Civil & Environmental Engineering KW - Engineering & Applied Sciences KW - Automatic control. KW - Control theory. KW - Control engineering KW - Control equipment KW - Engineering. KW - System theory. KW - Calculus of variations. KW - Applied mathematics. KW - Engineering mathematics. KW - Engineering design. KW - Control engineering. KW - Robotics. KW - Mechatronics. KW - Control, Robotics, Mechatronics. KW - Appl.Mathematics/Computational Methods of Engineering. KW - Engineering Design. KW - Systems Theory, Control. KW - Calculus of Variations and Optimal Control; Optimization. KW - Dynamics KW - Machine theory KW - Engineering instruments KW - Automation KW - Programmable controllers KW - Systems theory. KW - Mathematical optimization. KW - Mathematical and Computational Engineering. KW - Design, Engineering KW - Engineering KW - Industrial design KW - Strains and stresses KW - Engineering analysis KW - Mathematical analysis KW - Optimization (Mathematics) KW - Optimization techniques KW - Optimization theory KW - Systems optimization KW - Maxima and minima KW - Operations research KW - Simulation methods KW - System analysis KW - Design KW - Mathematics KW - Isoperimetrical problems KW - Variations, Calculus of KW - Systems, Theory of KW - Systems science KW - Science KW - Mechanical engineering KW - Microelectronics KW - Microelectromechanical systems KW - Philosophy UR - https://www.unicat.be/uniCat?func=search&query=sysid:8360910 AB - An important scienti?c innovation rarely makes its way by gradually winning over and converting its opponents. . . What does happen is that its opponents die out and that the growing generation is familiarised with the idea from the beginning. (Max Planck, 1936) Humans have always attempted to in?uence their environment. Indeed, it seems likely that the understanding of aspects of this environment, and its control, whether by trial-and-error or by actual study and analysis, are crucial to the very process of civilisation. As an illustration, boats and ships were used even in pre-history for ?shing, tra- port, discovery, and trade. Small sailing craft are controlled primarily by working the main-sheet and rudder in conjunction. Once mastered, further experimentation (see e. g. the ?fth chapter of the Kon Tiki Expedition, with an entertaining account of the possible use of multiple movable centerboards on a sailing raft) led to a - sic change: keeled hulls and corresponding rigging, which made sailing against the wind possible. This was a relatively recent feature: even the far-voyaging Vikings relied primarily on beachable ships and recourse to oars. It was probably crucial in the west-to-east settlement of Oceania, from Taiwan to Easter Island. A 20th century development is the self-steering device, which regulates boat travel au- matically under mildly varying wind conditions; but this has had a much smaller social impact. ER -