Overshoot

The term overshoot has the following meanings:

Electronics

Overshoot and undershoot in electronic signal.

In electronics "overshoot" can mean:
1. In the transition of any parameter from one value to another, the transitory value of the parameter that exceeds the final (steady state) value.

Note: Overshoot occurs when the transition is from a lower value to a higher value. When the transition is from a higher value to a lower value, and the parameter takes a transitory value that is lower than the final value, the phenomenon is called "undershoot" or "negative overshoot" See Gibbs phenomenon.

2. The increased amplitude of a portion of a nonsinusoidal waveform, i.e. signal, at the output of a nonlinear circuit, e.g. a realizable amplifier, caused by the characteristics of the circuit.

Note 1: Overshoot represents a distortion of the signal.

Note 2: Overshoot may result from circuit design parameters that are intended to decrease the response time of the circuit.

Note 3: The amount of overshoot in a given circuit is designed to minimize response time while maintaining distortion of the signal within acceptable limits. The absence or presence of overshoot, and if present, its magnitude, is a function of a circuit design parameter called "damping." See illustration under waveform.

3. The result of an unusual atmospheric, e.g., ionospheric, condition that causes microwave signals to be received where they are not intended.

Source: from Federal Standard 1037C and from MIL-STD-188

Control theory

In control theory, the percentage overshoot is the maximum value minus the step value divided by the step value. In the case of the unit step, the overshoot is just the maximum value of the step response minus one. For a 2nd-order system, step input, the approximate PO=-ln(damping ratio). A better approximation is PO=-0.044-0.33757*ln(damping ratio).

Aviation

In aviation, an overshoot is an aborted landing. See: go around.

Ecology

In ecology, overshoot occurs when a population exceeds the long term carrying capacity of its environment. The consequence of overshoot is called a crash or die-off. For a classic application of this concept to human experience, see Overshoot: The Ecological Basis of Revolutionary Change. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1980.

Economics

In economics, it may refer to the Overshooting Model.