Sensitivity (control systems)

A basic closed loop control system, using unity negative feedback. C(s) and G(s) denote compensator and plant transfer functions, respectively.

The controller parameters are typically matched to the process characteristics and since the process may change, it is important that the controller parameters are chosen in such a way that the closed loop system is not sensitive to variations in process dynamics. One way to characterize sensitivity is through the nominal sensitivity peak $M_{s}$:

$M_{s}=\max _{0\leq \omega <\infty }\left|S(j\omega )\right|=\max _{0\leq \omega <\infty }\left|{\frac {1}{1+G(j\omega )C(j\omega )}}\right|$

where $G(s)$ and $C(s)$ denote the plant and controller's transfer function in a basic closed loop control system using unity negative feedback.

The sensitivity function $S$, which appears in the above formula also describes the transfer function from external disturbance to process output. In fact, assuming an additive disturbance n after the output

Block diagram of a control system with disturbance

of the plant, the transfer functions of the closed loop system are given by

$Y(s)={\frac {C(s)G(s)}{1+C(s)G(s)}}R(s)+{\frac {1}{1+C(s)G(s)}}N(s)$

Hence, lower values of $|S|$ suggest further attenuation of the external disturbance. The sensitivity function tells us how the disturbances are influenced by feedback. Disturbances with frequencies such that $|S(j\omega )|$ is less than one are reduced by an amount equal to the distance to the critical point $-1$ and disturbances with frequencies such that $|S(j\omega )|$ is larger than one are amplified by the feedback.

It is important that the largest value of the sensitivity function be limited for a control system and it is common to require that the maximum value of the sensitivity function, $M_{s}$, be in a range of 1.3 to 2.

Sensitivity circle

The quantity $M_{s}$ is the inverse of the shortest distance from the Nyquist curve of the loop transfer function to the critical point $-1$. A sensitivity $M_{s}$ guarantees that the distance from the critical point to the Nyquist curve is always greater than ${\frac {1}{M_{s}}}$ and the Nyquist curve of the loop transfer function is always outside a circle around the critical point $-1+0j$ with the radius ${\frac {1}{M_{s}}}$, known as the sensitivity circle. $M_{s}$ defines the maximum value of the sensitivity function and the inverse of $M_{s}$ gives you the shortest distance from the open-loop transfer function $L(j\omega )$ to the critical point $-1+0j$.

See also

• Robust control
• PID controller
• Bode's sensitivity integral