The Basics
A control loop is an increasingly integral device used in industrial applications. Simply put, a control loop is a “feedback mechanism that attempts to correct discrepancies between a measured process variable and the desired setpoint.” This process is controlled by a specialized computer fittingly known as the “controller”. Via an actuator, the controller makes essential corrective efforts that can drive the process variable up or down. A home furnace system is a pertinent example of a controller at work - using basic feedback from a thermostat to modify the temperature either higher or lower depending on the input.