What Is the Meaning of Open Loop System?
An open-loop system, also known as an open-loop controller or a non-feedback controller, is a kind of system that bases the input or start of the system without taking into consideration outside factors directly caused by the system itself. In other words, the feedback caused by the system does not factor into the decision of whether or not the system runs.
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Uses
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Open-loop systems are used in nearly all walks of life, in everything from washing machines (where the activation of the washing machine is determined simply by a person starting it, not the dryness of the clothes) to cell phones (where the cell phone is turned on and off by the person using it, not depending on whether or not it is actually receiving a call).
Benefits
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Benefits of an open-loop system are often the small amount of cost associated with running the processes. It is simpler and more cost effective in most cases simply to start a repetitive process without worrying about factoring in feedback. For example, a process of a conveyor belt works more effectively without having to input feedback of the weight of every specific box that it is conveying. In this case, there is no need for feedback to be taken into consideration.
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Drawbacks
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Drawbacks of the open-loop system is the possibility of waste, due to the process running when it might not have to, and the fact that the process does not learn from feedback and become more efficient.
Closed-loop system
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The opposite of an open-loop system is a closed-loop system. This is a system where the feedback of the process determines the next part of the process. For example, if there is a light that turns on in a room if motion is detected in the room, then that is a closed-loop system since the process of turning on the light entirely depends on feedback, in this case the introduction of motion.
Example
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One example of an open-loop system is a sprinkler system that turns on every day at a pre-programmed time. No matter the moisture level of the grass, the sprinkler system will continue to water it at a prescribed time. (For example, even if there was a heavy rain and the sprinklers do not need to be turned on, they will still water at their pre-programmed time.) That is an open-loop because the sprinklers will turn on no matter the feedback (in this case, the grass moisture). However, if someone were to install a moisture detector where the sprinklers only turn on once it reaches a certain point, then the entire system turns into a closed-loop system.
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References
- Photo Credit sprinklers on racecourse image by david hughes from Fotolia.com
