Feedback: Gain scheduling example, safety concerns

Recent Control Engineering reader feedback includes a gain scheduling example on that related tutorial and concerns about industrial safety in light of various safety standards.

February 5, 2011

Recent Control Engineering reader feedback includes a gain scheduling example on that related tutorial and concerns about safety with industrial automation, especially considering newer safety standards.

Lawnmower gas tank

I just read the article "Back to Basics: How Gain Scheduling Works" in the January 2011 Control Engineering magazine.   I thought I’d add this somewhat humorous observation: this article could be subtitled, “Why Do I Always Spill Gas When I Fill the Tank on the Lawnmower?”

John Winders, PMP, Senior Electrical Engineer, Polytron; Polytron, based in Duluth, Georgia (north of Atlanta) helps customers engineer and operate with manufacturing excellence. www.polytron.com

Automation industry needs help with safety critical systems

About the Control Engineering Machine Control blog entry titled, "Functional Safety From UL – Let’s Discuss!" Daniel Lundin said, in part, "My personal opinion is that the automation industry desperately needs a change in the way safety-critical systems are implemented. "Automation" is far, far behind other industries when it comes to safety standards. …" Read more; click the link above.

Browse other blog entries at www.controleng.com/blogs.

– Edited by Mark T. Hoske, Control Engineering, CFE Media, www.controleng.com