REGULATORS (Short history of)
Charles François (2004). REGULATORS (Short history of), International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(2): 2811.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 2811 ▶ |
| Object type | General information |
Practical and effective regulators anticipated for long time the cybernetic theory of regulation. Some examples can be found in various antique cultures and even in archaic ones. Some old Chinese and Medieval artefacts also included regulators.
R. VALLÉE makes the point: “The classical example of regulators, the best known of them being WATT's regulator (1785 — first theory due to MAXWELL around 1870) is a good illustration of negative feedback. Nevertheless it is not the most ancient: middle ages and antiquity give other examples such as the mill corn-dispenser, or clepsydra water supply” (1993a, p.85).