Open Loop System

In the context of aerospace engineering, an Open Loop System refers to a type of control system in which the output is neither measured nor fed back for comparison with the input. The system is called 'open loop' because the control action from the controller is independent of the 'process output', or the system response. In aerospace applications, open loop systems are often used in situations where the relationship between the input and the output is known and predictable, and where the effects of disturbances are negligible. For example, the firing of a rocket in space can be considered an open loop system. Once the rocket is fired, there is no way to adjust its trajectory or speed, and the final position of the rocket is determined solely by the initial conditions and the known laws of physics. However, open loop systems have limitations, particularly in situations where precision and adaptability to changing conditions are required. They are less common in modern aerospace systems, which often use more complex closed loop or feedback control systems.