You are viewing an older revision! See the latest version
PID
A proportional-integral-derivative controller (PID controller) is a generic loop feedback mechanism. It measures a process variable (e.g. temperature), and checks it against a desired set point (e.g. 100 degrees celsius); it then attempts to adjust the process variable by changing the controller output (e.g. PWM signal to an electric heater) which will bring it closer to the desired set point.
The wikipedia article on PID controllers is an excellent place to start in understanding the concepts of a PID controller. The controlguru website also contains a wealth of easy to digest information on how to implement and tune a PID controller.
As these resources can already explain the fundamentals and implementation of a PID controller, this page will detail the PID library and then present an example of putting it into practice.