Too Much Gain

Delays and oscillation

An interactive lesson with 6 steps, about 5 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• Delays make feedback overshoot and oscillate.
• Above the critical gain, oscillations grow: the loop is unstable.
• Longer delays force gentler control.

Steps

1. The shower problem
2. Gain and delay
3. The edge of stability
4. Taming the shower
5. How long is the delay?
6. Faster sensors