Really.What is it?Can't find anything anywhere related to it...Please don't give fancy examples.Just tell me the difference
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\$\begingroup\$ What is a (e.g Lead) compensator, what is it used for, where did you see it mentioned? \$\endgroup\$– jippieCommented Jul 23, 2015 at 18:11
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3\$\begingroup\$ I wouldn't be too concerned with semantics. 'Compensator' tends to be used for a sub-system that aims to improve one measurable aspect of a system, eg the phase margin. 'Controller' tends to be used more generically, and may seek to adjust a number of design criteria, eg steady state gain and overshoot. \$\endgroup\$– ChuCommented Jul 23, 2015 at 23:00
1 Answer
In simply words:
Regulator (controller) is a device that controls the object in closed loop on the basis of difference (error of regulation) between measurements of object's output and external steering signal, regulator tries to reduce error to zero.
Compensator only change object characteristics (transfer function), e.g. phase of output signal. Compensators are used in connection with regulators, in feedback loop (change characteristics of object's output signal) or in steering path (change steering signal from controller to object).
More here: https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Control_Systems/Controllers_and_Compensators