Running PCT demos by
Dag Forssell
Notes on running PCT demos on Windows computers |
running_pct_demos.pdf |
DEMO1 and DEMO2 tutorial programs
by Bill Powers
The best way to get a sense of how control works is to play
with physical control systems. The most readily accessible
control systems available for this purpose may be model aircraft
servos. You can feel them strain as you apply disturbances
or change the reference signal, just like you strain when
you arm-wrestle and change your mind about where you want
your arm to be when the wrestling starts. DEMO1 and DEMO2
(DOS programs, study in sequence) are excellent tutorials
that introduce and review the basics. Studying DEMO1 and
DEMO2 with care is essential to understanding PCT. |
Program+Document ZIP:
demo1.zip
demo2.zip
Program uncompressed
demo1 program
demo2 program
Document only:
demo1.pdf
demo2.pdf |
Track Analyze by
Bill Powers
This Windows program expands on DEMO1, Compensatory tracking,
with additional detail and analysis. The program computes
parameters for, and runs a simulation designed to replicate
your own results. |
Program+Document ZIP:
track_analyze.zip
Program uncompressed
track
analyze program
Document only:
track_analyze.pdf |
E-COLI by
Bill Powers
This interactive DOS program demonstrates that living organisms
can achieve efficient results with some very "dumb" processes. |
Program+Document ZIP:
e-coli.zip
Program uncompressed
ecoli program
Document only: PDF
ecoli.pdf |
|
Crowd Windows by Bill Powers
Demonstrates how familiar "crowd behaviors" emerge
from independent agents each controlling simple perceptions
that have nothing to do with such phenomena. Windows version
(2004). |
Program+Document ZIP:
crowd_win.zip
Program uncompressed
crowd win
program
Document only:
crowd_win_demo.pdf |
|
Crowd DOS by Bill Powers
The DOS version (1989) of the same Crowd simulation.
Note that the documentation for the old version may be
very informative. |
Program+Document ZIP:
crowd_dos.zip
Program uncompressed
crowd dos
program
Document only:
crowd_dos_demo.pdf |
Inverted Pendulum DOS and Windows
by Bill Powers
Animals standing or walking on one or two legs are always
falling to one side or the other, especially if the wind blows
or the ships deck moves. To see how we keep our balance, it
is well to study and inverted pendulum (balancing an upside-down
broom by supporting the handle end in the palm of your hand).
This demo shows that a few simple control systems are an excellent
start when you set out to reverse engineer a standing, walking
animal. DOS demo |
Program+Document ZIP:
inverted_pendulum.zip
Program uncompressed
inverted
win program
inverted dos program
Document only:
inverted_pendulum.pdf |
Square Circle by
Bill Powers
This DOS demo shows clearly that you do NOT control your behaviors.
They are your means to control your perceptions – the outcome
you want. |
Program+Document ZIP:
square_circle.zip
Program uncompressed
square
circle program
Document only:
square_circle.pdf |
Little Man One — DOS by
Bill Powers
This program demonstrates a model of pointing. You can move
a target around in three dimensions while a model person reaches
out to touch it, following it as it moves. There are five
lower-order control systems and three higher-order control
systems that run the model; you can alter the basic parameters
of all systems to see the effects. The model person uses binocular
vision in three dimensions to detect depth information; all
visual information is computed from reasonably accurate optical
computations that calculate the finger and target angles that
each eye will see. |
Program+Document ZIP:
arm_one_dos.zip
Program uncompressed
arm one
dos program
Document only:
arm_one_dos_descr.pdf
arm_one_dos_calc.pdf |
Little Man One — Windows
by Bill Powers
This program is an updated, more user friendly version of
the original DOS program. The same description applies.
Note that the documentation for the old version is very
informative. |
Program+Document ZIP:
arm_one_win.zip
Program uncompressed
arm one
win program
Document only:
arm_one_win_calc.pdf |
Arm with 14 degrees of freedom by Bill Powers
This DOS program simulates an entire arm with 14 degrees of freedom. You will see that the neural structure required to control an arm with its many joints can be remarkably simple.
|
Program+Document ZIP:
14_deg_freedom.zip
Program uncompressed
14_deg_freedom dos
Document only:
14_deg_freedom.pdf |
|
Multiple Control Systems / PCT and Engineering Control
Theory by Bill Powers
Newcomers have sometimes concluded that PCT cannot be valid
because people cannot be described as a single control system,
they're not that simple. Of course they aren't. As in any
science, we simplify for purposes of experiment (as in pursuit
tracking) or explanation (as in the rubber band demos).
When you perform a rubber band demo, many muscle groups
are actively controlling, including your left big toe if
you are standing up at the time. This Windows program demonstrates
that hundreds of interdependent control loops can be "in
control" at the same time, despite widely varying reference
signals. Thus it demonstrates that the suggested PCT and
HPCT hieararchy with thousands of control loops active simultaneously
is very realistic. |
Program+Document ZIP:
multiple_control.zip
Program uncompressed
multiple
cont win
Document only:
multiple_control.pdf |
