Control history goes back to more than 2000 years ago when Greeks and Arabs used water clock to keep accurate track of time around the 3rd century BC. Before J. C Maxwell used mathematical modeling and methods to explain instability problems encountered with James Watt's Fly ball governor, most of the control devices were of intuitive inventions. As well known, almost any control systems can be described by the combination of the plant, controller and signal sensing devices. With mathematical modeling of a control system, applying either traditional control theory or modern control theory will generate the control scheme for the system. The generated control scheme can then be realized using either hardware or software. Before "Control Electronics" came into being until the born of the first "Integrated Circuit" by John Kilby at Texas Instruments and Robert Noyce at Fairchild Semiconductor in 1959, implementation of the controls was mainly through mechanical devices. Therefore, "Control mechanics" would be the term proper to use during that times. After their invention, integrated circuits have found their way into almost everything we touch in a developed society. The impact of them to the implementation of the control system is the possibility of creating low profile, high performance, and cost efficient controllers.

An integrated circuit (IC) is the basic component of "Control Electronics". IC is a small electronic device made out of a semiconductor material. Integrated circuits can be classified into two groups based on the type of transistors (BJT or MOS) they contain. Integrated circuits are also categorized according to the number of transistors or other active circuit devices they contain. An IC is said to use small-scale integration (SSI) if it contains fewer than 10 transistors. An IC that contains from 10 to 100 transistors is said to use medium-scale integration (MSI). A large-scale integration (LSI) IC contains from 100 to 1,000 transistors, and one that uses very-large-scale integration (VLSI) contains more than 1,000 transistors. Some integrated circuits are analog devices; an operational amplifier is an example. Other ICs, such as the microprocessors, are digital devices. Some hybrid integrated circuits contain both analog and digital circuitry; a bilateral switch, which switches analog signal by means of a digital control signal is an example of a hybrid IC.

Generally a control task is performed by specifically combined ICs. Simple controls can be carried out using analog ICs, such as operational amplifier circuitry. Analog control circuitry finds popular application in switching mode power supplies, battery chargers, ballast circuitry etc. Sophisticated control tasks usually involves the using of digital ICs, such as the embedded microprocessor system (Microcontroller) or DSP (Digital Signal Processor), a specific microprocessor designed to support high-performance, repetitive, numerically intensive tasks. Motor or generator control is one of the prevailing examples of using micro controller or DSP as its core IC.

Acquiring signals that are required by control law is the basis where a control system is build on. Some of these signals are observable and can be sensed by hardware devices or circuitry, such as position sensors, current sensors, and thermal sensors. Other signals can be estimated using available signals. A typical sensor usually generates a voltage signal proportional to the sensed signal. Accuracy of the sensors is always important for control applications. Researchers and engineers have put lots of efforts to produce high accuracy, low cost sensors.

In summary, the electrical circuits to implement a controller and the sensors to provide the electrical signals for the controller are the basic elements of the "Control Electronics" world. Building a control system with control electronics is an art and science. A same control task can be accomplished by using different combinations of control electronics, can have different performance. Those combinations and resulting performances are not randomly created, but subject to the guidance of natural science and control technology. Understanding the essence of realizing control schemes by properly utilizing the control electronics is one of the goals of this technical committee. While advanced control theories direct control electronics to perform accurate control tasks, control electronics provide creativity and expend boundaries for control theories. Just like many application industries, the development of control electronics will depend on that of IC industry and sensor industry. This leads to the other goal of the committee, to provide the latest information on the control electronics related areas. To achieve these goals, the committee will build web resources for control electronics, open expert forum on this area, publish new letters and organize special sessions on control electronics in some prestigious control conferences.

For further information associated with control electronics and this technical committee, contact the chair at the address above.