A control engineer's perspective on fuzzy control

Control engineers have been slow to embrace fuzzy logic as a common tool in the typical repertoire of useful techniques for solving difficult engineer ing problems. From its beginnings more than 30 years ago, through its first implementations for control 20 years ago, to its increasingly common appea rances within technical programs at serious control meetings throughout the '90s, fuzzy control has indeed come a long way. Along this journey, fuzzy control has gained respect, and is now recognized as having substance beyon d its inherent heuristic and intuitive appeal. This presentation offers the perspective of one "conventional-minded" contr ol engineer on the subject of fuzzy control. By tracing a brief history of fuzzy control from its inception out of fuzzy logic, I would like to explor e some of the controversy that has followed its evolution. Without delving deeply into the details of the technology, a little background will be give n so that we can discuss current affairs with regard to results for stabili ty and design using fuzzy logic in control. Then I will focus on what initi ally motivated me to study fuzzy control: applications.