Qian Xuesen popularized cybernetics to the field of engineering technology for the first time in Engineering Cybernetics, which is a classic work of cybernetics and has German and Russian translations.

In order to accurately describe the static and dynamic characteristics of the controlled object, it is often necessary to establish mathematical models. A successful mathematical model can reflect the essential characteristics of the controlled system more deeply, centrally and accurately.

With the help of mathematical model, engineers can clearly see the relationship between the control variables and the system state, and how to change the control variables to make the system parameters reach the desired state and keep the system running stably and reliably. Mathematical models can also help people to fight against harmful external interference and point out the measures that must be taken to eliminate this interference.

Application field:

Engineering cybernetics originated in the field of pure technology. The automatic adjustment of mechanical variables and physical variables such as speed, temperature and pressure is the earliest industrial application, and the theory of automatic adjustment is the theoretical summary of technological progress in this period. The appearance of automatic air defense system and self-seeking missile system before and after World War II promoted the wide application of servo mechanism and automatic control technology.

After development and perfection, the theory of automatic regulation has risen to the theory of automatic control. With the appearance of the first electronic digital computer, the technical field began to develop automata with digital computing ability and logical analysis function, and the automatic control system immediately gained the function of intelligent control.

With a large number of cheap microcomputers entering the market, the automation engineering system has entered the intelligent stage in an all-round way, and the full significance of the automatic control theory has really begun.