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Controller design

Because we want to optimize the design of the feedback loop in our system, we developed a more abstract block scheme of the bacterium. It shows each component as a block performing a specific task. The diagram is used to develop some theories about the performance of the feedback loop.

Proportional design (P controller)

Because the controller has to be implemented in 'biological technology', we choose the simplest possible design of controller, the proportional controller. The output signal in this type of controller is directly proportional to the error signal. The error signal is the substraction of the input and the control signal. however this type of controller has one importent flaw. When the input is a step function, as in most cases, there will be a steady state error. To make this steady state error as small as possible, the gain in the feedback loop must be as large as possible. The gain in the feedback loop can be adjusted by using low/high copy plasmids for the genes involved in the production and sensing of vanillin.

Block model of the system with proportional controller (Simulink)

Proportional and Integral design (PI controller)

Because the steady state error on a step input signal will always be nonzero without an integrator, we considered to add some integral action. However because of the limited amount of time and resources we stuck with the P controller design, which is orders of magnitudes simpler to implement effectively biological systems.

Block model of the system with proportional controller (Simulink)

Integral action could be implemented in the cell by producing a species with a rate proportional to the amount of mRNA key.