• Main Components
• Integrated Model
• BioBricks
• Notebook
• Safety
• Ethics

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 bacteria. 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 gain in the feedback loop can be adjusted by the use of low/high copy plasmids for the genes involved in production of vanillin.

Block model of the system with proportional controller (Simulink)

Proportional and Integral design (PI controller)

Because without integral action the steady state error on a step input signal will be nonzero, we considered to add some integral action. But 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.