Book Reviews classical way (based on the frequency response concept) but from the point of view of the time domain. The work also deals with such problems as self-adjusting and hierarchic systems, not found in most introductory textbooks, but still being researched intensively. Part I (Ch. l-5) summarizes the basic principles of cybernetics, while the second part (Ch. 6-15) describes signal transmission and state behaviour in linear continuous-time systems. The introductory concepts and the relations between cybernetics and engineering are dealt with first, followed by a conceptual summary of motion, state and behaviour of cybernetical systems. The third chapter discusses model building and the characteristic functions of the steady-state and dynamic behaviour. The fourth chapter contains the requirement-s and global structures as well as the system characteristic of automatic control. The fifth chapter deals with the problems of information and information processing. The sixth chapter treats the basic problems of analysis, identification and synthesis of control systems. The principles of the state space method are discussed next. Chapters 8-10 describe signal transmission by decomposing the signals into impulses, sine waves and exponential signals. The application of the convolution integrals, the Fourier and Laplace transforms are also dealt with. Next, the basic types of transfer elements are classified. The last two chapters discuss the computation of signal transmission and the establishing of st,ate space equations for transfer elements in elementary connections.
Though the book has an introductory character it is necessary to know linear differential equations, vector and matrix analysis, the calculus with complex numbers, the set theory and the Laplace transformation.
The material is clearly written. However, beyond a doubt, the inclusion of a detailed bibliography, being absent entirely, could have increased the value of the book immeasurably.