Hermann Schmidt, scientist and philosopher - pioneer of the generalized feedback theory

摘要

This contribution is to honour Hermann Schmidt (1894-1968) who was the first and long time only German professor of control engineering. Already in 1938 he lectured on control engineering at the Berlin University of Technology. Then and there he created his generalized feedback theory (Allgemeine Regelkreislehre) that he represented throughout his life. His way of discussing the many applications of feedback coincides to a great deal with the later idea of cybernetics. In 1939 he founded the famous control group of the VDI (VDI-Fachgruppe Regelungstechnik) and he promoted the first German standard of control. In November 1944 he established the first chair of control engineering in Germany.