Basic Description of Discrete-event Dynamic Systems

Abstract

People observe various phenomena of nature and endeavor to comprehend them. The first step in that is a reflection of the phenomena by imagination and description. The reflexive process is a process of abstraction. In this process, the notion of “system” is of basic importance.

A system is defined to be a group of objects separated from the universe and having mutual relations.

Different physical entities can constitute system objects. If time is included among the system objects, their temporal properties or the system dynamics can be considered. The system dynamics is given by the time behavior of the system objects. The behavior is called the process.

A real physical system is represented by an ideal system created by human thinking and understanding. Mathematical representations of real systems are the most abstract and precise descriptions. Since the very beginning of its existence, mankind strives not only to know and to describe natural systems but also to govern and control them.

Control of a system is based on knowledge about the particular system. This knowledge is developed via abstraction based on observation of the system. The observation is realized by measurements and if possible, by experimentation with the system.