Engineering English
Control Law
Aerospace Engineering · Last updated: July 30, 2026 · How this entry was written
Definition: A control law is a mathematical algorithm that governs the control surface commands based on sensor feedback and pilot inputs. It is central to modern flight control systems, enabling stability augmentation and autopilot functions.
Example in context
“The pitch axis control law uses a proportional-integral structure with gain scheduling by dynamic pressure to ensure consistent response across the flight envelope.”
“Pitch ekseni kontrol yasası, uçuş zarfı boyunca tutarlı tepki sağlamak için dinamik basınca göre kazanç planlaması ile oransal-integral yapı kullanır.”
Where engineers use it
Appears in flight control system documentation and certification reports. Engineers design and validate control laws to meet handling qualities requirements and ensure robustness against failures.
Synonyms: control algorithm, flight control law
Practice: can you use “Control Law” at work?
You are reviewing a proposed change to the yaw damper control law. A junior engineer claims the new law improves damping but reduces roll performance. Discuss how you would trade off these effects.
Show a model answer
“Verify that the control law provides adequate phase margin at all flight conditions.”
“Control Law” in 21 languages
| English | Control Law |
|---|---|
| Turkish | kontrol yasası |
| French | loi de commande |
| German | Regelgesetz |
| Spanish | ley de control |
| Chinese | 控制律 |
| Arabic | قانون التحكم |
| Portuguese | lei de controle |
| Russian | закон управления |
| Japanese | 制御則 |
| Italian | legge di controllo |
| Vietnamese | luật điều khiển |
| Hindi | नियंत्रण विधि |
| Thai | กฎควบคุม |
| Indonesian | hukum kendali |
| Korean | 제어 법칙 |
| Bengali | নিয়ন্ত্রণ আইন |
| Dutch | regelwet |
| Swedish | styrlag |
| Finnish | ohjauslaki |
| Ukrainian | закон керування |
Frequently asked questions
What does Control Law mean in engineering?
A control law is a mathematical algorithm that governs the control surface commands based on sensor feedback and pilot inputs. It is central to modern flight control systems, enabling stability augmentation and autopilot functions. In Aerospace Engineering, the term carries a usage-frequency rating of 10/10 in the Engineering English library.
How do you pronounce Control Law?
Control Law is pronounced /kənˈtroʊl lɔː/ (IPA). The Engineering English app plays audio for the term and checks your pronunciation with speech recognition.
How is Control Law used in a sentence?
Example from an engineering context: “The pitch axis control law uses a proportional-integral structure with gain scheduling by dynamic pressure to ensure consistent response across the flight envelope.”
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