servomechanism

American  

[sur-voh-mek-uh-niz-uhm, sur-voh-mek-] / ˈsɜr voʊˌmɛk əˌnɪz əm, ˌsɜr voʊˈmɛk- /

noun

1. an electronic control system in which a hydraulic, pneumatic, or other type of controlling mechanism is actuated and controlled by a low-energy signal.

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servomechanism British  

/ ˌsɜːvəʊˈmɛk-, ˌsɜːvəʊmɪˈkænɪkəl, ˈsɜːvəʊˌmɛkəˌnɪzəm /

noun

1. a mechanical or electromechanical system for control of the position or speed of an output transducer. Negative feedback is incorporated to minimize discrepancies between the output state and the input control setting

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Other Word Forms

• servomechanical adjective
• servomechanically adverb

Etymology

Origin of servomechanism

First recorded in 1940–45; servo- + mechanism

Example Sentences

In late 1943, Professor Forrester developed a servomechanism device that would control a radar antenna for intercepting aircraft.

From New York Times • Nov. 17, 2016

The next year, he went to work at M.I.T.’s new Servomechanisms Laboratory, doing research in servomechanism theory and feedback control systems.

From New York Times • Nov. 17, 2016

Scientists at Barnes Engineering Co. have developed an automated lathe that obediently turns out a variety of parts by following the coded instructions printed on a tape, which in turn direct a servomechanism system.

From Time Magazine Archive