Definition
The science that studies control and communication in both machines and living organisms, focusing on how systems use feedback to regulate themselves and maintain stable performance.
Plain English
The study of how machines and living things sense what is happening, compare it to what should be happening, and adjust themselves to stay on target.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of automatic flight control, autopilots, aircraft stability, and how pilots interact with aircraft systems.
Derivation
From the Greek 'kybernetes,' meaning 'steersman' or 'helmsman' -- the person who steers a ship by constantly making small corrections. The same idea applies to an autopilot constantly nudging the controls to hold heading and altitude.
Why Pilots Care
Modern aircraft rely heavily on cybernetic systems -- autopilots, autothrottles, stability augmentation, flight directors. Understanding the underlying principle (sense, compare, correct) helps pilots recognize what these systems are doing and what to expect when they fail or disconnect.
Analogy
It is like a driver keeping a car centered in a lane. The driver sees the car drift, compares that with where the car should be, and makes a small steering correction.
Intuition Check
Cybernetics does not mean internet security here. In this context, it means control through sensing, comparing, and correcting.
Example Sentence 1
The principles of cybernetics are at the heart of every autopilot, which continually senses the aircraft's attitude and adjusts the controls to maintain the selected flight path.
Example Sentence 2
Engineers apply cybernetics principles when designing flight control computers that respond to turbulence.