This paper will cover methods of describing a system using block diagrams, a block diagram ï¿½languageï¿½ that I have found to be very clear and detailed, some examples of other block diagramming ï¿½dialectsï¿½ that you'll see in related literature, and finally some methods for analyzing system behavior using block diagrams.

Control systems engineers use block diagrams extensively in system analysis and design. Block diagrams provide two major benefits to the control system engineer: they provide a clear and concise way of describing the behavior and structure of the system, and when the block diagram ï¿½languageï¿½ is limited appropriately they provide formal methods for determining system behavior.

(note: For more information on using block diagrams, and other practical uses of control theory, see the book Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems .)