System identification: methods and applications

Certain systematic approaches which rely on the use of experimental data for the construction of predictive models are given the name of system identification. These methods in principle, are capable of determining the cause-effect relationship in a physical system (in this case a mathematical model and/or its parameters) if the input excitation and the corresponding system response are known. The techniques of system identification are briefly outlined, followed by a more detailed discussion of the state of knowledge in parameter estimation and application of the methods to equipment design and qualification.