-

Example of a continuous flow control loop. Signalling is by industry standard 4-20 mA current loops, and a "smart" valve positioner ensures the control valve operates correctly.
Process control may either use feedback or it may be open loop. Control may also be continuous (automobile cruise control) or cause a sequence of discrete events, such as a timer on a lawn sprinkler (on/off) or controls on an elevator (logical sequence).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Process_control



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 days (2016-11-02 09:59:48 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

gleitende Regelung
bei Öl- und Gaskesseln mit gleitender Regelung erzeugt der Brenner, abhängig von der Außentemperatur, eine entsprechende Vorlauftemperatur - stufenlos oder durch intermittierenden An/Aus-Betrieb, wobei der Kessel gegen Tieftemperaturkorrosion (niedrige Rücklauftemperaturen) unempfindlich sein muss.
http://baulexikon.beuth.de/GLEITENDE.HTM

The method is independent of any atomisation, offers the possibility of continuous control, manages with a low flow energy, and is therefore also conceivable as the basis for a gas turbine combustion chamber concept.
:
Description:
Gegenstand der Erfindung ist ein Vergasungsverfahren für flüssige Brennstoffe, das eine pyrolysefreie Verbrennung bei geringer Luftpressung ohne Zerstäubung gleitend re­gelbar realisiert.
:
Da diese Wirkungs­weise über einen großen Leistungsbereich erhalten bleibt, ist eine gleitende Regelung möglich, auch bei konstanter Drehzahl, wenn Luftdrosselung und Brennstoffdosierung auf­einander abgestimmt werden.
http://www.freepatentsonline.net/DE3822191.html

control variable
Regelgröße {f} [zu regelnde Größe]electr.tech.
Stellgröße {f}tech.
Steuervariable {f}tech.
Laufvariable {f}comp.math.
acoustic variable control
akustische Steuerung {f}
fully variable control
voll einstellbare Regelung {f}
http://www.dict.cc/englisch-deutsch/control variable.html

VVC (Variable Valve Control) is an automobile variable valve timing technology developed by Rover and applied to some high performance variants of the company's K Series 1800cc engine.
In order to improve the optimisation of the valve timing for differing engine speeds and loads, the system is able to vary the timing and duration of the inlet valve opening. It achieves this by using a complex and finely machined mechanism to drive the inlet camshafts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variable_Valve_Control

Variable control of fan speed
For fans with 1x230V voltage supply via voltage control
With the EFC speed controller it is possible to provide variable control of the motors' rotary speed and thus to vary fan capacity from 25-100%. The controllers have integral on-off knobs and internal minimum trimmer, allowing the minimum voltage/airflow to be set.
http://www.exhausto.com/products/Fans/Ventilator automatik/E...

Eine weitere, in meinen Augen aber weniger gute Übersetzung wäre “sliding control”:

A global quasi-sliding mode control (GQSMC) scheme is introduced to ensure zigzag motion with a smaller bound than that offered by Gao's method and to provide disturbance rejection throughout the entire response in discrete time. The design of an augmented forcing function is followed by three conditions in discrete time extended from global sliding mode control (GSMC) in continuous time. The design of an augmented forcing function is followed by three conditions in discrete time extended from global sliding mode control (GSMC) in continuous time.
https://www.tib.eu/en/search/id/tema:TEMA20141010818/A-Discr...