What is tolerance?
If a positioning system with feedback needs to compensate a difference between an actual position and a commanded position, the steering is based on the difference between actual and commanded position (the error signal). If no error is allowed, the compensation process will theoretically take infinitely long (unless the parameters are set with infinite accuracy). In order to avoid a long time of ‘hunting’ for a final position, a feedback system designer incorporates some small tolerance (allowed error between commanded and actual position).
Tolerance is the body’s way to always feel in control. We develop many different kinds of tolerance, to weather, spicy foods, sugar in our coffee… but our tolerance to alcohol may actually do us harm instead of good. Everyone is born with an initial tolerance to alcohol, which is the amount of alcohol they can consume before feeling effects beyond relaxation. As a person drinks more alcohol, to feel buzzed or intoxicated, their tolerance will increase so the body can maintain a feeling of control. The more the person drinks, and the more often, the more the tolerance will increase. If a person takes a “break” from drinking, tolerance is likely to decrease. A high tolerance can look and feel protective because the person may be able to drink more alcohol but still feel “in control”, the problem however, is that the person’s BAC (blood alcohol concentration) continues to increase. This can put a person in danger of experiencing negative consequences from drinking, even when not feeling
