An idea of the adaptive approach to the construction (design) of measuring systems is developed. An analysis is given of the features of technical adaptive systems and also the specific character of the means of measurements of both their subclass and the object of application of the adaptation principle. On the basis of the analysis, the concept is set up of the construction of these means, according to which the given principle is considered as an instrument of their perfection and its application is extended to all stages of their design from the choice of the principle (principles) of the action to the organization of the procedure of the output control (primary verification) in their series production. The effectiveness of the concept is illustrated by examples of the solution of the earlier unsolved problems and statement of new problems

Consideration was given to the model containing coupled subsystems (MCCS). With no connection between the subsystems, the MCCS falls down into independent subsystems, that is, systems of autonomous ordinary differential equations. MCCS with cycles in the subsystems were examined. For the autonomous MCCS, conditions were established for cycles and their stability, and a cycle stabilization by the control explicitly independent of time was proposed. For the periodic MCCS, generation of isolated periodic solutions was proved, and the problem of their stability and stabilization was solved.

This paper presents a designed system with a radio-frequency sensor intended for measuring liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) mass in a tank. The system measures the current mass of LPG with the maximum error of ±0.5% under its real storage conditions in tanks. Particular attention is paid to the measurement process proper.

Consideration was given to the model containing coupled subsystems (MCCS). In the absence of coupling, MCCS falls down into independent subsystems represented by autonomous ordinary differential equations (ODE). In the structure of the entire system its subsystems make up hierarchical levels. The autonomous MCCS was studied. The “cycle or family of periodic motions” alternative was shown to be always realized by an individual system in a nondegenerate situation. For the main mode of oscillations, a scenario was given for bifurcation of the family of all families of periodic solutions arising with generation of the MCCS cycles. Consideration was given to stability of cycles, and the problem of their stabilization was solved.

Decision support systems in ill-defined dynamic situations are considered; the systems are based on modeling the expert knowledge represented as cognitive maps. Simulation systems for cognitive maps that have been developed in Russia are used as an example to overview implementation methods of the main functional subsystems in the decision support systems under consideration.