Patent ID: 8571775

Claim:
A control system, comprising: a higher-level control unit; a first smart actuator for actuating a clutch, including: an actuator-internal control unit; a first communication interface for connecting to the higher-level control unit; and, means for controlling; at least one data line for connecting the first smart actuator to the higher-level control unit; and, a second smart actuator including a second communication interface for connecting to the higher-level control unit, wherein: the first smart actuator is configured to identify errors in the higher-level control unit or in the second smart actuator; the means for controlling are suitable for converting the system into a safe system state in case of an identified error; the smart actuator also has means for delayed shutoff when communication with the higher-level control unit is faulty; and, the delayed shutoff time is greater than or equal to the time required to convert the control system into a safe state between the onset of the error and the shutoff of the monitored smart actuator.