What is the term for the difference between the desired speed and actual speed of a motor?

The term that describes the difference between the desired speed and the actual speed of a motor is referred to as "error." In the context of control systems, an error value is essential for assessing performance. It indicates how far the current state is from the target or setpoint. When programming and controlling motors in robotics, this error informs adjustments needed to achieve the desired performance. A smaller error suggests that the system is more closely achieving the intended behavior, which is crucial for fine-tuning and optimizing motor control.

The other terms provided do not directly describe this specific difference. Feedback typically refers to the data returned to the system about its current state or performance but doesn’t specify the difference between desired and actual speeds. Result is a general term that could refer to any outcome, while deviation might imply variation from a standard but does not specifically convey the difference in the context of desirable conditions versus observed conditions.