| Type of model | Model structure | Parameter estimation | Example |
| Static | |||
| Linearly | Linear function
| Linear regression (Least Squares method) | Energy signature of weekly values |
| Nonlinear | Polynomials
Any nonlinear function | Linear regression (Least Squares Method) Iterative process, Levenberg Marquardt | Pump curve |
|
| Dynamic | ||
| Linearly | Transfer functions models (ARMA, ARMAX, etc.) | Linear regression (least square method), an iterative procedure | Heat flow through a plane wall |
| Nonlinear | Neural Networks (sigmoid, wavelet, radial basis networks) | Damped Gauss-Newton backpropagation | Arbitrary non-linear systems |
| Polynomials (Wiener /Hammerstein model, Volterra model) | Linear regression (least squares method) | Linear system with static nonlinearities at the input or output (control element with saturation behavior) | |