Most controllers have a means of setting the frequency of irrigation, the start time, and the duration of watering.
In a hydraulic system, the controller and valves are connected via small plastic tubes approximately 4 mm (¼ in) in diameter.
Several manufacturers are now producing controllers that can be automatically updated by either a simple weather sensor, via a pager that receives a daily update from a network of local weather stations, or through soil moisture sensors.
[1] Several companies have also introduced products that gathers information from the internet to update the watering schedule.
For example, the typical professional controller will calculate the actual flow rate running in the system when a specific zone is operated, compare this to a pre-configured required amount, and adjust the irrigation process if deviation from the zone's flow rate is detected; This mechanism is called "Flow monitoring", and can prevent irrigation when a burst is occurring in the main line or in the zone's hydraulic components.