A description is given of 11 papers from the April 1990 special issue on neural networks in control systems of IEEE Control Systems Magazine. The emphasis was on presenting as varied and current a picture as possible of the use of neural networks in control. The papers described cover: the design of associative memories using feedback neural networks; a method to use neural networks to control highly nonlinear systems; the modeling of nonlinear chemical systems using neural networks; the identification of dynamical systems; the comparison of conventional adaptive controllers and neural-network-based controllers; a method to provide adaptive control for nonlinear systems; neural networks and back-propagation; the back-propagation algorithm; the use of trained neural networks to regulate the pitch attitude of an underwater telerobot; the control of mobile robots; and the issues involved in integrating neural networks and knowledge-based systems.