Title: Robust design of proportional integral controllers: a Taguchi-grey approach

Authors: Vinayambika S. Bhat; Shreeranga Bhat; E.V. Gijo

Addresses: Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Mangalore Institute of Technology and Engineering, Moodabidri – 574225, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, St Joseph Engineering College, Mangaluru – 575028, India ' SQC & OR Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore – 560059, India

Abstract: This paper aims to apply a statistical approach for a robust design to determine the optimum levels of proportional integral (PI) controllers by considering the noise parameters in the control engineering arena. Taguchi's robust engineering methodology and grey relational analysis (GRA) methodology are utilised for multi-objective optimisation of the process parameters. Taguchi method is effectively applied to ensure the robustness of the controller designed under the set range of model parameter uncertainties, which cause undesirable variation in the PI controller's performance. The ascertained optimal parameters from the Taguchi-Grey approach are subjected to simulation analysis to determine the settling time and performance indices. During the study, it is reconfirmed that statistical tools' application assists in developing a robust controller design in a structured manner. Moreover, it is observed that the approach helps in multi-objective optimisation by accommodating both control and noise parameters in the control system design.

Keywords: robust design; PI controller; performance index; Taguchi method; grey relational analysis; simulation; multi-objective optimisation; noise parameters; Servo response; regulatory response; first-order-plus-time-delay.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMIC.2020.114791

International Journal of Modelling, Identification and Control, 2020 Vol.35 No.4, pp.363 - 375

Received: 26 May 2020
Accepted: 08 Jul 2020
Published online: 06 May 2021 *

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