Optimal-tuning PID controller design for hydraulic position control systems

An optimal-tuning PID controller design scheme is presented for hydraulic position control systems. After analysis on physical dynamics of the systems, a nonlinear model is derived. The PID parameters are searched by optimisation methods to satisfy some desired time-domain performance requirements. Based on an estimated process model, the optimal-tuning PID controller provides optimal PID parameters even in the case where the process dynamics changes. To implement the optimal-tuning PID control in practice safely, a control performance prediction strategy is incorporated into the scheme. The proposed PID control technique is implemented on a PID controller unit and also tested on a hydraulic position control test rig.