Optimal control of reluctance devices

The single-step optimal control of a variable-reluctance stepper motor is presented. The optimal policy is shown to be bang-bang, with current drive control, for an established nonlinear model with the torque proportional to the square of the current. The analytic result is confirmed by extensive computations of the actual optimal strategy. The formulation used retains the benefits of the open-loop control of the motor. The responses obtained are compared to the step response and are shown to exhibit substantial improvements. The general form of the control equally applies to machines, such as the reluctance motor, with similar models.