PSO-Based Optimization of State Feedback Tracking Controller for a Flexible Link Manipulator

In this paper, state feedback control design for tracking control of a flexible link manipulator is considered. The computation of state feedback control gains is conventionally handled by pole placement method or LQR method via Riccati equation. Unfortunately, they still possess trial-and-error approach in choosing their parameters. Particularly, choosing elements of Q and R matrices in the state feedback control design using LQR method has to be done by trial. Therefore, an intelligent method to resolve this problem is proposed by adopting PSO-based optimization. Experimental work is carried out to evaluate effectiveness of the proposed method.