A comparison between fuzzy and linear controllers applied to a switched reluctance motor based position servo

Position control of a switched reluctance motor based on exact input-output linearisation of its torque production characteristics, in an inner control loop, and a simple sliding mode outer control loop using fuzzy logic has been demonstrated. Experimental results confirm the anticipated behaviour of this scheme. The exercise has highlighted some of the advantages of fuzzy systems, notably their flexibility. It has also given some indication of the appropriateness of fuzzy logic in two different situations. It is concluded that learning and representing highly nonlinear functions for which accurate analytic expressions are not available exploits many of the strengths of fuzzy logic. Implementing a simple nonlinear control scheme, for which analytic expressions and established control theory are the starting point exploits fewer. Overall, however, it has been demonstrated that it is appropriate to employ fuzzy systems within larger control system architectures specifically where nonlinear characteristics are required