Hardware in the loop experimental validation of PID controllers tuned by genetic algorithms

This paper presents the design of a PID controller for the speed control of a motor generator system using genetic algorithms and its practical implementation employing the hardware in the loop control scheme. The genetic algorithm is designed to find the PID controller proportional, integral, and derivate terms to achieve the desired overshoot and settling time of the motor-generator system. The practical implementation of the PID controller is performed with a data acquisition card and the Matlab Stateflow toolbox connected in hardware in the loop configuration. The proposed controller is contrasted with a PID controller tuned by the Internal Model Control technique. A robustness analysis is performed to evaluate the system response in the presence of the external disturbances. Obtained results shown that the PID controller tuned by genetic algorithm has a better response in the presence of external disturbances.