Visual tuning of controllers

Controller tuning, whether proportional, integral, and derivative (PID) or other controllers typically involve two starting points: the identification of a direct or indirect model of the dynamic system and the desired response for the closed-loop system. Controllers are then designed or tuned for the PID controller so that the desired closed-loop response is achieved. If one wished to explore a range of performance criteria, a new solution would be needed. A tool that could, using visualisation technology, provide a range of solutions under differing criteria would have value in providing the user a convenient way of exploring multiple solutions. We present a method performance map (PM), designed to visualize the behaviour of a systems dynamic performance across variations in system parameters. The resulting visualization is colour-coded, providing an immediate wealth of information to the knowledgeable viewer.