Analytical design of modified Smith predictor for second-order stable time delay plants incorporating a zero

Simplified control tuning not only enhances engineers' proficiency in control theory and its application but also contributes to their skill development. This study focuses on the control of stable second-order plus time delay (SOPTD) plants incorporating a zero, by employing a modified Smith predictor structure. A forward path PID controller and a PID controller with a lead/lag filter in the feedback path contribute to the proposed control system. The PID controller determines the set-point tracking. The load disturbance rejection is influenced by both the PID and lead/lag filter. Each controller is simply designed using pole placement, while considering a tuning parameter to make a balance between performance and robustness. Filtering of the set-point signal is implemented to enhance its response. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed technique, the study involves examining a SOPTD plant and either a negative or a positive zero. Simulation and comparison analysis show that the proposed controller is appropriate for industrial usage since it quickly tracks the set-point and efficiently rejects disturbances, resulting in a smooth control signal. Furthermore, robustness tests reveal its satisfactory degree of robustness against model parameter uncertainties. In summary, the proposed approach is straightforward and outperforms recently published design methodologies in terms of both performance and robustness.