Track-following control of a dual-stage hard disk drive using a neuro-control system

Abstract This paper describes the track-following control of a dual-stage hard disk drive system using neural-networks. A neural-network approach to on-line learning control, and a real-time implementation for a dual-stage hard disk drive, are presented. The use of the dual-stage actuator in hard disk drive systems has become a means of achieving increased servo actuator bandwidth. The dual-stage actuator presented here uses a voice-coil motor (VCM) as a coarse actuator, and a piezoelectric actuator (PZT) as a fine actuator. The control system consists of a series combination of both a plant with a feedback loop and a neural-network with a feedforward loop. The neural-network functions as the reference input filter, and it organizes a new reference signal to the closed-loop circuit. Numerical and experimental results for the track-following control system of the dual-stage hard disk drive show the validity of the proposed neuro-control system.