Parameterized design of nonlinear feedback controllers for servo positioning systems

Abstract To achieve fast, smooth and accurate set point tracking in servo positioning systems, a parameterized design of nonlinear feedback controllers is presented, based on a so-called composite nonlinear feedback (CNF) control technique. The controller designed here consists of a linear feedback part and a nonlinear part The linear part is responsible for stability and fast response of the closed-loop system. The nonlinear part serves to increase the damping ratio of closed-loop poles as the controlled output approaches the target reference. The CNF control brings together the good points of both the small and the large damping ratio cases, by continuously scheduling the damping ratio of the dominant closed-loop poles and thus has the capability for superior transient performance, i. e. a fast output response with low overshoot. In the presence of constant disturbances, an integral action is included so as to remove the static bias. An explicitly parameterized controller is derived for servo positioning systems characterized by second-order model. Practical application in a micro hard disk drive servo system is then presented, together with some discussion of the rationale and characteristics of such design. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of this control design methodology.