Investigation of intelligent robust controller for a position control system

The objective of this paper is to propose an intelligent robust controller to control the sun seeker system which is mounted on a space vehicle. The control objective is to maximize the amount of current produced by the photo-voltaic cells which are mounted on the sun seeker system. The PV cells produce electric current proportional to the amount of the sun light incident over them. Thus the aim is to control the position of the sun seeker system such that the position of the PV cells enables them to produce maximum current. The result of the proposed controller is then compared for robustness with the classical proportional integral derivative (PID) controller and the modern pole placement technique (PPT) based controller. The simulated results using MATLAB clearly indicate that the proposed controller is more robust as compared to the other controllers.

I. Introduction

In the present world of modernization, the growing population and their never ending need for technological advancements have brought the non-renewable energy resources to their verge of extinction. This has increased the need to explore more into the renewable energy resources. Solar energy is the world's second most widely used renewable energy resources. Photovoltaic cell is one of the ways of harnessing solar energy. It converts solar energy into electrical energy. The amount of electricity produced being proportional to the area exposed to the sun. Larger the area exposed more would be the electricity produced.