Computational control design of a benchmark problem using physical programming
Achille Messac, Bruce H. Wilson · Dynamics Specialists Conference · 1996
A new approach to design optimization, physical programming, has recently been developed. Physical programming allows an engineer to express design preferences explicitly for each objective of interest, e.g., settling time and control effort, in a flexible and physically meaningful manner. In this paper, we demonstrate the use of physical programming for control synthesis by solving a benchmark control problem. We implemented a physical-programming-based problem formulation where objectives for each design measure were expressed explicitly. These measures included nominal and worst-case settling time, nominal and worst-case control effort, worst-case noise amplification, and robust stability. We designed controllers of three different orders, and compared these against published controller solutions of the same order for the benchmark problem. Physical Programming Control Synthesis (PPCS) methods were used to design high performing controllers with remarkable ease, and the controllers compare quite favorably with published solutions. The successful solution of this benchmark problem using physical programming strongly suggests that PPCS will solve a variety of other control problems. (Author)