Two Feedback PID Controllers Tuned with Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization Algorithm for Ball and Beam System

The proportional integral derivative (PID) controller continues to be the most popular and widely used in the industry despite the development of various artificial intelligence-based controllers due to its simplicity and ease of use. Setting PID parameters, especially in non-linear systems, is still a significant problem. This study presents a cascade PID tuning technique based on the teaching-learning-based optimization (TLBO) algorithm. The proposed method is tested for the position control of a non-linear ball and beam system. A comparative analysis of the proposed method is done with the conventional tuning method and particle swarm optimization-tuned cascade PID controller. The optimization was carried out using integral time absolute error, integral time error, and integral square error as objective functions. It was observed that the evolutionary algorithm-based controller tuned by TLBO gives a much better response regarding rise time, settling time, and overshoot. To test the effectiveness and validity of the proposed controller robust analysis of the proposed controller is carried out with a step disturbance applied at t = 3 s. The comparative study proves that TLBO-tuned response is better than other controllers. Sensitivity analysis of the proposed controller is also performed by varying system parameters.