PSO-based pid controller design for ship course-keeping autopilot

Abstract

This paper deals with autopilot proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller design. In the literature, various available methods for PID controller have been presented. Based on the fact that the existing methods do not guarantee the optimal response of the system on the input step change, in this paper we used a valuable technique called Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) in order to optimally design PID controller taking into account the system limitation such as the value of the rudder angle saturation. Furthermore, we have compared system response on input step and ramp change of input signal for a few PID controller parameters values obtained by using different methods known in literature. It has been proven that by applying the PSO method, it is possible to determine the optimal PID controller parameters which guarantee fast and proper response from the aspect of the minimal overshoot and the minimal settling time. The obtained results confirm the applicability and efficiency of using PSO method for optimal autopilot PID controller design.