Feedback controller design for variable voltage variable speed induction motor drive via Ant Colony Optimization

This paper deals with the development of feed back controller design for a voltage controlled induction motor drive employing an enhanced optimization algorithm derived from the principles of foraging of natural ants. A linearized incremental model of a voltage controlled induction motor drive is shown to exhibit parameter variation at different operating points of the drive system. A PI-controller derived at a typical operating point using traditional methods does not give satisfactory performance for a wide bandwidth of load and reference speed changes. The newly developed Ant Colony Optimization technique enforces continuous exploration of the solution space and identifies optimal controller structure. The development of optimization algorithm and its application to feed back controller design for a variable voltage induction motor drive is well documented in this paper. Experimental and simulation results are presented to validate the efficacy of the optimized controller. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.