On-Line Genetic Auto-Tuning of Magnetic Bearing Controllers

A prototype large electrical machine running on active magnetic bearings is described. This rig is controlled by a digital signal processor connected by a custom interface to MATLAB/Simulink hosted by a PC. The on-line tuning of a PID controller is set up as an optimisation problem from MATLAB and a multiobjective genetic algorithm is used to drive the optimisation. The results of an optimisation are presented and analysed.