PID Parameter Setting of Servo System 
  based on Genetic Algorithm 
Xia Quan-guo, Song Jun and Wang Mao-lin 
92941 Unit, huludao, Liaoning, China 
Keywords:  Servo Control System, PID Controller, Genetic Algorithm, Error Functional Integration. 
Abstract:  In  traditional  servo  control  system  design,  heuristic  algorithm  is  usually  adopted  to  get  PID  controller 
parameters. This kind of method consumes long time, needs higher practical work experience, and depends 
on empirical formula or statistical data. So it is difficult to get good control performance. According to the 
principle of genetic algorithm, this paper determines optimization range with generalized Hermite -Biehler 
theorem,  and  designs  the  target  function  by  error  functional  integration  evaluation  index.  MATLAB 
simulation  results  show  that  the  setting  method  is  simple  and  practical,  and  can  get  a  better  control 
characteristic than the traditional methods  
1  INTRODUCTION 
The  setting  of  controller  parameters  mainly 
influences  two  aspects:  control  quality  and 
robustness  of  control  system.  PID  controller  is 
simple and practical, has certain robustness to model 
error,  so  it’s  widely  applied  to  the  servo  control 
system.  For  the  performance  of  control  system, 
optimization  design  and  setting  of  PID  controller 
parameters are crucial. Heuristic algorithm is usually 
adopted  to  get  PID  controller  parameters  for 
previous  servo  control  system;  this  kind  of  method 
often  has  “semiempirical”  color.  First  of  all,  initial 
parameters  of  controller  are  calculated  according  to 
empirical formula or based on some statistical charts, 
then  PID  controller  parameters  are  debugged  with 
the  method  of  experiment  plus  heuristic  algorithm, 
so  as to get  the  expected  control  performance(REN 
Ting,  JIAO  Zi-ping,  XU  We-ke,2009)  .This  kind  of 
method  is  time  consuming,  needs  debugging 
personnel  to  have  more  practical  work  experience, 
and relies on empirical  formula or statistical data; it 
is difficult to obtain. 
Genetic algorithm is a kind of search method for 
global  optimal  probability  evolved  by  referring  to 
the  evolution  law  of  biosphere  (genetic  mechanism 
of survival of the fittest). It  was firstly  proposed  by 
American  Professor  J.  Holland  (Holland  J  H, 1975) 
in 1975; after Goldberg (Goldberg D  E,  1989)  gave 
the  basic  framework  of  genetic  algorithm, 
widespread  interest  was  aroused  in  the  field  of 
control  and  this  method  has  been  widely  used  in 
control  field,  such  as  system  identification,  PID 
control, optimal control, self-adaptive control, robust 
control,  intelligent  control,  etc.  There  are  two  key 
technologies  to  use  genetic  algorithm  to  optimize 
and set PID controller parameters: one is constrained 
optimization  space.  Searching  appropriate 
constrained  optimization  space  is  directly related  to 
optimization  efficiency  and  results.  There  is  no 
physical  background  for  controller  parameters 
themselves,  so  it’s  difficult  to  determine  the 
appropriate scope. Considering that the optimization 
design  goal  of  controller  parameters  is  that  control 
system  meets  certain  index  requirements  under  the 
circumstance of guaranteeing the stability of control 
system,  this  paper  adopts  generalized 
Hermite-Biehler  theorem  to  determine  the 
optimization  space.  The  other  is  reasonable  target 
function.  Genetic  algorithm  measures  search  effect 
through fitness function value, which is transformed 
from target function, and target function reflects the 
actual  control  requirements,  so  target  function  is  a 
key  to  the  success  of  algorithm;  target  function  is 
designed with error functional integration evaluation 
index  by  comprehensively  considering  the 
requirements  of  control  system,  control  deviation 
tending to zero, fast response speed, small overshoot 
and short rise time. 
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