An accurate position control strategy for servo pneumatic actuator systems
is proposed in the paper. There are two key algorithms in the control strat
egy: time-delay minimisation and target position compensation. This control
strategy has been applied in combination with a modified PID controller to
a pusher mechanism in the packaging of confectionery products. Both the po
sitioning and the time accuracy required by the production task are achieve
d using such a control strategy. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights
reserved.