PID control for a distributed system with a smart actuator

The emergence of distributed architectures based on smart components and fi eldbus networks is promoting changes in proportional-integral-derivative (P ID) controller design issues. This paper explores how PID control can benef it from smart actuator and fieldbus technologies. Firstly, this paper discu sses a smart actuator scheme to improve the efficiency of PID controller re tuning, as well as an implementation using a low-cost stepper-motor. Then, the smart actuator is applied to on-line adaptation of PID parameters using a standard pole-placement design method. Finally, experimental validation of the proposed approach is conducted using a controller area network (CAN) bus-based distributed architecture demonstrator. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.