Deterministic continuous-time Virtual Reference Feedback Tuning (VRFT) with application to PID design

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce a data-driven control design method that does not rely on a model of the plant. The method is inspired by the Virtual Reference Feedback Tuning approach for data-driven controller tuning, but it is here entirely developed in a deterministic, continuous-time setting. A PID autotuner is then developed out of the proposed approach and its effectiveness is tested on an experimental brake-by-wire facility. The final performance is shown to outperform that of a benchmark model-based design method.