Hardware-in-the-loop optimization of an active vibration controller in a flexible beam structure using evolutionary algorithms

In this study, active vibration control of a cantilevered flexible beam structure equipped with bonded piezoelectric sensor/actuators is investigated. The linear quadratic regulator technique together with an observer is adopted to design the controller as well as to provide the full-state feedback. Two different approaches are subsequently used for simultaneously integrated optimization of the controller and observer parameters. In the first approach, a linear experimental model of the system is obtained using identification techniques, and the optimization is then performed based on a computer simulation of the system. However, in the second approach, a hardware-in-the-loop optimization scheme is proposed and applied to automatically tune the parameters. In both cases, a hybrid metaheuristic algorithm called tabu continuous ant colony system is utilized to find the optimal controller and observer. The integrated performance is experimentally evaluated to demonstrate effectiveness of the proposed hardware-in-the-loop optimization method. Finally, a comparison is made between the frequency response of the current controller with a pole placement controller from the literature in order to assess the improvement achieved through hardware-in-the-loop optimization.