An approach based on Firefly algorithm for optimal tuning of proportional-integral-derivative controllers for speed control of DC motor

This study presents an approach for optimal tuning of the parameters of PID controller for speed control of DC motor using Firefly Algorithm (FA) with the aim of delivering robust and accurate control of DC motors. Data for DC motor were sourced from Honey Well Flour Mills, Ilupeju, Lagos State, Nigeria, while its mathematical model was formulated using dynamic electric machine theory. MATLAB codes were written for the formulated model to simulate the open loop response of the motor. Ziegler-Nichols (ZN) method was initially used to design the PID controller and named ZN-PID, while a firefly algorithm tuned PID controller model was developed and named FA-PID. The performance of the FA-PID approach was carried out using rise time, setting time, mean squared error and overshoot as metrics. Simulation result indicate that at motor full speed, the rise time, settling time, overshoot and mean square error values for ZN-PID tuned controller were 0.5000, 6.196, 22.94 and 0.001415, respectively, as compared to 0.0051, 0.0081, 0.0002 and 0.000673 obtained using FA-PID tuned controller. The result revealed that FA is a potent optimization technique for optimal tuning of PID controller parameters; hence, the developed FA-PID tuned controller can be used by machine operators in various industrial applications for controlling the speed of DC motors.