Temperature response analysis between PD and PI controls applied to infant incubators

Premature infants, born with low birth weight, require specialized care and isolation due to their vulnerability to infections in public settings. Baby incubators, classified as life support equipment, play a crucial role in safeguarding these infants by maintaining a consistent temperature and humidity similar to the mother’s womb. This study compares the temperature control systems in baby incubators, specifically proportional and derivative (PD) control versus proportional and integral (PI) control. LM35 and DS18B20 sensors were employed in the study. Results from PD control using the LM35 sensor show a rise time of 5 min and 40 sec, a settling time of 25 min, and an overshoot of 2.2 °C. The DS18B20 digital sensor, under PD control, achieves a rise time in 6 min and 30 sec, a settling time of 23 min, with an overshoot of 1.2 °C. For PI control with the LM35 sensor, there’s a 3 °C overshoot, a 5-minute rise time, and a 30-minute settling time. The DS18B20 sensor under PI control exhibits a 2.7 °C overshoot, a 5-minute rise time, and a 29-minute settling time. PD control demonstrates lower overshoot and faster response but longer rise times than PI control. Future research explores fuzzy control systems and proportional integral derivative (PID)-fuzzy hybrid control.