Active disturbance rejection control based on soft computing techniques for electric power steering to improve system performance

Electric Power Steering (EPS) systems enhance driving comfort and safety. However, their performance often degrades under varying operating conditions due to external disturbances and modeling uncertainties. Traditional control methods, which typically rely on fixed parameters or neglect disturbance dynamics, struggle to maintain robustness and adaptability across diverse scenarios. This article presents an improved control strategy integrating Active Disturbance Rejection Control (ADRC) with advanced soft computing techniques to address these challenges. The proposed method introduces two key innovations: optimizing the tracking differentiator's speed factor using a genetic algorithm and dynamically tuning state feedback control parameters through a fuzzy inference system. This hybrid approach enhances the disturbance rejection capability of ADRC and significantly improves system adaptability and tracking accuracy. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed controller, demonstrating low tracking errors (1.875% at low speed and 1.373% at high speed) and disturbance estimation accuracy exceeding 90%. Compared to conventional controllers, the proposed method exhibits superior robustness, reduced steady-state error, and improved performance across a wide range of operating conditions. These results confirm the potential of integrating ADRC with intelligent optimization techniques for advanced control in automotive mechatronic systems.