Adaptive RBF Neural Network-Based Self-Tuning PID Control for BLDC Motor-Driven Robotic Joints

Accurate and robust control of robotic joints is essential for high-performance robotic systems. However, conventional proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controllers suffer from limited adaptability when applied to brushless direct current (BLDC) motor-driven joints operating under nonlinear and time-varying conditions. To address this issue, this paper proposes a Radial Basis Function (RBF) neural network-enhanced self-tuning PID control strategy. The RBF neural network serves as an online identifier to approximate the nonlinear dynamics of the BLDC motor and to estimate the system Jacobian online. Based on the estimated Jacobian, the PID gains (Kp, Ki, and Kd) are adaptively updated using a gradient descent mechanism, enabling continuous adjustment to varying operating conditions. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves negligible overshoot, faster settling performance, and improved steady-state accuracy compared with conventional PID and PI controllers. In addition, the proposed controller exhibits enhanced disturbance rejection capability and robust performance under abrupt speed variations and start–stop conditions. The proposed approach effectively combines the simplicity of PID control with the adaptability of neural networks, providing a practical and efficient solution for high-precision robotic joint control.