Tuning of PID controller using glowworm swarm optimisation on a satellite attitude control reaction wheel

Abstract

This paper attempts to use GSO algorithm to tune a PID controller that can be used to control a satellite using reaction wheels. These have a higher order transfer function and the controller will be more difficult to tune due to this. To do this, a satellite is chosen which controls its attitude using reactions wheels. An axis is chosen and the reaction wheel along this axis is taken into consideration. A PID controller is then attached to this system. PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) are one of the most popular controllers used due to their broad applications and easy to design nature. The PID controller is tuned using Glowworm Swarm Optimization (GSO) algorithm and then the system is checked against a step input. The optimization of the controller is done by minimizing the time weighed absolute error cost function.