87 Control of Magnetic Levitation Systems Using SMFC-Hybrid Control

In this paper, we present a model for magnetic levitation system (MLS). Then, a prototype of MLS is developed in laboratory and the laboratory prototype is used to determine the parameters of the developed MLS model. A Sliding Mode Fuzzy Control (SMFC) is developed based on the methodology of Fuzzy control and variable structure control with sliding mode. The proposed controller preserves the most fundamental properties of conventional Sliding Mode Control (SMC) that are robustness, invariance to parameters variations, and model uncertainties. However, unlike the conventional sliding mode control, SMFC eliminates chattering problem through the concept input-output mapping factor and behave like a linear controller in the neighborhood of its sliding manifold. To illustrate the performance of SMFC, we applied it to the Magnetic Levitation problem. Simulation studies were conducted on levitating a ball at certain positions from various initial conditions in presence of external disturbances and parameters variation.