Modified intelligent fuzzy controller of tracking a Hard Disk Drive actuator using the approaching index switch

This paper uses a new switching control algorithm called the approaching index. A closed-loop index is designed to decide if the system is approaching the final destination or not. The index is used in the online switching rule to select the adequate controller output policy to be applied to the system during each control period. Here, it is allowed to switch between fuzzy logic control and the classical Proportional Derivative PD control. On the application side, as the need of high capacity, small size data storage devices is increasing, it is hardly needed to find controller performance able to meet the challenging specifications for Hard Disk Drives (HDD). The performance of the proposed switching control algorithm is illustrated using a model of a Voice-Coil-Motor (VCM) actuator of a HDD. The proposed controller shows much better performance than those of the PD controller. The resulting system has smaller rise time, minimal overshoot and faster settling time.