A robust, discrete, near time-optimal controller for hard disk drives

This paper presents a robust, discrete, near time-optimal control algorithm for hard disk drives. Building on the continuous-time control law of Newman [Trans. Automatic Control 35 (7) (1990) 841] and Newman and Souccar [J. Dynamic Syst. Measure. Control 113 (1991) 363], the chattering phenomenon for continuous-time systems is first examined, and it is shown how additional chattering can occur in the discrete-time case. A criterion for the selection of control parameters to prevent chattering in the discrete-time case while assuring controller stability is then suggested. The controller developed is applied to a commercial hard disk drive. Compared to the more commonly used PTOS, the proposed controller significantly reduces chattering while maintaining comparable seek time to reach the destination track.