Robust synchronization algorithm for electro-hydraulic motion systems

In manufacturing industries, two symmetric cylinders of an electro-hydraulic motion system are required to move synchronously for good quality of products and for long lifetime of the machine. In this paper, a robust model-based predictive control (MPC) algorithm is presented for satisfactory performance in terms of tracking and synchronization. First, the synchronization error between different motion axes is embedded in the performance index, and the optimal synchronization control law is obtained through minimization of the modified performance index in a natural way. Then, attempts are made to investigate stability robustness in presence of additive model uncertainties. Simulation results on electro-hydraulic process demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed controller are given.