Fractional-order controller design and digital implementation using FOMCON toolbox for MATLAB

In this paper, we present the suite of tools of the FOMCON (“Fractional-order Modeling and Control”) toolbox for MATLAB that are used to carry out fractional-order PID controller design and hardware realization. An overview of the toolbox, its structure and particular modules, is presented with appropriate comments. We use a laboratory object designed to conduct temperature control experiments to illustrate the methods employed in FOMCON to derive suitable parameters for the controller and arrive at a digital implementation thereof on an 8-bit AVR microprocessor. The laboratory object is working under a real-time simulation platform with Simulink, Real-Time Windows Target toolbox and necessary drivers as its software backbone. Experimental results are provided which support the effectiveness of the proposed software solution.