Fuzzy Logic - Control System
Fuzzy Logic - Control System
Fuzzy logic is applied with great success in various control application. Almost all the consumer
products have fuzzy control. Some of the examples include controlling your room temperature
with the help of air-conditioner, anti-braking system used in vehicles, control on traffic lights,
washing machines, large economic systems, etc.
While applying traditional control, one needs to know about the model and the objective
function formulated in precise terms. This makes it very difficult to apply in many cases.
By applying fuzzy logic for control we can utilize the human expertise and experience for
designing a controller.
The fuzzy control rules, basically the IF-THEN rules, can be best utilized in designing a
controller.
The plant is observable and controllable − It must be assumed that the input, output as
well as state variables are available for observation and controlling purpose.
Existence of a knowledge body − It must be assumed that there exist a knowledge body
having linguistic rules and a set of input-output data set from which rules can be
extracted.
‘Good enough’ solution is enough − The control engineering must look for ‘good enough’
solution rather than an optimum one.
Range of precision − Fuzzy logic controller must be designed within an acceptable range
of precision.
Issues regarding stability and optimality − The issues of stability and optimality must be
open in designing Fuzzy logic controller rather than addressed explicitly.
Fuzzifier − The role of fuzzifier is to convert the crisp input values into fuzzy values.
Fuzzy Knowledge Base − It stores the knowledge about all the input-output fuzzy
relationships. It also has the membership function which defines the input variables to
the fuzzy rule base and the output variables to the plant under control.
Fuzzy Rule Base − It stores the knowledge about the operation of the process of domain.
Inference Engine − It acts as a kernel of any FLC. Basically it simulates human decisions
by performing approximate reasoning.
Defuzzifier − The role of defuzzifier is to convert the fuzzy values into crisp values getting
from fuzzy inference engine.
Fuzzy subset configuration − The universe of information is divided into number of fuzzy
subsets and each subset is assigned a linguistic label. Always make sure that these
fuzzy subsets include all the elements of universe.
Obtaining membership function − Now obtain the membership function for each fuzzy
subset that we get in the above step.
Fuzzy rule base configuration − Now formulate the fuzzy rule base by assigning
relationship between fuzzy input and output.
Combining fuzzy outputs − By applying fuzzy approximate reasoning, locate the fuzzy
output and merge them.
Robust − FLCs are more robust than PID controllers because of their capability to cover a
huge range of operating conditions.
Efficiency − Fuzzy logic provides more efficiency when applied in control system.
Useful in case of moderate historical data − FLC is not useful for programs much smaller
or larger than historical data.
Needs high human expertise − This is one drawback as the accuracy of the system
depends on the knowledge and expertise of human beings.
Needs regular updating of rules − The rules must be updated with time.