Model references frequency-domain design based fractional order PD controller for quadrotor control: attitude, altitude, and position studies

Abstract

This article proposes a control strategy based on a Fractional Order Proportional Derivative (FOPD) controller to enhance the performance and robustness of quadrotors operating in trajectory tracking mode. The tuning method proposed for the FOPD controller is based on an ideal Bode transfer function in a closed loop as a fractional reference model. The latter represents the quadrotor desired closed-loop response, and its specification is the key design decision. In this study, we first appropriately set model reference parameters to realistic desired time response characteristics (i.e. overshoot and time constant). Then, the parameters of the FOPD controller are computed using the direct synthesis design approach. The dynamic model of the quadrotor is developed using Lagrange formulation. The model is used to test the performance of the proposed FOPD-based control strategy for the attitude, position, and altitude of the flying robot. The results show that the proposed controller achieved accurately set points tracking with transient responses (i.e. overshoot and time constant) that satisfactorily meet those assigned for their respective reference models. These results validate the effectiveness of our proposed control strategy. Moreover, our comparative studies of the proposed FOPD controller with the conventional PD controller show that the former satisfies better-desired design requirements.

Keywords:

• Quadrotor–Lagrange approach
• fractional order PID controller
• ideal transfer function of Bode
• conventional PID controller

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.