Hybrid Dynamic Neural Network and PID Control of Pneumatic Artificial Muscle Using the PSO Algorithm

Pneumatic artificial muscles (PAM) have been recently considered as a prominent challenge regarding pneumatic actuators specifically for rehabilitation and medical applications. Since accomplishing accurate control of the PAM is comparatively complicated due to time-varying behavior, elasticity and ambiguous characteristics, a high performance and efficient control approach should be adopted. Besides of the mentioned challenges, limited course length is another predicament with the PAM control. In this regard, this paper proposes a new hybrid dynamic neural network (DNN) and proportional integral derivative (PID) controller for the position of the PAM. In order to enhance the proficiency of the controller, the problem under study is designed in the form of an optimization trend. Considering the potential of particle swarm optimization, it has been applied to optimally tune the PID-DNN parameters. To verify the performance of the proposed controller, it has been implemented on a real-time system and compared to a conventional sliding mode controller. Simulation and experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed controller in tracking the reference signals in the entire course of the PAM.