Dual-stage servo systems and vibration compensation in computer hard disk drives

This paper discusses two mechatronic innovations in magnetic hard disk drive servo systems, which may have to be deployed in the near future, in order to sustain the continuing 60% annual increase in storage density of these devices. The first is the use of high bandwidth dual-stage actuator servo systems to improve the precision and track-following capability of the read/write head positioning control system. The second is the instrumentation of disk drive suspensions with vibration sensing strain gages, in order to enhance airflow-induced suspension vibration suppression in hard disk drives.