A torque estimator using online tuning grey fuzzy PID for applications to torque-sensorless control of DC motors

The purpose of this paper is to present a new method for estimating the load torque of a DC motor shaft by using a novel modelling method based on an adaptive control technique, named as online tuning grey fuzzy PID (OTGFPID). A test rig using a DC motor is setup to investigate the torque behaviour as well as to evaluate the developed estimator. Firstly, mathematical model is developed for the motor. Secondly, the experimental speed-torque data and the optimized motor model is used to optimize the torque estimator. Then the optimized estimator is used to estimate accurately the load torque. Finally, the capability of the optimized torque estimator has been validated with the practical experiments in comparison with a typical estimation method.