Experimental evaluation of iterative learning control algorithms for non-minimum phase plants

The purpose of this paper is two-fold, firstly it describes the development and modelling of an experimental test facility as a platform on which to assess the performance of Iterative Learning Control (ILC) schemes. This facility includes a non-minimum phase component. Secondly, P-Type, D-Type and phase-lead types of the algorithm have been implemented on the test-bed, results are presented for each method and their performance is compared. Although all the ILC strategies tested experience eventual divergence when applied to a non-minimum phase system, it is found that there is an optimum phase-lead ILC design that maximizes convergence and minimizes error. A general method of arriving at this phase-lead from knowledge of the plant model is described. A variety of filters have been applied and assessed in order to improve the overall performance of the algorithm.