Energy Saving Control in Low Cost Pneumatic Positioning Systems

The paper presents a novel approach to a problem of control in pneumatic positioning systems that is based on open loop control with specially created control strategy. This strategy is focused on low compressed air consumption and reduction of control time at positioning. The resulting transients while positioning did not induce overshoot but yields some errors at initial strokes. This error is reduced in an adaptive way very effectively to a margin that is acceptable in different industrial applications. Simulation results have been confirmed by extended program of testing performed on laboratory stand. The proposed approach can be a basis for development of efficient, low cost, industrial pneumatic positioning devices.