Optimal Feedback Control of Power Systems Using Eigenstructure Assignment and Particle Swarm Optimization

The US Navy has a continuing interest and investment in basic and applied research in the area of automation and control. The potential naval applications for this research are numerous and wide ranging. The need for advances in control and automation systems exists from missile defense, to shipboard auxiliary systems, to naval aircraft, and virtually everywhere in between. This research is performed in industry, academia, and in naval laboratories across the nation. This paper will detail particular research in control theory being performed in the area of automation and controls in the naval laboratories. A particle swarm optimization algorithm is used to manipulate the state and control weighting matrices of a linear quadratic regulator to achieve an optimal control for a desired eigenstructure. The algorithm is demonstrated on a nonlinear power system model, and is found to be highly effective in the stabilization of the system output performance, showing both rapid convergence and a closed loop eigenstructure very close to the specified eigenstructure.