Remote tuning of a PID position controller via Internet

Abstract

A PID controller of a DC motor-based position control system is tuned remotely via the Internet. This demonstration, which is realized by a set of readily available software, shows that the Internet can be used as an effective communication tool for remote control applications. The position control implemented an Allen Bradley SLC 500 programmable logic controller. The controller tuning is accomplished remotely using the Ziegler-Nichols rules. The paper discusses two problems associated with such applications: one is the unpredictable communication delays over the Internet system, and the other is the reliability of such a controller tuning methodology.