Hybrid data-driven fuzzy active disturbance rejection control for tower crane systems

•Model-free VRFT applied to ADRC combined with fuzzy control is proposed.•Least-squares algorithm specific to VRFT is replaced with Grey Wolf Optimizer.•The fuzzy control system stability is employed in the design approaches.•Model-free optimal tuning of controllers for tower crane systems is done.•Experimentally validated model-free controllers are offered. This paper proposes the Virtual Reference Feedback Tuning (VRFT) of a combination of two control algorithms, Active Disturbance Rejection Control (ADRC) as a representative data-driven (or model-free) control algorithm and fuzzy control, in order to exploit the advantages of data-driven control and fuzzy control. The combination of Active Disturbance Rejection Control with Proportional-Derivative Takagi-Sugeno Fuzzy Control (PDTSFC) tuned by Virtual Reference Feedback Tuning results in two novel data-driven algorithms referred to as hybrid data-driven fuzzy ADRC algorithms. The main benefit of this combination is the automatic optimal tuning in a model-free manner of the parameters of the combination of Active Disturbance Rejection Control with Proportional-Derivative Takagi-Sugeno Fuzzy Control called ADRC-PDTSFC. The second benefit is that the suggested combination is time saving in finding the optimal parameters of the controllers. However, since Virtual Reference Feedback Tuning generally works with linear controllers to solve a certain optimization problem and the fuzzy controllers are essentially nonlinear, this paper replaces the least-squares algorithm specific to Virtual Reference Feedback Tuning with a metaheuristic optimization algorithm, i.e. Grey Wolf Optimizer. The fuzzy control system stability is guaranteed by including a limit cycle-based stability analysis approach in Grey Wolf Optimizer algorithm to validate the next solution candidates. The hybrid data-driven fuzzy ADRC algorithms are validated as controllers in terms of real-time experiments conducted on three-degree-of-freedom tower crane system laboratory equipment. To determine the efficiency of the new hybrid data-driven fuzzy ADRC algorithms, their performance is compared experimentally with that of two control algorithms, namely Active Disturbance Rejection Control with Proportional-Derivative Takagi-Sugeno Fuzzy Control, whose parameters are optimally tuned by Grey Wolf Optimizer in a model-based manner using the nonlinear process model. [Display omitted]