Intelligent servomechanism controller

Abstract

A controller for a servomechanism (such as a computer disk drive) includes both a conventional dumb controller and a neural network controller working in conjunction with one another. In one embodiment, the neural network controller and dumb controller operate in a quasi-series configuration, with the neural network controller receiving and processing the output of the dumb controller to produce a servomechanism control signal. In another embodiment, the neural network controller and dumb controller operate in a quasi-parallel configuration, with the outputs of the neural network controller and dumb controller being combined to produce an intelligent servomechanism control signal. In yet another embodiment, the neural network controller and dumb controller operate in a quasi-series configuration during the recall phase, following the learning phase in which the neural network controller is trained to develop an indirect performance model of the serial combination of the dumb controller and servomechanism. In still another embodiment, the neural network controller and dumb controller operate in a quasi-series configuration during the recall phase, while a model neural network is used to develop a direct performance model during the learning phase of the serial combination of the dumb controller and servomechanism which is then used to train the neural network controller for its operation during the recall phase.