Optimal Tracking Current Control of Switched Reluctance Motor Drives Using Reinforcement Q-learning Scheduling

Abstract: In this paper, a novel Q-learning scheduling method for the current controller of switched reluctance motor (SRM) drive is investigated. Q-learning algorithm is a class of reinforcement learning approaches that can find the best forward-in-time solution of a linear control problem. This paper will introduce a new scheduled-Q-learning algorithm that utilizes a table of Q-cores that lies on the nonlinear surface of a SRM model without involving any information about the model parameters to track the reference current trajectory by scheduling infinite horizon linear quadratic trackers (LQT) handled by Q-learning algorithms. Additionally, a linear interpolation algorithm is proposed to guide the transition of the LQT between trained Q-cores to ensure a smooth response as state variables evolve on the nonlinear surface of the model. Lastly, simulation and experimental results are provided to validate the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.