Copyright © 2007 Praise Worthy Prize S.r.l. - All rights reserved International Review on Computers and Software, Vol.
xx, n. x
addition, the input sensors can be affected by the conditions of observation i.e., their characteristics
can be changed by the environmental conditions such as wind, sunshine, humidity, rain, etc..
- Uncertainties in control outputs, which translate into
uncertainties in the consequents’ membership functions of the FLC. Such uncertainties can result
from the change of the actuators’ characteristics, which can be due to wear, tear, environmental
changes, etc. -
Linguistic uncertainties as the meaning of words that are used in the antecedents’ and consequents’
linguistic labels can be uncertain, as words mean different things to different people [5]. In addition,
experts do not always agree and they often provide different consequents for the same antecedents. A
survey of experts will usually lead to a histogram of possibilities for the consequent of a rule; this
histogram represents the uncertainty about the consequent of a rule [5].
- Uncertainties associated with the change in the
operation conditions of the controller. Such uncertainties can translate into uncertainties in the
antecedents’ andor consequents’ membership functions.
Uncertainties associated with the use of noisy training data that could be used to learn, tune or optimize the
FLC. All of these uncertainties translate into uncertainties about fuzzy set membership functions [5].
II. Type 1 Fuzzy controllers
Fuzzy logic is widely used in machine control. The term fuzzy refers to the fact that the logic involved can
deal with concepts that cannot be expressed as true or false but rather as partially true. Although alternative
approaches such as genetic algorithms and neural networks can perform just as well as fuzzy logic in many
cases, fuzzy logic has the advantage that the solution to the problem can be cast in terms that human operators
can understand, so that their experience can be used in the design of the controller. Fuzzy logic was first
proposed by Lotfi A. Zadeh of the University of California at Berkeley in a 1965 paper. He elaborated on
his ideas in a 1973 paper that introduced the concept of linguistic variables, which in this article equates to a
variable defined as a fuzzy set. Fuzzy controllers are very simple conceptually. They consist of an input stage, a
processing stage, and an output stage. The input stage maps sensor or other inputs, such as switches,
thumbwheels, and so on, to the appropriate membership functions and truth values. The processing stage invokes
each appropriate rule and generates a result for each, then combines the results of the rules. Finally, the output stage
converts the combined result back into a specific control output value. Fuzzy controllers are very simple
conceptually. They consist of an input stage, a processing stage, and an output stage. The input stage maps sensor
or other inputs, such as switches, thumbwheels, and so on, to the appropriate membership functions and truth
values. The processing stage invokes each appropriate
Figure 1: Fuzzy Logic Controller Block Diagram
rule and generates a result for each, then combines the results of the rules. Finally, the output stage converts the
combined result back into a specific control output value. The most common shape of membership functions is
triangular, although trapezoidal and bell curves are also used, but the shape is generally less important than the
number of curves and their placement. From three to seven curves are generally appropriate to cover the
required range of an input value, or the universe of discourse in fuzzy jargon.
III. Type 2 Fuzzy controllers
