Black box modeling of PIDs implemented in PLCs without structural information: a support vector regression approach

In this report, the parameters identification of a proportional–integral–derivative (PID) algorithm implemented in a programmable logic controller (PLC) using support vector regression (SVR) is presented. This report focuses on a black box model of the PID with additional functions and modifications provided by the manufacturers and without information on the exact structure. The process of feature selection and its impact on the training and testing abilities are emphasized. The method was tested on a real PLC (Siemens and General Electric) with the implemented PID. The results show that the SVR maps the function of the PID algorithms and the modifications introduced by the manufacturer of the PLC with high accuracy. With this approach, the simulation results can be directly used to tune the PID algorithms in the PLC. The method is sufficiently universal in that it can be applied to any PI or PID algorithm implemented in the PLC with additional functions and modifications that were previously considered to be trade secrets. This method can also be an alternative for engineers who need to tune the PID and do not have any such information on the structure and cannot use the default settings for the known structures.