Fuzzy control with fuzzy inputs

This paper is concerned with the use of fuzzy inputs in fuzzy logic controllers. A precise representation of fuzzy logic controllers by means of mappings is used to introduce different ways for dealing with fuzzy inputs. Two types of fuzzy inputs are presented and their potential use in fuzzy control is discussed. The proposed concepts are applied to control a first order process with a PI controller. This simple process is chosen to clearly illustrate the behavior of the closed-loop system using fuzzy inputs for fuzzy reference and fuzzy measurement. Finally, a nonlinear process is used to illustrate the effects of fuzzy inputs on a more complex system. Although it is sometimes speculated that fuzzy inputs may improve the behavior of fuzzy controllers, experiments developed in this paper show this point is not straightforward and that the relevance of fuzzy inputs should be questioned in closed-loop fuzzy control.