Abstract
Achieving higher tape densities requires a significant reduction in the position-error-signal (PES). The current state-of-the-art for controlling lateral tape motion is a well-tuned proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller with notches and a large integrator for tracking. This controller is robust to changes in servo dynamics between drives and has desirable tracking properties. Even with these qualities, this controller does not meet the requirements for the next generation of devices. For the next generation of drives to function, the servo system and controller must reduce the 3-sigma value of the PES significantly while preserving the tracking and robustness characteristics of the current controllers. In this paper, we seek to improve upon the current PID-based control design by designing a high performance add-on controller to target lateral tape motion (LTM).
