<![CDATA[In this paper a robust fractional order PID (FOPID) controller is proposed to control the automatic voltage regulator (AVR) system, the tuning of the controller gains are done using whale optimization algorithm (WOA) and integral time absolute error (ITAE) cost function is adopted to achieve an efficient performance. The transient analysis was done and compared with conventional PID in terms of overshoot, settling time, rise time, and peak time to explain the superiority of the proposed controller. Finally, a robustness analysis is done by adding external disturbances to the system and changing the system parameters by ±20% from its original value, the controller overcomes the disturbances signals with less than 0.25 s and faces the changes of the system values and returning the response within (0.7-1) sec and led the system to the desired response efficiently. The numerical simulations showed that the smart WOA offers satisfying results and faster response reflected clearly on the robust and stable performance of the proposed controller in improving the transient analysis of AVR system response.]]>
