DISK DRIVE HEAD POSITIONER WITH OPTIMIZED SEEK OPERATION

The track access time in a disk drive system is minimized by determining an optimum velocity profile each time the system is operated. The optimum velocity profile is determined by performing repeated seek operations with successively higher velocity profiles until a seek failure occurs. A velocity profile slightly lower than the profile which caused failure is then used to control seek operations. During seek operations, the time between track crossings is monitored and the velocity profile reduced if the transducer of the disk drive system is not adequately following the preset velocity profile.