The variable step size least mean square algorithm has been suggested since a number of years as a potential solution for improving the performance of least mean square algorithm. In this article, the variable step size least mean square algorithm is classified by the techniques which are used to update step size. Unfortunately, for variable step size least mean square algorithms with forgetting factor, a constant forgetting factor may slow down its convergence speed. For this reason, a variable forgetting factor method for variable step size least mean square is proposed in this article. First, the convergence analysis of a new variable step size least mean square algorithm with the variable forgetting factor is provided. Then, simulations expose the characteristics of this variable forgetting factor method. Last, a micro-vibration control experimental system is established. Four typical variable step size least mean square algorithms and their variable forgetting factor modified version are verified through experiments. The results show that the proposed variable forgetting factor method can effectively improve convergence speed while maintaining the steady-state performance of the variable step size least mean square algorithm with the constant forgetting factor.
