Abstract-In this paper we propose a new technique for designing feedback control of a DC motor speed using fractional order proportional-integral-derivative (FOPID controller). DC motor is often used in robotics and other fields of control and therefore speed control is very important. FOPID controller's parameters are composed of the proportionality constant, integral constant, derivative constant, derivative order and integral order, and its design is more complex than that of conventional integer-order proportionalintegral-derivative (PID) controllers. Here the controller synthesis is formulated as a single objective optimization problem and based on Integral Time Absolute Error (ITAE) criterion. A modified Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm is been used to tune the FOPID controller parameters.