全向自动导引车导向机构设计及其运动控制研究

针对麦克纳姆轮加工复杂,运动效率低,承载能力较弱及容易出现振动、打滑等问题,研发了基于轮毂电机的自动导引车（automatic guided vehicle,AGV）全转向导向机构,并根据该导向机构的控制方式--四轮独立驱动和四轮独立转向（4WID-4WIS）的方式,对该全向AGV进行了运动控制研究。首先,构建了该全转向导向机构的运动学模型,并进行了运动学分析,得出不同转向模式下全向AGV转速与转角之间的关系。其次,为消除该全向AGV移动时产生的路径偏差,提出了基于多步预测最优控制和模糊控制的联合路径跟踪控制技术,以提高控制精度和为路径跟踪提供充足的纠偏能力;进行了转向电机和轮毂电机之间的解耦控制,保证了转向电机和轮毂电机具有良好的输入输出响应。最后,通过实车实验验证了该全转向导向机构具有良好的运动效果,能够满足实际工况的要求,可为AGV在工业领域的应用提供一定的参考。     

全向车测量轮导引方式的设计与仿真

针对全向车位姿检测中由于麦克纳姆轮驱动打滑引起的整车运行精度测量误差大的问题,提出了测量轮自主导引方式,建立数学模型,并对AGV系统结构进行了阐述.设计方案中的整车六轮布局,采用四驱两从动,俩从动轮作为测量轮,运用差速原理获取自动导引全向车的路径信息,同时解决了现有单测量轮全向车原地回转状态下位姿无法精确检测的难题.提出浮动三自由度测量轮结构设计,实现实时接触地面,保证位姿检测的准确性,并对直线、曲线、原地自转三种典型运动状态下的位姿检测进行了ADAMS仿真,结果表明,此种导引方式可满足灵活设置路径下全向车位姿的精确检测,适用范围广.     

基于动态时间窗的泊车系统路径规划研究

针对智能立体停车库中自动导引运输车(automated guided vehicle,AGV)存取车路径规划问题,采用分时利用策略,将Dijkstra算法和时间窗法有效结合,提出了一种基于动态时间窗的泊车系统路径规划方法。首先,通过引入优先级策略为接收任务的AGV设定优先级;其次,采用Dijkstra算法,按照任务优先级高低次序,依次为接受任务的AGV规划出最短可行路径;最后,在已知AGV可行路径基础上,通过对可行路径各路段的时间窗进行初始化、实时更新以及实时排布处理,实现多AGV的无冲突路径规划。为验证所提方法的可行性和有效性,以4台AGV同时工作的智能立体停车库为实例进行仿真测试。结果显示:所提出的路径规划方法不仅有效解决了目前多AGV路径规划柔性差、易出现死锁、碰撞冲突等问题,而且可在有效解决路径冲突的前提下,为接受任务的AGV规划出一条时间最短的优化路径。所提方法具有较好的鲁棒性和柔性,有效提高了智能立体停车系统整体运行效率,降低了存取车等待时间。     

A neural algorithm for finding the shortest flow path for an automated guided vehicle system

The automated guided vehicle (AGV)system is emerging as the dominant technology to maximize the flexibility of material handling, while increasing the overall productivity of manufacturing operations. This paper presents a new way of finding the shortest flow path for an AGV system on a specific routing structure. An optimal solution of the system is determined by using an approach based on the Hopfield neural network with the simulated annealing (SA) procedure. In other words, the proposed approach reduces the total cost of an AGV delivery path from one workstation to another on the shop floor. By changing the temperature of the two-stage SA, a solution can be found that avoids potential collisions between AGVs. Both the flow path and the potential collision, which are major problems in AGV systems, may be solved simultaneously by the proposed neural network approach. Other advantages offered by the proposed method are its simplicity compared with operations research (OR)methods and a decreased number of needed AGVs. The performance of the approach is also investigated.     

Operational control of a bidirectional automated guided vehicle system

Bidirectional AGV systems are intuitively more attractive than unidirectional systems in terms of efficiency because of shorter travel distances. An efficient algorithm for finding conflict-free shortest-time routes for automated guided vehicles moving in a bidirectional flow path network has been proposed in a previous paper. This paper is a sequel and describes a conservative myopic strategy to coordinate the movements of vehicles in a bidirectional AGV system. Simulation results are presented to compare the performances of unidirectional and bidirectional systems.     

Conflict resolution in AGV systems

Currently, conflict-free routing in AGV systems is established by means of one of the following three approaches: (i) the problem elimination through the adoption of a segmented path flow or tandem queue configuration; (ii) the identification of imminent collisions through forward sensing and their aversion through vehicle backtracking and/or rerouting; or (iii) the imposition of zone control and extensive route pre-planning, typically based on deterministic timing of the vehicle traveling and docking stages. Among these three approaches, the segmented path flow-based approach presents the highest robustness to the system stochas-ticities/randomness, but at the cost of restricted vehicle routings and the need for complicated handling operations. This paper proposes an alternative conflict resolution strategy that will ensure robust AGV conflict resolution, while maintaining the operational flexibility provided by free vehicle travel on arbitrarily structured guidepath networks. Specifically, the approach advocated in this paper also employs zone control, but it determines vehicle routes incrementally, one zone at a time. Routing decisions are the result of a sequence of safety and performance considerations, with the former being primarily based on structural/logical rather than timing aspects of the system behavior. The resulting control problem is characterized as the AGV structural control. After defining the notion of AGV structural control, the paper proceeds to the formal characterization and analysis of the problem, and to the development of a structural control policy appropriate for the class of AGV resource allocation systems. The paper concludes with some discussion on the accommodation of emerging AGV operational features in the proposed modeling and analysis framework, and the integration of AGV structural control with the broader control of material-flow among the shop-floor workstations.     

基于IGPS和麦克纳姆轮的AGV导航控制系统设计

目前常规使用的舵轮和差速轮自动导引车（automated guided vehicle,AGV）的精度和灵活性低,无法满足在大型高端产品装配过程中精确定位和导航的要求。为了进一步提高AGV的导航精度和柔性,提出了一种基于IGPS （indoor global positioning system,室内全球定位系统）和麦克纳姆轮的AGV高精度导航控制系统。首先通过IGPS高精度定位和坐标计算获取IGPS接收器的位置坐标,其次采用车体中心提取算法和坐标转换矩阵实现接收器坐标位置到车体中心坐标的转换,最后通过对全向移动AGV的建模,采用模糊PI控制方法对AGV的路径偏差进行纠正,实现AGV的精确定位和循迹导航。利用Simulink对模糊PI控制和传统PI控制进行仿真分析,结果表明,相对于传统PI控制,模糊PI控制响应速度快,调整曲线更平滑。同时,在基于IGPS的AGV试验平台进行试验,采用激光跟踪仪对AGV重复定位位置进行测量,结果显示定位精度达到±0.2 mm。研究结果对提高AGV的高精度定位能力具有借鉴意义,也为后续可移动机器人加工模式的研究提供参考。     

Navigation method utilizing floor-integrated inductive power supply modules for omnidirectional AGVs

This paper answers the research question: Can the contactless induced energy supply from a novel inductive floor be used to navigate omnidirectional automated guided vehicles (AGVs)?

In contrast to existing systems a novel inductive floor enables AGVs traveling through production without charging breaks. This floor consists of tiles with inductive modules, which supply the AGV with energy. In addition to supplying power to the AGV, the inductive modules are also intended to guide the vehicle through production. To enable such a guidance sensors placed in the AGV measure the induced voltages of the floor. To answer the research question these voltages are calculated with the help of an electromagnetic simulation of the AGV’s travel on the inductive tiles. To estimate the position as well as rotation of the AGV depending on the simulated voltages as inputs a novel algorithm is presented. During the travel the AGV is able to move in arbitrary directions independently of its orientation. To control the omnidrectional AGV consistently without singularities, a transformation in Omni-Curve-Parameters (OCP) is proposed. As simulation case study a four wheeled steering- and velocity controlled AGV is introduced. For the evaluation a novel motion model depending on the input OCP is presented. This model is compared to the estimation of the position to verify the accuracy and the reproducibility of the algorithm.

     

Optimal flow path design of unidirectional AGV systems

This paper describes an alternative formulation of the AGV flow path layout (FPL) problem which was first formulated by Gaskins and Tanchoco (1987) as a zero-one integer programming problem. A computationally efficient procedure is proposed which is based on the branch-and-bound technique. An algorithm for satisfying the reachability condition for nodes in the AGV flow path network is also presented. A simple illustrative example is discussed to demonstrate the procedure, and a more complex problem is also given.     

Minimum time collision-free path planning for robotic assembly

Optimum path planning of manipulator arms in assembly applications involves the selection of the optimum combination of the robot control variables under the constraints imposed by the robot's physical capabilities and the condition of the working area. The present paper describes an approach based on numerical optimization techniques to plan collision-free paths, and on Taguchi parameter design methodology to optimize the control parameters of the pick-and-place operation that would yield minimum cycle time     

An ultra-high data rate mass storage system

This paper describes the mechanical, electronic, and signal processing capabilities of a special purpose instrumentation mass storage system developed by Bell & Howell Datatape Division. The system is presently operational and encompasses many of the features of computer storage systems including vacuum column tape handling and fast start-stop capability. Throughput rates of up to 450 MBS and total user storage capacity of 2.9 × 10¹¹bits are operational specifications of the system. Bit error rates of 1 × 10^-9are achievable using error detection and correction techniques which complement the ENRZ^TMsource encoding scheme. Search speeds of up to 1140 cm/sec (450 ips) provide worst case access times of approximately four minutes to any portion of the data.     

Engineering Education in Finland

The Finnish education system differs considerably from that of the United States. Starting at age seven, Finnish students are legally required to complete nine years of formal education. They then have the option of either entering the workforce or attending a vocational school, a polytechnic, or a university. This paper describes the path a Finn takes to acquire a degree in engineering. It describes Finland's goal of using engineering education to help adapt itself to survival in a technology-based 21st century. The paper's main focus is on the Bachelor's degree; however, it also describes the Master's and Doctorate degrees.     

A modified Newton‐type Koiter‐Newton method for tracing the geometrically nonlinear response of structures

The Koiter‐Newton (KN) method is a combination of local multimode polynomial approximations inspired by Koiter's initial postbuckling theory and global corrections using the standard Newton method. In the original formulation, the local polynomial approximation, called a reduced‐order model, is used to make significantly more accurate predictions compared to the standard linear prediction used in conjunction with Newton method. The correction to the exact equilibrium path relied exclusively on Newton‐Raphson method using the full model. In this paper, we proposed a modified Newton‐type KN method to trace the geometrically nonlinear response of structures. The developed predictor‐corrector strategy is applied to each predicted solution of the reduced‐order model. The reduced‐order model can be used also in the correction phase, and the exact full nonlinear model is applied only to calculate force residuals. Remainder terms in both the displacement expansion and the reduced‐order model are well considered and constantly updated during correction. The same augmented finite element model system is used for both the construction of the reduced‐order model and the iterations for correction. Hence, the developed method can be seen as a particular modified Newton method with a constant iteration matrix over the single KN step. This significantly reduces the computational cost of the method. As a side product, the method has better error control, leading to more robust step size adaptation strategies. Numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the method in treating nonlinear buckling problems.     

考虑冲突避免的多AGV路径规划研究

目的 提高物流企业“货到人”拣选系统在实际生产中的工作效率，避免自动导引小车(AGV)间的冲突死锁，研究大规模多AGV的无冲突路径规划和协同避障问题。方法 首先考虑AGV空载、负载情况和路径扩展成本，改进A^*算法，动态调整代价函数，优化路径扩展方式。其次，提出冲突检测及避免算法，对可能产生局部冲突的路径交叉点进行避障调度，通过预约锁格，实现局部冲突的检测，制定优先级避障策略，解决AGV动态行驶路径上产生的局部冲突和死锁，进而实现全局无冲突路径规划。结果 对多组不同任务量和不同AGV规模的场景进行仿真，实验结果表明，考虑冲突避免的改进A^*算法能有效实现100个任务、90个货架单位和7个拣选站场景下的多AGV动态路径规划，相较于传统A^*算法，其平均拣选时长缩短了52.61%。结论 该方法可实现大规模场景下的多AGV动态路径规划，在付出较小转弯代价的同时有效避免局部动态冲突，该方法可为相关企业实现多AGV协同调度提供新的思路和理论依据。     

Analysis of automated guided vehicle configurations in flexible manufacturing systems

Automated guided vehicle (AGV) systems complement the operation of flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) by providing integrated automated material handling that capitalizes on the system's flexibility. Previous research considering AGV systems for use in FMS installations has focused on complex control strategies to reduce the congestion problem often encountered in these systems. Recently, attention has been given to tandem system configurations that reduce congestion and simplify system control. The present study uses the simulation methodology to compare the performance of three AGV configurations under a variety of experimental conditions. The results indicate that system size, load/unload time, and machine failure rate factors have significant impacts on the operation of the systems considered. In general, with respect to due date performance, it is recommended to use the traditional configuration in small systems while using the tandem/loop configuration in larger systems. Furthermore, it is shown that the addition of the loop to the tandem configuration mitigates the sensitivity of the tandem configuration to the load/unload time factor as well as significantly improving its performance under high load/unload times. Thus, if tandem configuration is desired to reduce congestion and simplify system control, investments must be made to directly reduce the load/unload times or to construct a loop to avoid the load/unload time penalty.     

结合颜色不变量和ORB特征的图像匹配算法

目的针对现有图像匹配算法因忽略图像颜色信息,使算法对光照变化的鲁棒性较差,容易造成图像误匹配的情况进行改善。方法颜色信息是区分不同图像的重要特征,通过提取彩色图像颜色不变量的方法获得图像的颜色信息,并将颜色不变量与ORB特征描述子相结合,形成一种C-ORB算法,C-ORB算法在保留ORB算法优点的基础上,能够将图像的色彩信息应用到图像匹配过程当中。结果实验结果表明,结合了颜色不变量的ORB算法在保留了ORB算法运算速度快的基础上,能够在不同光照强度、不同光照方向下,获得更多的图像细节,匹配更为准确。结论在移动手机、平板电脑等移动终端设备进行印刷品识别与匹配时,能够在保证识别图像识别速度的基础上进一步减少图像的误匹配。     

点线特征结合的视觉SLAM闭环检测研究

在视觉SLAM系统中,闭环检测是非常重要的一个模块,它主要用于解决移动机器人在位置估计时随时间漂移的问题。移动机器人搭载相机在场景中运动,通过前端视觉里程计估计自身位姿和场景地图点坐标。视觉里程计历史时刻的估计误差会传递到下一时刻,导致一段时间后估计的结果出现累计误差,闭环检测可有效减少该累计误差。针对传统基于点特征的视觉SLAM闭环检测在点稀缺环境下精度和鲁棒性较差的问题,提出结合环境权重点线特征的闭环检测系统。该系统相比传统的基于点特征的闭环检测算法,系统鲁棒性更强,检测精确度更高。     

基于字符分割与新型LENET网络的票据识别算法

目的 针对现今烟草物流配送中心条烟分拣工作量大,条烟分拣系统在分拣中难免会有“多烟”“少烟”“错烟”等情况出现,为解决这一情况,提高分拣效率。方法 设计一种基于模板匹配提取目标条烟图像的条烟识别系统,为了提高图像质量其图像拍摄平台采用半封闭隧道装置,拍摄图像经预处理后,采用扫描模板尺寸确定、被扫描图像的扫描起始点固定、粗匹配再匹配的二次匹配方法来准确完整地提取目标条烟轮廓,而后经Harris角点检测算法提取条烟图像特征并建立数据库,在RBM模型算法的基础上实现条烟识别纠错。结果 经配送中心实验试用后表明,在速度为1.5 m/s的传送带上,该条烟识别系统纠错率为99.9%左右,误报率≤1/30000,系统工作稳定。结论 该条烟纠错系统很好地解决了条烟分拣出错情况,提高了条烟配送效率,满足烟草物流配送中心的纠错要求。     

基于路段时间窗考虑备选路径的AGV路径规划

针对自动化集装箱码头基于卸箱任务的自动导引车（automated guided vehicle,AGV）路径规划问题,结合最优路径数学模型、路径搜索方法和时间窗,提出了一种基于路段时间窗的AGV路径规划方法。首先,在给AGV下派任务的基础上,用最优路径数学模型为AGV规划出最短路径;其次,用路径搜索方法搜索AGV的备选路径,在路径长度相同的情况下,按照路径中转折次数确定备选路径优先级,转折次数少的备选路径优先级高;最后,在各AGV最短路径下,设置各个路段的时间窗,时间窗无重叠则表明AGV无冲突,对于时间窗重叠的路段,采用在原路径上插入时间窗或者在备选路径上插入时间窗的方法,再进行时间窗重叠测试,若还存在重叠的,则继续调整至最终实现多AGV的无冲突路径规划。为了验证方法的有效性,以8台AGV分区同时工作为例,用实例证明所提出的路径规划方法的避碰效果。结果显示该方法能为多台同时工作的AGV规划出一条无冲突优化路径,并且用时较短;在试验中发现选择在备选路径上插入时间窗的方法效果更好。研究表明所提方法能有效实现AGV的避碰,提高AGV利用率和自动化集装箱码头的运作效率。     

Improvements in the accuracy and the repeatability of long trace profiler measurements

Modifications of the long trace profiler at the Advanced Photon Source at Argonne National Laboratory have significantly improved its accuracy and repeatability for measuring the figure of large flat and long-radius mirrors. Use of a Dove prism in the reference beam path corrects phasing problems between mechanical errors and thermally induced system errors. A single reference correction now completely removes both of these error signals from the measured surface profile. The addition of a precision air conditioner keeps the temperature in the metrology enclosure constant to within +/-0.1 degrees C over a 24-h period and has significantly improved the stability and the repeatability of the measurements. Long-radius surface curvatures can now be measured absolutely with a high degree of confidence. These improved capabilities are illustrated with a series of measurements of a 500-mm-long mirror with a 5-km radius of curvature. The standard deviation in the average of ten slope profile scans is 0.3 microrad, and the corresponding standard deviation in the height error is 4.6 nm.