Adaptive Polar-Space Motion Control for Embedded Omnidirectional Mobile Robots with Parameter Variations and Uncertainties

This paper presents an adaptive polar-space motion controller for trajectory tracking and stabilization of a three-wheeled, embedded omnidirectional mobile robot with parameter variations and uncertainties caused by friction, slip and payloads. With the derived dynamic model in polar coordinates, an adaptive motion controller is synthesized via the adaptive backstepping approach. This proposed polar-space robust adaptive motion controller was implemented into an embedded processor using a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) chip. Furthermore, the embedded adaptive motion controller works with a reusable user IP (Intellectual Property) core library and an embedded real-time operating system (RTOS) in the same chip to steer the mobile robot to track the desired trajectory by using hardware/software co-design technique and SoPC (system-on-a-programmable-chip) technology. Simulation results are conducted to show the merit of the proposed polar-space control method in comparison with a conventional proportional-integral (PI) feedback controller and a non-adaptive polar-space kinematic controller. Finally, the effectiveness and performance of the proposed embedded adaptive motion controller are exemplified by conducting several experiments on steering an embedded omnidirectional mobile robot.     

Model-based PI–fuzzy control of four-wheeled omni-directional mobile robots

The purpose of this study is to suggest and examine a PI–fuzzy path planner and associated low-level control system for a linear discrete dynamic model of omni-directional mobile robots to obtain optimal inputs for drivers. Velocity and acceleration filtering is also implemented in the path planner to satisfy planning prerequisites and prevent slippage. Regulated drivers’ rotational velocities and torques greatly affect the ability of these robots to perform trajectory planner tasks. These regulated values are examined in this research by setting up an optimal controller. Introducing optimal controllers such as linear quadratic tracking for multi-input–multi-output control systems in acceleration and deceleration is one of the essential subjects for motion control of omni-directional mobile robots. The main topics presented and discussed in this article are improvements in the presented discrete-time linear quadratic tracking approach such as the low-level controller and combined PI–fuzzy path planner with appropriate speed monitoring algorithm such as the high-level one in conditions both with and without external disturbance. The low-level tracking controller presented in this article provides an optimal solution to minimize the differences between the reference trajectory and the system output. The efficiency of this approach is also compared with that of previous PID controllers which employ kinematic modeling. Utilizing the new approach in trajectory-planning controller design results in more precise and appropriate outputs for the motion of four-wheeled omni-directional mobile robots, and the modeling and experimental results confirm this issue.     

An Evolutionary Radial Basis Function Neural Network with Robust Genetic-Based Immunecomputing for Online Tracking Control of Autonomous Robots

This paper presents an evolutionary radial basis function neural network with genetic algorithm and artificial immune system (GAAIS-RBFNN) for tracking control of autonomous robots. Both the GAAIS-RBFNN computational intelligence and online tracking controller are implemented in one field-programmable gate array (FPGA) chip to cope with the optimal control problem of real-world mobile robotics. The hybrid GAAIS paradigm incorporated with Taguchi quality method is employed to determine the optimal structure of RBFNN. The control parameters of tracking controller are online tuned by minimizing the performance index using the proposed GAAIS-RBFNN to achieve trajectory tracking. Experimental results and comparative works are conducted to show the effectiveness and merit of the proposed FPGA-based GAAIS-RBFNN tracking controller using system-on-a-programmable-chip technology. This FPGA-based online hybrid GAAIS-RBFNN intelligent controller outperforms the existing bio-inspired RBFNN controllers using individual GA and AIS algorithms.     

Dynamic adaptive trajectory tracking control of nonholonomic mobile robots using multiple models approach

This paper presents an approach for the trajectory tracking control of nonholonomic wheeled mobile robots (WMR) by combining one of the existing adaptive control methods and multiple identification models. The overall system includes two types of controllers in the control scheme. A kinematic controller developed by using kinematic model produces the required linear and angular velocities of the robot for tracking a reference trajectory. These required velocities are used to calculate the torques using an adaptive dynamic controller with multiple models. The proposed method uses the multiple models of the WMR for the identification of the dynamic parameters and performs switching between the given models. The models used in the identification are identical, except for the initial estimates of the parameters. By using an adaptive dynamic controller with multiple models of the WMR, enhancement in transient response is obtained. Stability analysis of the overall system is given, and simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effective performance of the adaptive control by using multiple models approach.     

Coordination of Multiple Control Schemes for Mobile Robot Navigation on the Basis of the Generalized Stochastic Petri-Nets

There have been two major streams of research for the motion control of mobile robots: model-based deliberate control and sensor-based reactive control. Since the two schemes have complementary advantages and disadvantages, each cannot completely replace the other. There are a variety of environmental conditions that affect the performance of navigation. The motivation of this study is that multiple motion control schemes are required to survive in dynamic real environments. In this paper, we exploit two discrete motion controllers for mobile robots. One is the deliberate trajectory tracking controller and the other is the reactive dynamic window approach. We propose the selective coordination of two controllers on the basis of the generalized stochastic Petri net (GSPN) framework. The major scope of this paper is to clarify the advantage of the proposed controller based on the coordination of multiple controllers from the results of quantitative performance comparison among motion controllers. For quantitative comparison, both simulations and experiments in dynamic environments were carried out. In addition, it is shown that navigation experiences are accumulated in the GSPN formalism. The performance of navigation service can be significantly improved owing to the automatically stored experiences.     

基于视觉伺服反馈的不确定非完整动态移动机器人的自适应镇定

研究了带有固定在天花板上的摄像机系统的非完整动态移动机器人的镇定问题. 首先, 利用针孔摄像机模型引入了基于摄像机目标的视觉伺服运动学模型,并针对该运动学模型给出了一个运动学镇定控制器. 然后,在摄像机参数不确定的情形下设计了一个自适应滑模控制器实现了不确定动态移动机器人的镇定. 提出的控制器不仅对结构不确定性如质量变化, 而且对无结构不确定性如外部扰动都具有鲁棒性. 通过Lyapunov方法严格证明了提出的控制系统的稳定性和估计参数的有界性. 仿真结果证实了控制律的有效性.     

Dynamic feedback robust stabilization of nonholonomic mobile robots based on visual servoing

This paper investigates the visual servoing robust stabilization of nonholonomic mobile robots. The calibration of visual parameters is not only complicated, but also needs great consumption of calculated time so that the accurate calibration is impossible in some situations for high requirement of real timing. Hence, it is interesting and important to consider the design of stabilizing controllers for nonholonomic kinematic systems with uncalibrated visual parameters. A novel uncertain model of these nonholonomic kinematic systems is proposed. Based on this model, a stabilizing controller is discussed by using dynamic feedback and two-step techniques. The proposed robust controller makes the mobile robot image pose and the orientation converge to the desired configuration despite the lack of depth information and the lack of precise visual parameters. The stability of the closed loop system is rigorously proved. The simulation is given to show the effectiveness of the presented controllers.     

Formation path following control of unicycle-type mobile robots

This paper presents a control strategy for the coordination of multiple mobile robots. A combination of the virtual structure and path following approaches is used to derive the formation architecture. A formation controller is proposed for the kinematic model of two-degree-of-freedom unicycle-type mobile robots. The approach is then extended to consider the formation controller by taking into account the physical dimensions and dynamics of the robots. The controller is designed in such a way that the path derivative is left as a free input to synchronize the robot’s motion. Simulation results with three robots are included to show the performance of our control system. Finally, the theoretical results are experimentally validated on a multi-robot platform.     

Adaptive inverse dynamics control of robots with uncertain kinematics and dynamics

It has been about two decades since the first globally convergent adaptive tracking controller was derived for robots with dynamic uncertainties. However, not until recently has the problem of concurrent adaptation to both the kinematic and dynamic uncertainties found its solution. This adaptive controller belongs to passivity-based control. Though passivity-based controllers have many attractive properties, in general, they are not able to guarantee the uniform performance of the robot over the entire workspace. Even in the ideal case of perfect knowledge of the manipulator parameters, the closed-loop system remains nonlinear and coupled. Thus the closed-loop tracking performance is difficult to quantify, while the inverse dynamics controllers can overcome these deficiencies. Therefore, in this work, we will develop a new adaptive Jacobian tracking controller based on the inverse manipulator dynamics. Using the Lyapunov approach, we have proved that the end-effector motion tracking errors converge asymptotically to zero. Simulation results are presented to show the performance of the proposed controller.     

基于视觉图像的全向移动机器人轨迹跟踪控制研究

机器人轨迹节点跟踪比较难,导致机器人实际轨迹偏离期望轨迹,所以设计基于视觉图像的全向移动机器人轨迹跟踪控制方法;构建全向移动机器人的运动学数学模型,以此确定机器人移动轨迹数学模型;以移动轨迹数学模型为基础,按照视觉图像划分标准对全向移动机器人运动图像的分割,通过分离目标节点的方式提取运动学特征参量,完成机器人轨迹节点跟踪处理;结合节点跟踪处理结果,将运动学不等式与误差向量作为机器人轨迹跟踪控制的约束条件,利用滑模变结构搭建轨迹跟踪控制模型,实现全向移动机器人轨迹跟踪控制;对比实验结果表明,所设计的方法应用后,全向移动机器人角速度曲线、线速度曲线与期望运动轨迹曲线之间的贴合程度均超过90%,满足全向移动机器人轨迹跟踪控制要求。     

Design and Control of a Four‐Wheeled Omnidirectional Mobile Robot with Steerable Omnidirectional Wheels

Omnidirectional mobile robots are capable of arbitrary motion in an arbitrary direction without changing the direction of wheels, because they can perform 3 degree‐of‐freedom (DOF) motion on a two‐dimensional plane. In this research, a new class of omnidirectional mobile robot is proposed. Since it has synchronously steerable omnidirectional wheels, it is called an omnidirectional mobile robot with steerable omnidirectional wheels (OMR‐SOW). It has 3 DOFs in motion and one DOF in steering. One steering DOF can function as a continuously variable transmission (CVT). CVT of the OMR‐SOW increases the range of velocity ratio from the wheel velocities to robot velocity, which may improve performance of the mobile robot. The OMR‐SOW with four omnidirectional wheels has been developed in this research. Kinematics and dynamics of this robot will be analyzed in detail. Various tests have been conducted to demonstrate the validity and feasibility of the proposed mechanism and control algorithm. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

考虑运动受限的履带式移动机器人轨迹跟踪控制

针对履带式移动机器人的轨迹跟踪控制问题进行研究,首先,建立了履带式移动机器人的运动学模型和跟踪误差模型;其次,设计了转速有限时间控制和线速度滑模控制的轨迹跟踪控制律,并给出了考虑运动受限作用下的控制律修正表达式;最后,基于MATLAB对所提控制律进行仿真,对比分析了不考虑运动受限情况下跟踪控制效果;结果表明,设计的跟踪控制律能够实现履带式移动机器人对圆轨迹的有效跟踪,且考虑运动受限作用的控制律更加符合实际;文章研究分析了运动受限作用对于移动机器人轨迹跟踪控制的影响,分析结果对其他移动机器人的运动控制研究具有参考价值。     

基于神经网络的不确定移动机器人鲁棒自适应跟踪控制

针对含运动学未知参数以及动力学模型不确定的非完整轮式移动机器人轨迹跟踪问题,基于Radical Basis Function(径向基函数)神经网络,提出了一种鲁棒自适应控制器.首先,考虑移动机器人运动学参数未知的情况,提出了一种含自适应参数的运动学控制器,用以补偿参数不确定性导致的系统误差;其次,利用神经网络控制技术,对于机器人在移动中动力学模型不确定问题,提出了一种具有鲁棒性的动力学控制器,使得移动机器人可以在不知道具体动力学模型的情况下跟踪到目标轨迹;最后利用Lyapunov稳定性理论证明了整个系统的稳定性.通过数值仿真验证了所设计的控制器的可行性.     

Interpolation Based Controller for Trajectory Tracking in Mobile Robots

In this work, a novel algorithm for trajectory tracking in mobile robots is presented. For the purpose of tracking trajectory, a methodology based on the interpolation of trigonometric functions of the wheeled mobile robot kinematics is proposed. In addition, the convergence of the interpolation-based control systems is analysed. Furthermore, the optimal controller parameters are selected through Monte Carlo Experiments (MCE) in order to minimize a cost index. The MCE is able to find, the best set of gains that minimizes the tracking error. Experimental results over a mobile robot Pionner 3AT are conclusive and satisfactory. In addition, a comparative study of control performance is carried out against another controllers.     

基于阿克曼原理的车式移动机器人运动学建模

基于阿克曼原理的轮式移动机器人运动学模型对于无人驾驶车辆的研究有着重要的意义.对轮式移动机器人的运动学特性进行了分析,建立了不考虑滑行、刹车等的轮式移动机器人的运动学模型.对该运动学模型引入了阿克曼约束,给出了描述机器人运动状态的转向角、航向角和转弯半径等物理量的数学公式.最后对该运动学模型进行仿真实验,验证了所建立的运动学模型的正确性,为进一步研究轮式移动机器人提供了理论分析的基础.     

Fuzzy logic techniques for navigation of several mobile robots

In this paper, navigation techniques for several mobile robots as many as one thousand robots using fuzzy logic are investigated in a totally unknown environment. Fuzzy logic controllers (FLC) using different membership functions are developed and used to navigate mobile robots. First a fuzzy controller has been used with four types of input members, two types of output members and three parameters each. Next two types of fuzzy controllers have been developed having same input members and output members with five parameters each. Each robot has an array of ultrasonic sensors for measuring the distances of obstacles around it and an infrared sensor for detecting the bearing of the target. These techniques have been demonstrated in various exercises, which depicts that the robots are able to avoid obstacles as well as negotiate the dead ends and reach the targets efficiently. Amongst the techniques developed, FLC having Gaussian membership function is found to be most efficient for mobile robots navigation.     

Dynamic Model and Control for a Holonomic Omnidirectional Mobile Robot

In the recent past, mobile robots with high mobility have been developed actively. We have already proposed a holonomic and omnidirectional mobile robot using two active dual-wheel caster assemblies and also derived the kinematic models for the assembly and the mobile robot. This paper presents dynamic analysis and control for the mobile robot. The dynamic model has been derived based on the forces acting on the steering axis. Then a model-based resolved acceleration controller is constructed. The validity of the model and the effectiveness of the control system are confirmed by experiments using a prototype robot as well as simulations.     

The kinematics for redundantly actuated omnidirectional mobile robots

Omnidirectional mobile robots have been popularly employed in several application areas. However, the kinematics and singularity analysis for these systems have not been clearly identified, especially for the redundantly actuated case, which is common in current omnidirectional mobile robots. In light of this fact, this article introduces two different kinematic approaches for a typical omnidirectional mobile robot having three caster wheels, and examines singularity configurations of such systems. Then, a singularity‐free load‐distribution scheme for a redundantly actuated three‐wheeled omnidirectional mobile robot is proposed. Through simulation, several advantages of the redundantly actuated mobile robot (singularity avoidance, input‐load saving, and exploiting several subtasks) are presented. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A decentralized control system for cooperative transportation by multiple non-holonomic mobile robots

In this paper, we propose a decentralized control system for transporting a single object by multiple non-holonomic mobile robots. Each agent used in the proposed system has two arms, which can steer around a joint offset from the centre point between two driving wheels. One of these mobile robots acts as a leader, who is assumed to be able to plan and to manipulate the omnidirectional motion of the object by using a resolved velocity control. Other robots, referred to as followers, cooperatively transport the object by keeping a constant relative position with the object using a simple PI control. Different from conventional leader–follower type systems that transport an object by multiple robots in coordination, the present followers can plan an action based on their local coordinate and need no absolute positional information. In addition, as a special case, a system consisting of only two robots is introduced, in which the follower robot not only has an arm length controller to follow the leader but also has a fuzzy controller as an avoidance controller to avoid obstacles or a posture controller to keep a desired posture of the object. Simulation results are given to demonstrate the good performance of the proposed systems.     

Robust and real-time self-localization based on omnidirectional vision for soccer robots

Self-localization is the basis to realize autonomous ability such as motion planning and decision-making for mobile robots, and omnidirectional vision is one of the most important sensors for RoboCup Middle Size League (MSL) soccer robots. According to the characteristic that RoboCup competition is highly dynamic and the deficiency of the current self-localization methods, a robust and real-time self-localization algorithm based on omnidirectional vision is proposed for MSL soccer robots. Monte Carlo localization and matching optimization localization, two most popular approaches used in MSL, are combined in our algorithm. The advantages of these two approaches are maintained, while the disadvantages are avoided. A camera parameters auto-adjusting method based on image entropy is also integrated to adapt the output of omnidirectional vision to dynamic lighting conditions. The experimental results show that global localization can be realized effectively while highly accurate localization is achieved in real-time, and robot self-localization is robust to the highly dynamic environment with occlusions and changing lighting conditions.