Adaptive maneuvering, with experiments, for a model ship in a marine control laboratory

The maneuvering problem involves two tasks. The first, called the geometric task, is to force the system output to converge to a desired path continuously parametrized by a scalar θ. The second task, called the dynamic task, is to satisfy a desired dynamic behavior along the path. In this paper, this dynamic behavior is further specified as a speed assignment for θ(t). While the main concern is to satisfy the geometric task, the dynamic task ensures that the system output follows the path with the desired speed. An adaptive recursive design technique is developed for a parametrically uncertain nonlinear plant describing the dynamics of a ship. First the geometric part of the problem is solved. Then an update law is constructed that bridges the geometric design with the dynamic task. The design procedure is performed and tested by several experiments for a model ship in a marine control laboratory.     

一类非线性系统的加速度规划输出跟踪动态控制

针对一类严格反馈形式的非线性二阶多输入多输出系统,提出一种带有加速度规划的输出跟踪动态控制策略.引入一个代替时间变量的路径参数用以规划路径跟踪时的加速度,回避了设计内环加速度控制回路的常规方法,简化了控制器的设计过程.对二阶系统的控制项求导进行系统扩维,基于新的增广系统,设计了使系统输出收敛于期望路径的反馈线性化动态控制律.再对加速度跟踪误差基于梯度法设计更新律使其渐近收敛于零,最后通过调节期望加速度实现定常速度控制.理论分析表明,误差闭环系统一致渐近稳定,速度误差有界.动力定位船舶循迹控制仿真结果表明了所提出控制器的有效性.     

Performance limitations in reference tracking and path following for nonlinear systems

We investigate limits of performance in reference tracking and path following and highlight an essential difference between them. For a class of nonlinear systems, we show that in reference tracking, the smallest achievable L₂ norm of the tracking error is equal to the least amount of control energy needed to stabilize the zero dynamics of the error system. We then show that this fundamental performance limitation does not exist when the control objective is to force the output to follow a geometric path without a timing law assigned to it. This is true even when an additional desired speed assignment is required to be satisfied asymptotically or in finite time.     

Globally Stable Adaptive Dynamic Surface Control for Cooperative Path Following of Multiple Underactuated Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

The cooperative path following problem of multiple underactuated autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) involves two tasks. The first one is to force each AUV to converge to the desired parameterized path. The second one is to satisfy the requirement of a cooperative behavior along the paths. In this paper, both of the tasks have been further studied. For the first one, a simplified path following controller is proposed by incorporating the dynamic surface control (DSC) technique to avoid the calculation of derivatives of virtual control signals. Besides, in order to handle the uncertain dynamics, a new type of neural network (NN) adaptive controller is derived, and then an NN based energy‐efficient path following controller is firstly proposed, which consists of an adaptive neural controller dominating in the neural active region and an extra robust controller working outside the neural active region. For the second one, in order to reduce the amount of communications between multiple AUVs, a distributed estimator for the reference common speed is firstly proposed as determined by the communications topology adopted, which means the global knowledge of the reference speed is relaxed for the problem of cooperative path following. The overall algorithm ensures that all the signals in the closed‐loop system are globally uniformly ultimately bounded (GUUB) and the output of the system converges to a small neighborhood of the reference trajectory by properly choosing the design parameters. Simulation results validate the performance and robustness of the proposed strategy.     

A constraint-based dynamic geometry system

Dynamic geometry systems are tools for geometric visualization. They allow the user to define geometric elements, establish relationships between them and explore the dynamic behavior of the remaining geometric elements when one of them is moved. The main problem in dynamic geometry systems is the ambiguity that arises from operations that lead to more than one possible solution. Most dynamic geometry systems deal with this problem in such a way that the solution selection method leads to a fixed dynamic behavior of the system. This is specially annoying when the behavior observed is not the one the user intended.In this work we propose a modular architecture for dynamic geometry systems built upon a set of functional units which will allow us to apply some well-known results from the Geometric Constraint Solving field. A functional unit called filter will provide the user with tools to unambiguously capture the expected dynamic behavior of a given geometric problem.     

Path-following for nonminimum phase systems removes performance limitations

We highlight an essential difference between path-following and reference-tracking for nonminimum phase systems. It is well known that in the reference-tracking, for nonminimum phase systems, there exists a fundamental performance limitation in terms of a lower bound on the L/sub 2/-norm of the tracking error, even when the control effort is free. We show that this is not the case for the less stringent path-following problem, where the control objective is to force the output to follow a geometric path without a timing law assigned to it. Furthermore, the same is true even when an additional desired speed assignment is imposed.     

Aggressive Longitudinal Aircraft Path Tracking Using Nonlinear Control

We study the problem of converting a trajectory tracking controller to a path tracking controller for a nonlinear non-minimum phase longitudinal aircraft model. The solution of the trajectory tracking problem is based on the requirement that the aircraft follows a given time parameterized trajectory in inertial frame. In this paper we introduce an alternative nonlinear control design approach called path tracking control. The path tracking approach is based on designing a nonlinear state feedback controller that maintains a desired speed along a desired path with closed loop stability. This design approach is different from the trajectory tracking approach where aircraft speed and position are regulated along the desired path. The path tracking controller regulates the position errors transverse to the desired path but it does not regulate the position error along the desired path. First, a trajectory tracking controller, consisting of feedforward and static state feedback, is designed to guarantee uniform asymptotic trajectory tracking. The feedforward is determined by solving a stable noncausal inversion problem. Constant feedback gains are determined based on LQR with singular perturbation approach. A path tracking controller is then obtained from the trajectory tracking controller by introducing a suitable state projection.     

Planning manipulation movements of a dual-arm system considering obstacle removing

The paper deals with the problem of planning movements of two hand–arm robotic systems, considering the possibility of using the robot hands to remove potential obstacles in order to obtain a free access to grasp a desired object. The approach is based on a variation of a Probabilistic Road Map that does not rule out the samples implying collisions with removable objects but instead classifies them according to the collided obstacle(s), and allows the search of free paths with the indication of which objects must be removed from the work-space to make the path actually valid; we call it Probabilistic Road Map with Obstacles (PRMwO). The proposed system includes a task assignment system that distributes the task among the robots, using for that purpose a precedence graph built from the results of the PRMwO. The approach has been implemented for a real dual-arm robotic system, and some simulated and real running examples are presented in the paper.     

Path-Following for Nonlinear Systems With Unstable Zero Dynamics

In the path-following problem formulated in this note, it is required that the error between the system output and the desired geometric path eventually be less than any prespecified constant. If in a nonlinear multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) system the output derivatives do not enter into its zero dynamics, a condition relating path geometry and stabilizability of the zero dynamics is given under which a solution to this problem exists. The solution is obtained by combining input-to-state stability and hybrid system methodologies     

A geometric approach to multivariable control system design of a distillation column

A multivariable control problem of a distillation column is considered, where the object is to maintain two output variables, the compositions of the distillate and the bottom product at some desired values by manipulating the reflux flow rate and the boil-up rate.Based on a linearized model, a geometric approach is applied to the design problem of disturbance rejection control. In other words, a feedback control strategy is desired which enables the complete rejection of the effect of disturbances on both output variables.In obtaining the feedback control, the problem of how many and what state variables are to be measured and fed back has been made clear. In this control strategy, only five state variables are fed back. Thus, only five columns of the feedback gain matrix have non-zero values. Furthermore, two out of these five columns are uniquely determined, and the other three columns can be assigned arbitrary values and used for pole assignment of the controlled system.For the disturbances in composition and flow rate of the feed stream, Δx_F and ΔL_F, the effect of the disturbance Δx_F is completely rejected by the feedback controller, but the effect of the disturbance ΔL_F can only be eliminated from the output Δx_D.A digital simulation of a distillation column composed of nine plates, a condenser and a reboiler was carried out to confirm these results and to show that the linearized model used in this paper is valid for fairly large step changes.     

Fault-tolerant flocking for a group of autonomous mobile robots

Consider a system composed of mobile robots that move on the plane, each of which independently executing its own instance of an algorithm. Given a desired geometric pattern, the flocking problem consists in ensuring that the robots form this pattern and maintain it while moving together on the plane. In this paper, we explore flocking in the presence of faulty robots, where the desired pattern is a regular polygon. We propose a distributed fault tolerant flocking algorithm assuming a semi-synchronous model with a k-bounded scheduler, in the sense that no robot is activated no more than k times between any two consecutive activations of any other robot.The algorithm is composed of three parts: failure detector, ranking assignment, and flocking algorithm. The role of the rank assignment is to provide a persistent and unique ranking for the robots. The failure detector identifies the set of currently correct robots in the system. Finally, the flocking algorithm handles the movement and reconfiguration of the flock, while maintaining the desired shape. The difficulty of the problem comes from the combination of the three parts, together with the necessity to prevent collisions and allow the rotation of the flock. We formally prove the correctness of our proposed solution.     

基于MCPDDPG的智能车辆路径规划方法及应用

针对智能车路径规划过程中常存在动态环境感知预估不足的问题,使用基于蒙特卡罗深度策略梯度学习(Monte Carlo prediction deep deterministic policy gradient, MCPDDPG)的智能车辆路径规划方法,设计一种基于环境感知预测、行为决策和控制序列生成的框架,实现实时的决策和规划,并输出连续的车辆控制序列.首先,利用序贯蒙特卡罗预估他车行为状态量;然后,设计基于强化Q学习的行为决策方法,使智能车辆实时预知碰撞风险,采取合理的规避策略;最后,构建深度策略梯度学习网络框架,获取智能车辆规划路径的最优轨迹序列.实验结果表明,所提方法能够缓解环境感知的预估不足问题,提升智能车辆行为决策的快速性,保障路径规划的主动安全,并输出连续的轨迹序列,为智能车辆导航控制提供前提.     

多无人机任务推演系统研究

研究多无人机任务推演系统的设计与实现过程,在多无人机任务推演系统具体需求的基础上,设计系统的分层体系结构与具体功能模块。针对系统实现过程中的多机协同任务分配及航迹规划问题,建立相应的数学模型并使用改进遗传算法对模型进行求解。使用分布式处理技术解决模型解算与实时数据显示的矛盾。基于MapX控件实现系统中战场地图的显示与操作功能。该系统对制定合理作战方案、发挥无人机的最佳作战效能具有重要意义。     

Path-following for linear systems with unstable zero dynamics

A constructive solution to the path-following problem for MIMO linear systems with unstable zero dynamics is developed. While the original control variable steers the system output along the path, the path parameter θ is used as an additional control to stabilize zero dynamics with a feedback law which is nonlinear due to the path constraint. A sufficient condition for solvability of the path-following problem is given in terms of the geometric properties of the path. When this condition is satisfied, an arbitrary small L₂ norm of path-following error can be achieved, thus avoiding performance limitations of the standard reference tracking problem imposed by unstable zero dynamics.     

A novel global harmony search algorithm for task assignment problem

The objective of task assignment problem (TAP) is to minimize the sum of interprocessor communication and task processing costs for a distributed system which subjects to several resource constraints. We use a novel global harmony search algorithm (NGHS) to solve this problem, and the NGHS algorithm has demonstrated higher efficiency than the improved harmony search algorithm (IHS) on finding the near optimal task assignment. We also devise a new method called normalized penalty function method to tradeo^® the costs and the constraints. A large number of experiments show that our algorithm performs well on finding the near optimal task assignment, and it is a viable approach for the task assignment problem.     

Formation control of underactuated bio-inspired snake robots

This paper considers formation control of snake robots. In particular, based on a simplified locomotion model, and using the method of virtual holonomic constraints, we control the body shape of the robot to a desired gait pattern defined by some pre-specified constraint functions. These functions are dynamic in that they depend on the state variables of two compensators which are used to control the orientation and planar position of the robot, making this a dynamic maneuvering control strategy. Furthermore, using a formation control strategy we make the multi-agent system converge to and keep a desired geometric formation, and enforce the formation follow a desired straight line path with a given speed profile. Specifically, we use the proposed maneuvering controller to solve the formation control problem for a group of snake robots by synchronizing the commanded velocities of the robots. Simulation results are presented which illustrate the successful performance of the theoretical approach.     

The Reachability Problem in Constructive Geometric Constraint Solving Based Dynamic Geometry

An important issue in dynamic geometry is the reachability problem that asks whether there is a continuous path that, from a given starting geometric configuration, continuously leads to an ending configuration. In this work we report on a technique to compute a continuous evaluation path, if one exists, that solves the reachability problem for geometric constructions with one variant parameter. The technique is developed in the framework of a constructive geometric constraint-based dynamic geometry system, uses the A^??? algorithm and minimizes the variant parameter arc length.     

基于异构CMP的改进蚁群优化任务调度策略

为提高异构CMP任务调度执行效率,充分发挥异构CMP的异构性和并行能力,提出一种基于异构CMP的改进蚁群优化任务调度算法--IACOTS。IACOTS算法首先建立任务调度模型、路径选择规则和信息素更新规则,使蚁群算法能够适用于异构CMP任务调度问题。同时通过采用动态信息素更新、相遇并行搜索策略和引入遗传算法中的变异因子对基本的蚁群算法进行优化,克服蚁群算法搜索时间过长和“早熟”现象。通过仿真实验获得的结果表明,IACOTS算法执行效率优于现有的遗传算法,完成相同的任务需要的迭代次数最少,能有效降低程序执行时间,适用于异构CMP等大规模并行环境的任务调度。     

Solving function distribution and behavior design problem for cooperative object handling by multiple mobile robots

This paper addresses the function distribution and behavior design problem for a multirobot system which incorporates a behavior-based dynamic cooperation strategy for object handling. The proposed multiple robot system is composed of a managing robot and homogeneous behavior-based robots. The cooperation strategy in this system is realized in two steps: designing the distributed robot's cooperative behavioral attributes according to the robot's abilities, and organizing these behavioral attributes so that team cooperation is realized. For indicating an incremental style of local behavior construction, an advanced design of cooperative behavior for coping with unknown disturbance is addressed. Additionally, two extended cooperation strategies designed for a path tracking task are described. These three strategies are based on the same concept on performing manipulation in coordination. Therefore, by considering the function distribution among the managing robot and worker robots, and considering behavior design of each worker robot, the proposed system is able to achieve the object handling task with different performances according to the task requirement, such as with or without path tracking and with or without contact with the environment. Experimental results demonstrate the applicability of the proposed system.     

Output feedback control of a class of nonminimum‐phase nonlinear systems

The problem of global stabilization by output feedback is investigated in this paper for a class of nonminimum‐phase nonlinear systems. The system under consideration has a cascade configuration that consists of a driven system known as the inverse dynamics and a driving system. It is proved that although the zero dynamics may be unstable, there is an output feedback controller, globally stabilizing the nonminimum‐phase system if both driven and driving systems have a lower‐triangular form and satisfy a Lipschitz‐like condition, and the inverse dynamics satisfy a stronger version of input‐to‐state stabilizability condition. A design procedure is provided for the construction of an n‐dimensional dynamic output feedback compensator. Examples and simulations are also given to validate the effectiveness of the proposed output feedback controller. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.