Some issues in the sliding mode control of rigid robotic manipulators

This thesis investigates the problem of robust adaptive sliding mode control for nonlinear rigid robotic manipulators. A number of robustness and convergence results are presented for sliding mode control of robotic manipulators with bounded unknown disturbances, nonlinearities, dynamical couplings and parameter uncertainties. The highlights of the research work are summarized below : • A robust adaptive tracking control for rigid robotic manipulators is proposed. In this scheme, the parameters of the upper bound of system uncertainty are adaptively estimated. The controller estimates are then used as controller parameters to eliminate the effects of system uncertainty and guarantee asymptotic error convergence. • A decentralised adaptive sliding mode control scheme for rigid robotic manipulators is proposed. The known dynamics of the partially known robotic manipulator are separated out to perform linearization. A local feedback controller is then designed to stabilize each subsystem and an adaptive sliding mode compensator is used to handle the effects of uncertain system dynamics. The developed scheme guarantees that the effects of system dynamics are eliminated and that asymptotic error convergence is obtained with respect to the overall robotic control system. • A model reference adaptive control using the terminal sliding mode technique is proposed. A multivariable terminal sliding mode is defined for a model following control system for rigid robotic manipulators. A terminal sliding mode controller is then designed based on only a few uncertain system matrix bounds. The result is a simple and robust controller design that guarantees convergence of the output tracking error in a finite time on the terminal sliding mode

Robust decentralised variable structure control for rigid robotic manipulators

In this thesis, the problem of robust variable structure control for non-linear rigid robotic manipulators is investigated. Robustness and convergence results are presented for variable structure control systems of robotic manipulators with bounded unknown disturbances, nonlinearities, dynamical couplings and parameter uncertainties. The major outcomes of the work described in this thesis are summarised as given below. The basic variable structure theory is surveyed, and some basic ideas such as sliding mode designs, robustness analysis and control1er design methods for linear or non-linear systems are reviewed. Three recent variable structure control schemes for robotic manipulators are discussed and compared to highlight the research developments in this area. A decentralised variable structure model reference adaptive control scheme is proposed for a class of large scale systems. It is shown that, unlike previous decentralised variable structure control schemes, the local variable structure controller design in this scheme requires only three bounds of the subsystem matrices and dynamical interactions instead of the upper and the lower bounds of all unknown subsystem parameters. Using this scheme, not only asymptotic convergence of the output tracking error can be guaranteed, but also the controller design is greatly simplified. In order to eliminate chattering caused by the variable structure technique, local boundary layer controllers are presented. Furthermore, the scheme is applied to the tracking control of robotic manipulators with the result that strong robustness and asymptotic convergence of the output tracking error are obtained

Nonlinear Control Strategies for Outdoor Aerial Manipulators

In this thesis, the design, validation and implementation of nonlinear control strategies for aerial manipulators {i.e. aerial robots equipped with manipulators{ is studied, with special emphasis on the internal coupling of the system and its resilience against external disturbances. For the rst, di erent decentralised control strategies {i.e. using di erent control typologies for each one of the subsystems{ that indirectly take into account this coupling have been analysed. As a result, a nonlinear strategy composed of two controllers is proposed. A higher priority is given to the manipulation accuracy, relaxing the platform tracking, and hence obtaining a solution improving the manipulation capabilities with the surrounding environment. To validate these results, thorough stability and robustness analyses are provided, both theoretically and in simulation. On the other hand, a signi cant e ort has been devoted to improving the response and applicability of robot manipulators used in ight via control. In particular, the design of controllers for lightweight exible manipulators {that reduce the consequences of incidents involving unforeseen contacts{ is analysed. Although their inherent nature perfectly ts for aerial manipulation applications, the added exibility produces unwanted behaviours, such as second-order modes and uncertainties. To cope with them, an adaptable position nonlinear control strategy is proposed. To validate this contribution, the stability of the approach is studied in theory and its capabilities are proven in several experimental scenarios. In these, the robustness of the solution against unforeseen impacts and contact with uncharacterised interfaces is demonstrated. Subsequently, this strategy has been enriched with {multiaxis{ force control capabilities thanks to the inclusion of an outer control loop modifying the manipulator reference. Accordingly, this additional applicationfocused capability is added to the controlled system without loosing the modulated response of the inner-loop position strategy. It is also worth noting that, thanks to the cascade-like nature of the modi cation, the transition between position and force control modes is inherently smooth and automatic. The stability of this expanded strategy has been theoretically analysed and the results validated in a set of experimental scenarios. To validate the rst nonlinear approach with realistic outdoor simulations before its implementation, a computational uid dynamics analysis has been performed to obtain an explicit model of the aerodynamic forces and torques applied to the blunt-body of the aerial platform in ight. The results of this study have been compared to the most common alternative nowadays, being highlighted that the proposed model signi cantly surpasses this option in terms of accuracy. Moreover, it is worth underscoring that this characterisation could be also employed in the future to develop control solutions with enhanced rejection capabilities against wind conditions. Finally, as the focus of this thesis is on the use of novel control strategies on real aerial manipulation outdoors to improve their accuracy while performing complex tasks, a modular autopilot solution to be able to implement them has been also developed. This general-purpose autopilot allows the implementation of new algorithms, and facilitates their theory-to-experimentation transition. Taking into account this perspective, the proposed tool employs the simple and widely-known MAS interface and the highly reliable PX4 autopilot as backup, thus providing a redundant approach to handle unexpected incidents in ight.En esta tesis se ha estudiado el diseño, validación e implementación de estrategias de control no lineales para robots manipuladores aéreos –esto es, robots aéreos equipados con un sistema de manipulación robótica–, dándose especial énfasis a las interacciones internas del sistema y a su resiliencia frente a efectos externos. Para lo primero, se han analizado diferentes estrategias de control descentralizado –es decir, que usan tipologías de control diferentes para cada uno de los subsistemas–, pero que tienen indirectamente en consideración la interacción entre manipulación y vuelo. Como resultado de esta línea, se propone una estretegia de control conformada por dos controladores. Estos se coordinan de tal forma que se le da prioridad a la manipulación sobre el seguimiento de posiciones del vehículo, produciéndose un sistema de control que mejora la precisión de las interacciones entre el sistema manipulador y el entorno. Para validar estos resultados, se ha analizado su estabilidad y robustez tanto teóricamente como mediante simulaciones numéricas. Por otro lado, se ha buscado mejorar la respuesta y aplicabilidad de los manipuladores que se usan en vuelo mediante su control. Dentro de esta tendencia, la tesis se ha centrado en el diseño de controladores para manipuladores ligeros flexibles, ya que estos permiten reducir el peso del sistema completo y reducen el riesgo de incidentes debidos a contactos inesperados. Sin embargo, la flexibilidad de estos produce comportamientos indeseados durante la operación, como la aparición de modos de segundo orden y cierta incentidumbre en su comportamiento. Para reducir su impacto en la precisión de las tareas de manipulación, se ha desarrollado un controlador no lineal adaptable. Para validar estos resultados, se ha analizado la estabilidad del sistema teóricamente y se han desarrollado una serie de experimentos. En ellos, se ha comprobado su robustez ante impactos inesperados y contactos con elementos no caracterizados. Posteriormente, esta estrategia para manipuladores flexibles ha sido ampliada al añadir un bucle externo que posibilita el control en fuerzas en varias direcciones. Esto permite, mediante un único controlador, mantener la suave respuesta de la estrategia. Además cabe destacar que, al contar esta estrategia con un diseño en cascade, la transición entre los segmentos de desplazamiento del brazo y de aplicación de fuerzas es fluida y automática. La estabilidad de esta estrategia ampliada ha sido analizada teóricamente y los resultados han sido validados experimentalmente. Para validar la primera estrategia mediante simulaciones que representen fielmente las condiciones en exteriores antes de su implementación, ha sido necesario realizar un estudio mediante mecánica de fluidos computacional para obtener un modelo explícito de las fuerzas y momentos aerodinámicos a los que se efrenta la plataforma en vuelo. Los resultados de este estudio han sido comparados con la alternativa más empleada actualmente, mostrándose que los avances del método propuesto son sustanciales. Asimismo, es importante destacar que esta caracterización podría también usarse en el futuro para desarrollar controladores con una respuesta mejorada ante perturbaciones aerodinámicas, como en el caso de volar con viento. Finalmente, al ser esta una tesis centrada en las estrategias de control novedosas en sistemas reales para la mejora de su rendimiento en misiones complejas, se ha desarrollado un autopiloto modular fácilmente modificable para implementarlas. Este permite validar experimentalmente nuevos algoritmos y facilita la transición entre teoría y práctica. Para ello, esta herramienta se basa en una interfaz sencilla ampliamente conocida por los investigadores de robótica, Simulink®, y cuenta con un autopiloto de respaldo, PX4, para enfrentarse a los incidentes inesperados que pudieran surgir en vuelo

Decentralised control for complex systems - An invited survey

© 2014 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. With the advancement of science and technology, practical systems are becoming more complex. Decentralised control has been recognised as a practical, feasible and powerful tool for application to large scale interconnected systems. In this paper, past and recent results relating to decentralised control of complex large scale interconnected systems are reviewed. Decentralised control based on modern control approaches such as variable structure techniques, adaptive control and backstepping approaches are discussed. It is well known that system structure can be employed to reduce conservatism in the control design and decentralised control for interconnected systems with similar and symmetric structure is explored. Decentralised control of singular large scale systems is also reviewed in this paper

Comprehensive review on controller for leader-follower robotic system

985-1007This paper presents a comprehensive review of the leader-follower robotics system. The aim of this paper is to find and elaborate on the current trends in the swarm robotic system, leader-follower, and multi-agent system. Another part of this review will focus on finding the trend of controller utilized by previous researchers in the leader-follower system. The controller that is commonly applied by the researchers is mostly adaptive and non-linear controllers. The paper also explores the subject of study or system used during the research which normally employs multi-robot, multi-agent, space flying, reconfigurable system, multi-legs system or unmanned system. Another aspect of this paper concentrates on the topology employed by the researchers when they conducted simulation or experimental studies

Adaptive fuzzy sliding mode algorithm-based decentralised control for a permanent magnet spherical actuator

<p>The dynamic model of multi-degree-of-freedom permanent magnet (PM) spherical actuators is multivariate and nonlinear due to strong inter-axis couplings, which affects the trajectory tracking performance of the system. In this paper, a decentralised control strategy based on adaptive fuzzy sliding mode (AFSM) algorithm is developed for a PM spherical actuator to enhance its trajectory tracking performance. In this algorithm, the coupling terms are separated as subsystems from the entire system. The AFSM algorithm is applied in such a way that the fuzzy logic systems are used to approximate the subsystem with uncertainties. A sliding mode term is introduced to compensate for the effect of coupling terms and fuzzy approximation error. The stability of the proposed method is guaranteed by choosing the appropriate Lyapunov function. Both simulation and experimental results show that the proposed control algorithm can effectively handle various uncertainties and inter-axis couplings, and improve the trajectory tracking precision of the spherical actuator.</p

PARAMETER IDENTIFICATION OF A ROBOT ARM USING GENETIC ALGORITHMS

An identification method for inverse dynamics of a robot arm based on genetic algorithms (GA) is considered. It is shown that GAs are able to find robot parameters effectively even if the robot has low resolution position encoders. It is possible because the method only requires position feedback and there is no need to find out the speed and acceleration of the links that usually can only be done through finite differences calculations that cause dramatic errors during identification. The effectiveness of the algorithm is demonstrated on the example of parameter identification of the real robot PUMA 560 (for second and third links)