Structure-Preserving Model Reduction of Physical Network Systems

This paper considers physical network systems where the energy storage is naturally associated to the nodes of the graph, while the edges of the graph correspond to static couplings. The first sections deal with the linear case, covering examples such as mass-damper and hydraulic systems, which have a structure that is similar to symmetric consensus dynamics. The last section is concerned with a specific class of nonlinear physical network systems; namely detailed-balanced chemical reaction networks governed by mass action kinetics. In both cases, linear and nonlinear, the structure of the dynamics is similar, and is based on a weighted Laplacian matrix, together with an energy function capturing the energy storage at the nodes. We discuss two methods for structure-preserving model reduction. The first one is clustering; aggregating the nodes of the underlying graph to obtain a reduced graph. The second approach is based on neglecting the energy storage at some of the nodes, and subsequently eliminating those nodes (called Kron reduction).</p

A vision-based optical character recognition system for real-time identification of tractors in a port container terminal

Automation has been seen as a promising solution to increase the productivity of modern sea port container terminals. The potential of increase in throughput, work efficiency and reduction of labor cost have lured stick holders to strive for the introduction of automation in the overall terminal operation. A specific container handling process that is readily amenable to automation is the deployment and control of gantry cranes in the container yard of a container terminal where typical operations of truck identification, loading and unloading containers, and job management are primarily performed manually in a typical terminal. To facilitate the overall automation of the gantry crane operation, we devised an approach for the real-time identification of tractors through the recognition of the corresponding number plates that are located on top of the tractor cabin. With this crucial piece of information, remote or automated yard operations can then be performed. A machine vision-based system is introduced whereby these number plates are read and identified in real-time while the tractors are operating in the terminal. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of the system and highlight the major difficulties encountered including the recognition of character information printed on the number plates due to poor image integrity. Working solutions are proposed to address these problems which are incorporated in the overall identification system.postprin

Job shop scheduling with artificial immune systems

The job shop scheduling is complex due to the dynamic environment. When the information of the jobs and machines are pre-defined and no unexpected events occur, the job shop is static. However, the real scheduling environment is always dynamic due to the constantly changing information and different uncertainties. This study discusses this complex job shop scheduling environment, and applies the AIS theory and switching strategy that changes the sequencing approach to the dispatching approach by taking into account the system status to solve this problem. AIS is a biological inspired computational paradigm that simulates the mechanisms of the biological immune system. Therefore, AIS presents appealing features of immune system that make AIS unique from other evolutionary intelligent algorithm, such as self-learning, long-lasting memory, cross reactive response, discrimination of self from non-self, fault tolerance, and strong adaptability to the environment. These features of AIS are successfully used in this study to solve the job shop scheduling problem. When the job shop environment is static, sequencing approach based on the clonal selection theory and immune network theory of AIS is applied. This approach achieves great performance, especially for small size problems in terms of computation time. The feature of long-lasting memory is demonstrated to be able to accelerate the convergence rate of the algorithm and reduce the computation time. When some unexpected events occasionally arrive at the job shop and disrupt the static environment, an extended deterministic dendritic cell algorithm (DCA) based on the DCA theory of AIS is proposed to arrange the rescheduling process to balance the efficiency and stability of the system. When the disturbances continuously occur, such as the continuous jobs arrival, the sequencing approach is changed to the dispatching approach that involves the priority dispatching rules (PDRs). The immune network theory of AIS is applied to propose an idiotypic network model of PDRs to arrange the application of various dispatching rules. The experiments show that the proposed network model presents strong adaptability to the dynamic job shop scheduling environment.postprin

Flexible structure control laboratory development and technology demonstration

An experimental structure is described which was constructed to demonstrate and validate recent emerging technologies in the active control and identification of large flexible space structures. The configuration consists of a large, 20 foot diameter antenna-like flexible structure in the horizontal plane with a gimballed central hub, a flexible feed-boom assembly hanging from the hub, and 12 flexible ribs radiating outward. Fourteen electrodynamic force actuators mounted to the hub and to the individual ribs provide the means to excite the structure and exert control forces. Thirty permanently mounted sensors, including optical encoders and analog induction devices provide measurements of structural response at widely distributed points. An experimental remote optical sensor provides sixteen additional sensing channels. A computer samples the sensors, computes the control updates and sends commands to the actuators in real time, while simultaneously displaying selected outputs on a graphics terminal and saving them in memory. Several control experiments were conducted thus far and are documented. These include implementation of distributed parameter system control, model reference adaptive control, and static shape control. These experiments have demonstrated the successful implementation of state-of-the-art control approaches using actual hardware

TS fuzzy approach for modeling, analysis and design of non-smooth dynamical systems

There has been growing interest in the past two decades in studying the physical model of dynamical systems that can be described by nonlinear, non-smooth differential equations, i.e. non-smooth dynamical systems. These systems exhibit more colourful and complex dynamics compared to their smooth counterparts; however, their qualitative analysis and design are not yet fully developed and still open to exploration. At the same time, Takagi-Sugeno (TS) fuzzy systems have been shown to have a great ability to represent a large class of nonlinear systems and approximate their inherent uncertainties. This thesis explores an area of TS fuzzy systems that have not been considered before; that is, modelling, stability analysis and design for non-smooth dynamical systems. TS fuzzy model structures capable of representing or approximating the essential dis- continuous dynamics of non-smooth systems are proposed in this thesis. It is shown that by incorporating discrete event systems, the proposed structure for TS fuzzy models, which we will call non-smooth TS fuzzy models, can accurately represent the smooth (or contin- uous) as well as non-smooth (or discontinuous) dynamics of different classes of electrical and mechanical non-smooth systems including (sliding and non-sliding) Filippov's systems and impacting systems. The different properties of the TS fuzzy modelling (or formalism) are discussed. It is highlighted that the TS fuzzy formalism, taking advantage of its simple structure, does not need a special platform for its implementation. Stability in its new notion of structural stability (stability of a periodic solution) is one of the most important issues in the qualitative analysis of non-smooth systems. An important part of this thesis is focused on addressing stability issues by extending non- smooth Lyapunov theory for verifying the stability of local orbits, which the non-smooth TS fuzzy models can contain. Stability conditions are proposed for Filippov-type and impacting systems and it is shown that by formulating the conditions as Linear Matrix inequalities (LMIs), the onset of non-smooth bifurcations or chaotic phenomena can be detected by solving a feasibility problem. A number of examples are given to validate the proposed approach. Stability robustness of non-smooth TS fuzzy systems in the presence of model uncertainties is discussed in terms of non-smoothness rather than traditional observer design. The LMI stabilization problem is employed as a building block for devising design strategies to suppress the unwanted chaotic behaviour in non-smooth TS fuzzy models. There have been a large number of control applications in which the overall closed-loop sys tem can be stabilized by switching between pre-designed sub-controllers. Inspired by this idea, the design part of this thesis concentrates on fuzzy-chaos control strategies for Filippov-type systems. These strategies approach the design problem by switching be- tween local state-feedback controllers such that the closed-loop TS fuzzy system of interest rapidly converges to the stable periodic solution of the system. All control strategies are also automated as a design problem recast on linear matrix inequality conditions to be solved by modern optimization techniques. Keywords: Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy systems, non-smooth Lyapunov theory, non-smooth dy- namical systems, piecewise-smooth dynamical systems, structural stability, discontinuity- induced bifurcation, chaos controllers, dc-dc converters, Filippov's system, impacting system, linear matrix inequalities.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Aeronautical engineering: A continuing bibliography with indexes (supplement 238)

This bibliography lists 458 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in March, 1989. Subject coverage includes: design, construction and testing of aircraft and aircraft engines; aircraft components, equipment and systems; ground support systems; and theoretical and applied aspects of aerodynamics and general fluid dynamics

Active Control of Thermoacoustical Instabilities.

This dissertation presents some advances in active control of thermoacoustic instabilities in combustion chambers. Large-size gaseous and liquid fueled swirl stabilized combustors were used during the studies. Active control was implemented using different types of actuators. Proportional (loudspeakers and fuel valves) and discrete actuators (open-close automotive fuel injectors) were investigated. Acoustic and fuel modulation control were successfully applied. In large-scale combustors, flame stabilization techniques such as swirl add three dimensional characteristics to the flow. Moreover, the induced turbulence creates highly nonlinear interactions in the system. Thus, in order to capture these characteristics nonlinear partial differential equations have to be used. Alternatively, the main dynamics of the combustion process can be modeled experimentally. This approach was chosen. Time and frequency domain linear identification techniques were used for this purpose. Several model-based control strategies such as LQG, Hinfinity Disturbance Rejection and Hinfinity Loop-Shaping techniques were tested experimentally with success. A simple controller whose parameters were optimized on-line is also introduced. An evolution algorithm was developed to perform its parameter optimization achieving good convergence to optimal values. The improvements with these proposed control techniques over classical phase-delay control are demonstrated experimentally. A new control configuration was suggested from heat-release visualizations of the flame. In this new configuration, control actuation is directly focused onto the main area of heat-release in the flame front. Consequently, a more efficient actuation is achieved. It is shown that with just a small amount of modulated fuel, phase-delay control can substantially attenuate the pressure oscillations. Finally, during the development of Hinfinity controllers, there were cases where the stability of the resulting controllers restricted the closed-loop performance. A control design strategy to solve the Hinfinity Strong Stabilization problem is then presented. The proposed design strategy pursues to overcome the conservativeness of existing formulations. Examples show its potential for future applications

Safe navigation and human-robot interaction in assistant robotic applications

L'abstract è presente nell'allegato / the abstract is in the attachmen