Mechatronics of systems with undetermined configurations

This work is submitted for the award of a PhD by published works. It deals with some of the efforts of the author over the last ten years in the field of Mechatronics. Mechatronics is a new area invented by the Japanese in the late 1970's, it consists of a synthesis of computers and electronics to improve mechanical systems. To control any mechanical event three fundamental features must be brought together: the sensors used to observe the process, the control software, including the control algorithm used and thirdly the actuator that provides the stimulus to achieve the end result. Simulation, which plays such an important part in the Mechatronics process, is used in both in continuous and discrete forms. The author has spent some considerable time developing skills in all these areas. The author was certainly the first at Middlesex to appreciate the new developments in Mechatronics and their significance for manufacturing. The author was one of the first mechanical engineers to recognise the significance of the new transputer chip. This was applied to the LQG optimal control of a cinefilm copying process. A 300% improvement in operating speed was achieved, together with tension control. To make more efficient use of robots they have to be made both faster and cheaper. The author found extremely low natural frequencies of vibration, ranging from 3 to 25 Hz. This limits the speed of response of existing robots. The vibration data was some of the earliest available in this field, certainly in the UK. Several schemes have been devised to control the flexible robot and maintain the required precision. Actuator technology is one area where mechatronic systems have been the subject of intense development. At Middlesex we have improved on the Aexator pneumatic muscle actuator, enabling it to be used with a precision of about 2 mm. New control challenges have been undertaken now in the field of machine tool chatter and the prevention of slip. A variety of novel and traditional control algorithms have been investigated in order to find out the best approach to solve this problem

A novel intelligent adaptive control of laser-based ground thermal test

AbstractLaser heating technology is a type of potential and attractive space heat flux simulation technology, which is characterized by high heating rate, controlled spatial intensity distribution and rapid response. However, the controlled plant is nonlinear, time-varying and uncertainty when implementing the laser-based heat flux simulation. In this paper, a novel intelligent adaptive controller based on proportion–integration–differentiation (PID) type fuzzy logic is proposed to improve the performance of laser-based ground thermal test. The temperature range of thermal cycles is more than 200K in many instances. In order to improve the adaptability of controller, output scaling factors are real time adjusted while the thermal test is underway. The initial values of scaling factors are optimized using a stochastic hybrid particle swarm optimization (H-PSO) algorithm. A validating system has been established in the laboratory. The performance of the proposed controller is evaluated through extensive experiments under different operating conditions (reference and load disturbance). The results show that the proposed adaptive controller performs remarkably better compared to the conventional PID (PID) controller and the conventional PID type fuzzy (F-PID) controller considering performance indicators of overshoot, settling time and steady state error for laser-based ground thermal test. It is a reliable tool for effective temperature control of laser-based ground thermal test

Life buoy

A lifebuoy such as figure 1, or we can call as ring buoy, lifering, lifesaver, life donut, life preserver or lifebelt, also known as a "perry buoy", or "kisby ring". The "kisby ring", or sometimes will be call "Kisbie ring", is thought to be named after Thomas Kisbee (1792–1877) who was a British naval officer. Lifebuoy is a lifesaving buoy designed to save someone in the water. It also can provide buoyancy and prevent drowning. To improve aid rescue at night, mostly lifebuoys are fitted with one or more seawater-activated lights

Process analytical technology in food biotechnology

Biotechnology is an area where precision and reproducibility are vital. This is due to the fact that products are often in form of food, pharmaceutical or cosmetic products and therefore very close to the human being. To avoid human error during the production or the evaluation of the quality of a product and to increase the optimal utilization of raw materials, a very high amount of automation is desired. Tools in the food and chemical industry that aim to reach this degree of higher automation are summarized in an initiative called Process Analytical Technology (PAT). Within the scope of the PAT, is to provide new measurement technologies for the purpose of closed loop control in biotechnological processes. These processes are the most demanding processes in regards of control issues due to their very often biological rate-determining component. Most important for an automation attempt is deep process knowledge, which can only be achieved via appropriate measurements. These measurements can either be carried out directly, measuring a crucial physical value, or if not accessible either due to the lack of technology or a complicated sample state, via a soft-sensor.Even after several years the ideal aim of the PAT initiative is not fully implemented in the industry and in many production processes. On the one hand a lot effort still needs to be put into the development of more general algorithms which are more easy to implement and especially more reliable. On the other hand, not all the available advances in this field are employed yet. The potential users seem to stick to approved methods and show certain reservations towards new technologies.Die Biotechnologie ist ein Wissenschaftsbereich, in dem hohe Genauigkeit und Wiederholbarkeit eine wichtige Rolle spielen. Dies ist der Tatsache geschuldet, dass die hergestellten Produkte sehr oft den Bereichen Nahrungsmitteln, Pharmazeutika oder Kosmetik angehöhren und daher besonders den Menschen beeinflussen. Um den menschlichen Fehler bei der Produktion zu vermeiden, die Qualität eines Produktes zu sichern und die optimale Verwertung der Rohmaterialen zu gewährleisten, wird ein besonders hohes Maß an Automation angestrebt. Die Werkzeuge, die in der Nahrungsmittel- und chemischen Industrie hierfür zum Einsatz kommen, werden in der Process Analytical Technology (PAT) Initiative zusammengefasst. Ziel der PAT ist die Entwicklung zuverlässiger neuer Methoden, um Prozesse zu beschreiben und eine automatische Regelungsstrategie zu realisieren. Biotechnologische Prozesse gehören hierbei zu den aufwändigsten Regelungsaufgaben, da in den meisten Fällen eine biologische Komponente der entscheidende Faktor ist. Entscheidend für eine erfolgreiche Regelungsstrategie ist ein hohes Maß an Prozessverständnis. Dieses kann entweder durch eine direkte Messung der entscheidenden physikalischen, chemischen oder biologischen Größen gewonnen werden oder durch einen SoftSensor. Zusammengefasst zeigt sich, dass das finale Ziel der PAT Initiative auch nach einigen Jahren des Propagierens weder komplett in der Industrie noch bei vielen Produktionsprozessen angekommen ist. Auf der einen Seite liegt dies mit Sicherheit an der Tatsache, dass noch viel Arbeit in die Generalisierung von Algorithmen gesteckt werden muss. Diese müsse einfacher zu implementieren und vor allem noch zuverlässiger in der Funktionsweise sein. Auf der anderen Seite wurden jedoch auch Algorithmen, Regelungsstrategien und eigne Ansätze für einen neuartigen Sensor sowie einen Soft-Sensors vorgestellt, die großes Potential zeigen. Nicht zuletzt müssen die möglichen Anwender neue Strategien einsetzen und Vorbehalte gegenüber unbekannten Technologien ablegen

Autonomous Crane Control (Anti-Swing Controller)

The main objective for this project is to design controller forthe3DCrane Model that helps to overcome the swinging phenomena during the movement of the crane. 3D Crane model is a simulation or a mini model of the real life autonomous gantry crane that industries, suchas portand factories, usesto carries heavy loads. Cranes behavior is similar to pendulum where movement and friction on the load will create a swinging effect on it. In these industries, swinging of the load will affected their productivity, efficiency and most importantly the safety. So by having a controller that have the ability to overcome the swinging effect, this will optimize the productivity, efficiency and also the safety. In designing the "anti-swing" controller, a lot of problems encounter especially when dealing with 3 direction non-linear models. To understand the 3D Crane Model's capability and ability also will take a lot of time. This project will require knowledge in all types of controllers since the best controller out of all the controllers are needed to be use. As for the first part of this project, a PID controller is selected. Then a Fuzzy Controller are designed to compare with PID Controller to see which has better accuracy and precision in reducing the crane's swinging effect

Design and Develop a Non-Invasive Pulmonary Vibration Device for Secretion Drainage in Pediatric Patients with Pneumonia

The study aimed to develop a non-invasive pulmonary vibration device, specifically tailored for pediatric patients, to address a range of pulmonary conditions. The device employs a PID control system to ensure consistent and precise vibrations. The primary contribution of this research is the successful development, testing, and implementation of this innovative device. Utilizing technical components such as an Arduino, a vibration DC motor, and an ADXL335 accelerometer, the device was engineered to deliver stable and continuous vibrations even when subjected to external pressures or interactions with the patient. Controllers, including P, PI, PD, and PID types, were rigorously compared. The Ziegler-Nichols tuning technique was applied for meticulous evaluation of vibration control specifically within the context of this non-invasive pulmonary vibration device. Our findings revealed that the PID controller displayed superior accuracy in vibration control compared to P, PI, and PD controllers. Clinical trials involving pediatric patients showed that the PID-controlled device achieved treatment outcomes comparable to conventional methods. The device's precise control of vibration strength provides an added benefit, making it a well-tolerated, non-invasive treatment option for various pulmonary conditions in pediatric patients. Future research is necessary to assess the long-term effectiveness of the device and to facilitate its integration into standard clinical practice. In summary, this study represents a significant advancement in pediatric pulmonary care, demonstrating the critical role that PID control systems adapted for non-invasive pulmonary vibration devices can play in enhancing treatment precision and outcomes

Review of Intelligent Control Systems with Robotics

Interactive between human and robot assumes a significant job in improving the productivity of the instrument in mechanical technology. Numerous intricate undertakings are cultivated continuously via self-sufficient versatile robots. Current automated control frameworks have upset the creation business, making them very adaptable and simple to utilize. This paper examines current and up and coming sorts of control frameworks and their execution in mechanical technology, and the job of AI in apply autonomy. It additionally expects to reveal insight into the different issues around the control frameworks and the various approaches to fix them. It additionally proposes the basics of apply autonomy control frameworks and various kinds of mechanical technology control frameworks. Each kind of control framework has its upsides and downsides which are talked about in this paper. Another kind of robot control framework that upgrades and difficulties the pursuit stage is man-made brainpower. A portion of the speculations utilized in man-made reasoning, for example, Artificial Intelligence (AI) such as fuzzy logic, neural network and genetic algorithm, are itemized in this paper. At long last, a portion of the joint efforts between mechanical autonomy, people, and innovation were referenced. Human coordinated effort, for example, Kinect signal acknowledgment utilized in games and versatile upper-arm-based robots utilized in the clinical field for individuals with inabilities. Later on, it is normal that the significance of different sensors will build, accordingly expanding the knowledge and activity of the robot in a modern domai

Controller Synthesis of Multi-Axial Robotic System Used for Wearable Devices

Wearable devices are commonly used in different fields to help improving performance of movements for different groups of users. The long-term goal of this study is to develop a low-cost assistive robotic device that allows patients to perform rehabilitation activities independently and reproduces natural movement to help stroke patients and elderly adults in their daily activities while moving their arms. In the past few decades, various types of wearable robotic devices have been developed to assist different physical movements. Among different types of actuators, the twisted-string actuation system is one of those that has advantages of light-weight, low cost, and great portability. In this study, a dual twisted-string actuator is used to drive the joints of the prototype assistive robotic device. To compensate the asynchronous movement caused by nonlinear factors, a hybrid controller that combines fuzzy logic rules and linear PID control algorithm was adopted to compensate for both tracking and synchronization of the two actuators.;In order to validate the performance of proposed controllers, the robotic device was driven by an xPC Target machine with additional embedded controllers for different data acquisition tasks. The controllers were fine tuned to eliminate the inaccuracy of tracking and synchronization caused by disturbance and asynchronous movements of both actuators. As a result, the synthesized controller can provide a high precision when tracking simple actual human movements

Intelligent robust control of redundant smart robotic arm Pt I: Soft computing KB optimizer - deep machine learning IT

Redundant robotic arm models as a control object discussed. Background of computational intelligence IT based on soft computing optimizer of knowledge base in smart robotic manipulators introduced. Soft computing optimizer is the toolkit of deep machine learning SW platform with optimal fuzzy neural network structure. The methods for development and design technology of intelligent control systems based on the soft computing optimizer presented in this Part 1 allow one to implement the principle of design an optimal intelligent control systems with a maximum reliability and controllability level of a complex control object under conditions of uncertainty in the source data, and in the presence of stochastic noises of various physical and statistical characters. The knowledge bases formed with the application of a soft computing optimizer produce robust control laws for the schedule of time dependent coefficient gains of conventional PID controllers for a wide range of external perturbations and are maximally insensitive to random variations of the structure of control object. The robustness of control laws is achieved by application a vector fitness function for genetic algorithm, whose one component describes the physical principle of minimum production of generalized entropy both in the control object and the control system, and the other components describe conventional control objective functionals such as minimum control error, etc. The application of soft computing technologies (Part I) for the development a robust intelligent control system that solving the problem of precision positioning redundant (3DOF and 7 DOF) manipulators considered. Application of quantum soft computing in robust intelligent control of smart manipulators in Part II described