14,926 research outputs found
Strategy Synthesis for Autonomous Agents Using PRISM
We present probabilistic models for autonomous agent search and retrieve missions derived from Simulink models for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and show how probabilistic model checking and the probabilistic model checker PRISM can be used for optimal controller generation. We introduce a sequence of scenarios relevant to UAVs and other autonomous agents such as underwater and ground vehicles. For each scenario we demonstrate how it can be modelled using the PRISM language, give model checking statistics and present the synthesised optimal controllers. We conclude with a discussion of the limitations when using probabilistic model checking and PRISM in this context and what steps can be taken to overcome them. In addition, we consider how the controllers can be returned to the UAV and adapted for use on larger search areas
Robust Scale-Free Synthesis for Frequency Control in Power Systems
The AC frequency in electrical power systems is conventionally regulated by
synchronous machines. The gradual replacement of these machines by asynchronous
renewable-based generation, which provides little or no frequency control,
increases system uncertainty and the risk of instability. This imposes hard
limits on the proportion of renewables that can be integrated into the system.
In this paper we address this issue by developing a framework for performing
frequency control in power systems with arbitrary mixes of conventional and
renewable generation. Our approach is based on a robust stability criterion
that can be used to guarantee the stability of a full power system model on the
basis of a set of decentralised tests, one for each component in the system. It
can be applied even when using detailed heterogeneous component models, and can
be verified using several standard frequency response, state-space, and circuit
theoretic analysis tools. Furthermore the stability guarantees hold
independently of the operating point, and remain valid even as components are
added to and removed from the grid. By designing decentralised controllers for
individual components to meet these decentralised tests, every component can
contribute to the regulation of the system frequency in a simple and provable
manner. Notably, our framework certifies the stability of several existing
(non-passive) power system control schemes and models, and allows for the study
of robustness with respect to delays.Comment: 10 pages, submitte
On Model Based Synthesis of Embedded Control Software
Many Embedded Systems are indeed Software Based Control Systems (SBCSs), that
is control systems whose controller consists of control software running on a
microcontroller device. This motivates investigation on Formal Model Based
Design approaches for control software. Given the formal model of a plant as a
Discrete Time Linear Hybrid System and the implementation specifications (that
is, number of bits in the Analog-to-Digital (AD) conversion)
correct-by-construction control software can be automatically generated from
System Level Formal Specifications of the closed loop system (that is, safety
and liveness requirements), by computing a suitable finite abstraction of the
plant.
With respect to given implementation specifications, the automatically
generated code implements a time optimal control strategy (in terms of set-up
time), has a Worst Case Execution Time linear in the number of AD bits , but
unfortunately, its size grows exponentially with respect to . In many
embedded systems, there are severe restrictions on the computational resources
(such as memory or computational power) available to microcontroller devices.
This paper addresses model based synthesis of control software by trading
system level non-functional requirements (such us optimal set-up time, ripple)
with software non-functional requirements (its footprint). Our experimental
results show the effectiveness of our approach: for the inverted pendulum
benchmark, by using a quantization schema with 12 bits, the size of the small
controller is less than 6% of the size of the time optimal one.Comment: Accepted for publication by EMSOFT 2012. arXiv admin note:
substantial text overlap with arXiv:1107.5638,arXiv:1207.409
A Map-Reduce Parallel Approach to Automatic Synthesis of Control Software
Many Control Systems are indeed Software Based Control Systems, i.e. control
systems whose controller consists of control software running on a
microcontroller device. This motivates investigation on Formal Model Based
Design approaches for automatic synthesis of control software.
Available algorithms and tools (e.g., QKS) may require weeks or even months
of computation to synthesize control software for large-size systems. This
motivates search for parallel algorithms for control software synthesis.
In this paper, we present a Map-Reduce style parallel algorithm for control
software synthesis when the controlled system (plant) is modeled as discrete
time linear hybrid system. Furthermore we present an MPI-based implementation
PQKS of our algorithm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first parallel
approach for control software synthesis.
We experimentally show effectiveness of PQKS on two classical control
synthesis problems: the inverted pendulum and the multi-input buck DC/DC
converter. Experiments show that PQKS efficiency is above 65%. As an example,
PQKS requires about 16 hours to complete the synthesis of control software for
the pendulum on a cluster with 60 processors, instead of the 25 days needed by
the sequential algorithm in QKS.Comment: To be submitted to TACAS 2013. arXiv admin note: substantial text
overlap with arXiv:1207.4474, arXiv:1207.409
Real Time Animation of Virtual Humans: A Trade-off Between Naturalness and Control
Virtual humans are employed in many interactive applications using 3D virtual environments, including (serious) games. The motion of such virtual humans should look realistic (or ‘natural’) and allow interaction with the surroundings and other (virtual) humans. Current animation techniques differ in the trade-off they offer between motion naturalness and the control that can be exerted over the motion. We show mechanisms to parametrize, combine (on different body parts) and concatenate motions generated by different animation techniques. We discuss several aspects of motion naturalness and show how it can be evaluated. We conclude by showing the promise of combinations of different animation paradigms to enhance both naturalness and control
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