Feasible, Robust and Reliable Automation and Control for Autonomous Systems

The Special Issue book focuses on highlighting current research and developments in the automation and control field for autonomous systems as well as showcasing state-of-the-art control strategy approaches for autonomous platforms. The book is co-edited by distinguished international control system experts currently based in Sweden, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom, with contributions from reputable researchers from China, Austria, France, the United States of America, Poland, and Hungary, among many others. The editors believe the ten articles published within this Special Issue will be highly appealing to control-systems-related researchers in applications typified in the fields of ground, aerial, maritime vehicles, and robotics as well as industrial audiences

A Review of Fault Diagnosing Methods in Power Transmission Systems

Transient stability is important in power systems. Disturbances like faults need to be segregated to restore transient stability. A comprehensive review of fault diagnosing methods in the power transmission system is presented in this paper. Typically, voltage and current samples are deployed for analysis. Three tasks/topics; fault detection, classification, and location are presented separately to convey a more logical and comprehensive understanding of the concepts. Feature extractions, transformations with dimensionality reduction methods are discussed. Fault classification and location techniques largely use artificial intelligence (AI) and signal processing methods. After the discussion of overall methods and concepts, advancements and future aspects are discussed. Generalized strengths and weaknesses of different AI and machine learning-based algorithms are assessed. A comparison of different fault detection, classification, and location methods is also presented considering features, inputs, complexity, system used and results. This paper may serve as a guideline for the researchers to understand different methods and techniques in this field

A non-linear approach to modelling and control of electrically stimulated skeletal muscle

This thesis is concerned with the development and analysis of a non-linear approach to modelling and control of the contraction of electrically stimulated skeletal muscle. For muscle which has lost nervous control, artificial electrical stimulation can be used as a technique aimed at providing muscular contraction and producing a functionally useful movement. This is generally referred to as Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) and is used in different application areas such as the rehabilitation of paralysed patient and in cardiac assistance where skeletal muscle can be used to support a failing heart. For both these FES applications a model of the muscle is essential to develop algorithms for the controlled stimulation. For the identification of muscle models, real data are available from experiments with rabbit muscle. Data for contraction with constant muscle length were collected from two muscle with very different characteristics. An empirical modelling approach is developed which is suitable for both muscles. The approach is based on a decomposition of the operating space into smaller sub-regions which are then described by local models of simple, possibly linear structure. The local models are blended together by a scheduler, and the resulting non-linear model is called a Local Model Network (LMN). It is shown how a priori knowledge about the system can be used directly when identifying Local Model Networks. Aspects of the structure selection are discussed and algorithms for the identification of the model parameters are presented. Tools of the analysis of Local Model Networks have been developed and are used to validate the models. The problem of designing a controller based on the LMN structure is discussed. The structure of Local Controller Networks is introduced. These can be derived directly from Local Model Networks. Design techniques for input-output and for state feedback controllers, based on pole placement, are presented. Aspects of the generation of optimal stimulation patterns (which are defined as stimulation patterns which deliver the smallest number of pulses to obtain a desired contraction) are discussed, and various techniques to generate them are presented. In particular, it is shown how a control structure can be used to generate optimal stimulation patterns. A Local Controller Network is used as the controller with a design based on a non-linear LMN model of muscle. Experimental data from a non-linear heat transfer process have been collected and are used to demonstrate the basic modelling and control principles throughout the first part of the thesis

Constructing 3D faces from natural language interface

This thesis presents a system by which 3D images of human faces can be constructed using a natural language interface. The driving force behind the project was the need to create a system whereby a machine could produce artistic images from verbal or composed descriptions. This research is the first to look at constructing and modifying facial image artwork using a natural language interface. Specialised modules have been developed to control geometry of 3D polygonal head models in a commercial modeller from natural language descriptions. These modules were produced from research on human physiognomy, 3D modelling techniques and tools, facial modelling and natural language processing. [Continues.

MATLAB

A well-known statement says that the PID controller is the "bread and butter" of the control engineer. This is indeed true, from a scientific standpoint. However, nowadays, in the era of computer science, when the paper and pencil have been replaced by the keyboard and the display of computers, one may equally say that MATLAB is the "bread" in the above statement. MATLAB has became a de facto tool for the modern system engineer. This book is written for both engineering students, as well as for practicing engineers. The wide range of applications in which MATLAB is the working framework, shows that it is a powerful, comprehensive and easy-to-use environment for performing technical computations. The book includes various excellent applications in which MATLAB is employed: from pure algebraic computations to data acquisition in real-life experiments, from control strategies to image processing algorithms, from graphical user interface design for educational purposes to Simulink embedded systems

Hybrid approaches for mobile robot navigation

The work described in this thesis contributes to the efficient solution of mobile robot navigation problems. A series of new evolutionary approaches is presented. Two novel evolutionary planners have been developed that reduce the computational overhead in generating plans of mobile robot movements. In comparison with the best-performing evolutionary scheme reported in the literature, the first of the planners significantly reduces the plan calculation time in static environments. The second planner was able to generate avoidance strategies in response to unexpected events arising from the presence of moving obstacles. To overcome limitations in responsiveness and the unrealistic assumptions regarding a priori knowledge that are inherent in planner-based and a vigation systems, subsequent work concentrated on hybrid approaches. These included a reactive component to identify rapidly and autonomously environmental features that were represented by a small number of critical waypoints. Not only is memory usage dramatically reduced by such a simplified representation, but also the calculation time to determine new plans is significantly reduced. Further significant enhancements of this work were firstly, dynamic avoidance to limit the likelihood of potential collisions with moving obstacles and secondly, exploration to identify statistically the dynamic characteristics of the environment. Finally, by retaining more extensive environmental knowledge gained during previous navigation activities, the capability of the hybrid navigation system was enhanced to allow planning to be performed for any start point and goal point

Trajectory-scheduling control systems and their multi-objective design automation

This thesis encompasses the analysis of TSN systems and their multi-objective design methods. TSN nodes are networked through interpolation and activation, similar to a gain-scheduling or local model/controller network. However, to achieve accuracy and ease of commissioning without requiring a large number of nodes, an algorithm has been developed first to identify optimum transition nodes within the entire operating envelope. Then the TSN approaches a nonlinear plant globally, not just locally, without requiring linearization. If desired or necessary, global optimisation provides an enhancement in the design process for TSNs. Since optimising only one aspect (a single objective) of performance while compromising others is undesirable, multi-objective designs have been developed concurrently to deliver or improve multiple aspects of performance. Following the development of a TSN, it is applied to nonlinear system modelling, and this TSN is termed a Trajectory-Scheduling Model (TSM). A TSM possesses the same properties and design features as the TSN generic framework. A nonlinear system, a coupled liquid-tank, is used to examine this modelling technique. Results verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the methods developed and validates the TSM. Further, the TSN technique is applied to nonlinear controller design, by way of a Trajectory-Scheduling Controller (TSC) network. It is illustrated through the design of a networked, easy-to-understand and easy-to-use PID control system for the coupled liquid-tank. Results show that the methods developed offer a high-performance linear control system with nonlinear capabilities to handle practical systems operating in a broad range and to cope with conflict between setpoint following at transient and disturbance rejection at steady state. This method is then applied to the PID network design problems for two nonlinear chemical processes

Trajectory-scheduling control systems and their multi-objective design automation

This thesis encompasses the analysis of TSN systems and their multi-objective design methods. TSN nodes are networked through interpolation and activation, similar to a gain-scheduling or local model/controller network. However, to achieve accuracy and ease of commissioning without requiring a large number of nodes, an algorithm has been developed first to identify optimum transition nodes within the entire operating envelope. Then the TSN approaches a nonlinear plant globally, not just locally, without requiring linearization. If desired or necessary, global optimisation provides an enhancement in the design process for TSNs. Since optimising only one aspect (a single objective) of performance while compromising others is undesirable, multi-objective designs have been developed concurrently to deliver or improve multiple aspects of performance. Following the development of a TSN, it is applied to nonlinear system modelling, and this TSN is termed a Trajectory-Scheduling Model (TSM). A TSM possesses the same properties and design features as the TSN generic framework. A nonlinear system, a coupled liquid-tank, is used to examine this modelling technique. Results verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the methods developed and validates the TSM. Further, the TSN technique is applied to nonlinear controller design, by way of a Trajectory-Scheduling Controller (TSC) network. It is illustrated through the design of a networked, easy-to-understand and easy-to-use PID control system for the coupled liquid-tank. Results show that the methods developed offer a high-performance linear control system with nonlinear capabilities to handle practical systems operating in a broad range and to cope with conflict between setpoint following at transient and disturbance rejection at steady state. This method is then applied to the PID network design problems for two nonlinear chemical processes.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo