Enhancing the performance of automated guided vehicles through reliability, operation and maintenance assessment

Automated guided vehicles (AGVs), a type of unmanned moving robots that move along fixed routes or are directed by laser navigation systems, are increasingly used in modern society to improve efficiency and lower the cost of production. A fleet of AGVs operate together to form a fully automatic transport system, which is known as an AGV system. To date, their added value in efficiency improvement and cost reduction has been sufficiently explored via conducting in-depth research on route optimisation, system layout configuration, and traffic control. However, their safe application has not received sufficient attention although the failure of AGVs may significantly impact the operation and efficiency of the entire system. This issue becomes more markable today particularly in the light of the fact that the size of AGV systems is becoming much larger and their operating environment is becoming more complex than ever before. This motivates the research into AGV reliability, availability and maintenance issues in this thesis, which aims to answer the following four fundamental questions: (1) How could AGVs fail? (2) How is the reliability of individual AGVs in the system assessed? (3) How does a failed AGV affect the operation of the other AGVs and the performance of the whole system? (4) How can an optimal maintenance strategy for AGV systems be achieved? In order to answer these questions, the method for identifying the critical subsystems and actions of AGVs is studied first in this thesis. Then based on the research results, mathematical models are developed in Python to simulate AGV systems and assess their performance in different scenarios. In the research of this thesis, Failure Mode, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) was adopted first to analyse the failure modes and effects of individual AGV subsystems. The interactions of these subsystems were studied via performing Fault Tree Analysis (FTA). Then, a mathematical model was developed to simulate the operation of a single AGV with the aid of Petri Nets (PNs). Since most existing AGV systems in modern industries and warehouses consist of multiple AGVs that operate synchronously to perform specific tasks, it is necessary to investigate the interactions between different AGVs in the same system. To facilitate the research of multi-AGV systems, the model of a three-AGV system with unidirectional paths was considered. In the model, an advanced concept PN, namely Coloured Petri Net (CPN), was creatively used to describe the movements of the AGVs. Attributing to the application of CPN, not only the movements of the AGVs but also the various operation and maintenance activities of the AGV systems (for example, item delivery, corrective maintenance, periodic maintenance, etc.) can be readily simulated. Such a unique technique provides us with an effective tool to investigate larger-scale AGV systems. To investigate the reliability, efficiency and maintenance of dynamic AGV systems which consist of multiple single-load and multi-load AGVs traveling along different bidirectional routes in different missions, an AGV system consisting of 9 stations was simulated using the CPN methods. Moreover, the automatic recycling of failed AGVs is studied as well in order to further reduce human participation in the operation of AGV systems. Finally, the simulation results were used to optimise the design, operation and maintenance of multi-AGV systems with the consideration of the throughputs and corresponding costs of them.The research reported in this thesis contributes to the design, reliability, operation, and maintenance of large-scale AGV systems in the modern and rapidly changing world.</div

A Review of Resonant Converter Control Techniques and The Performances

paper first discusses each control technique and then gives experimental results and/or performance to highlights their merits. The resonant converter used as a case study is not specified to just single topology instead it used few topologies such as series-parallel resonant converter (SPRC), LCC resonant converter and parallel resonant converter (PRC). On the other hand, the control techniques presented in this paper are self-sustained phase shift modulation (SSPSM) control, self-oscillating power factor control, magnetic control and the H-∞ robust control technique

OBSERVER-BASED-CONTROLLER FOR INVERTED PENDULUM MODEL

This paper presents a state space control technique for inverted pendulum system. The system is a common classical control problem that has been widely used to test multiple control algorithms because of its nonlinear and unstable behavior. Full state feedback based on pole placement and optimal control is applied to the inverted pendulum system to achieve desired design specification which are 4 seconds settling time and 5% overshoot. The simulation and optimization of the full state feedback controller based on pole placement and optimal control techniques as well as the performance comparison between these techniques is described comprehensively. The comparison is made to choose the most suitable technique for the system that have the best trade-off between settling time and overshoot. Besides that, the observer design is analyzed to see the effect of pole location and noise present in the system

A Review of Resonant Converter Control Techniques and The Performances

paper first discusses each control technique and then gives experimental results and/or performance to highlights their merits. The resonant converter used as a case study is not specified to just single topology instead it used few topologies such as series-parallel resonant converter (SPRC), LCC resonant converter and parallel resonant converter (PRC). On the other hand, the control techniques presented in this paper are self-sustained phase shift modulation (SSPSM) control, self-oscillating power factor control, magnetic control and the H-∞ robust control technique

State-Feedback Controller Based on Pole Placement Technique for Inverted Pendulum System

This paper presents a state space control technique for inverted pendulum system using simulation and real experiment via MATLAB/SIMULINK software. The inverted pendulum is difficult system to control in the field of control engineering. It is also one of the most important classical control system problems because of its nonlinear characteristics and unstable system. It has three main problems that always appear in control application which are nonlinear system, unstable and non-minimumbehavior phase system. This project will apply state feedback controller based on pole placement technique which is capable in stabilizing the practical based inverted pendulum at vertical position. Desired design specifications which are 4 seconds settling time and 5 % overshoot is needed to apply in full state feedback controller based on pole placement technique. First of all, the mathematical model of an inverted pendulum system is derived to obtain the state space representation of the system. Then, the design phase of the State-Feedback Controller can be conducted after linearization technique is performed to the nonlinear equation with the aid of mathematical aided software such as Mathcad. After that, the design is simulated using MATLAB/Simulink software. The controller design of the inverted pendulum system is verified using simulation and experiment test. Finally the controller design is compared with PID controller for benchmarking purpose

A SIMULATION STUDY OF STATE-FEEDBACK CONTROL METHOD FOR ELECTRO HYDRAULIC SERVO MODEL

Electro hydraulic servo system is used by many industries due to its ability to impart large forces. It also has advantage in term of fast response and robustness. The electro hydraulic system suffered from errors of the transient response which are steady state error, settling time and the ripples. It is crucial to design a controller for the system to ensure the reliability of the system. Aiming at the characteristic of the system, steady state feedback control method is designed to compensate the error. The analysis of the system is done based on the transient response specifically on the actuator part. MATLAB Simulink is used as the simulation software to evaluate the force performance of state feedback controller method. The steady state error, settling time and ripple are observed and recorded for each controller. Three methods is applied, which are full feedback, state feedback with feed forward and integral control are compared with proportional, integral and derivatives (PID) controller. The result of each controller shows the differences performance. Based on the simulation results, the feedforward technique is found to be the best control technique for the electro hydraulic servo system due to the requirement performance such as percent overshoot, settling time, rise time and zero steady state error. This good result will directly benefit industries that use electro hydraulic system as their actuator for production machines

Real-Time Optimal Control Technique of A Rotary Inverted Pendulum System

This paper presents a real time control technique to stabilize inverted pendulum in the vertical upright position. Stabilize the inverted pendulum is a classical control problem that could be related to some problems in industrial applications. Two common problems that always been encountered by inverted pendulum system is unstable behavior and nonlinear. This lead to numerous studies on the control algorithm to balance the inverted pendulum system in the vertical upright position. Generally, inverted pendulum is mounted on DC motor and is equipped with sensor to measure angular displacement. Inverted pendulum has the same analogy with human that try to balance a broomstick using fingertip. Balancing the Inverted Pendulum requires a good control system. Therefore an optimal control technique is proposed to achieve desired design requirement which are less than 5% overshoot and less than 5 seconds settling time. The controller is optimized to achieve the best performance result. Finally the performance of the controller is compared with PID controller as a benchmark

State-Feedback Controller Based on Pole Placement Technique for Inverted Pendulum System

This paper presents a state space control technique for inverted pendulum system using simulation and real experiment via MATLAB/SIMULINK software. The inverted pendulum is difficult system to control in the field of control engineering. It is also one of the most important classical control system problems because of its nonlinear characteristics and unstable system. It has three main problems that always appear in control application which are nonlinear system, unstable and non-minimumbehavior phase system. This project will apply state feedback controller based on pole placement technique which is capable in stabilizing the practical based inverted pendulum at vertical position. Desired design specifications which are 4 seconds settling time and 5 % overshoot is needed to apply in full state feedback controller based on pole placement technique. First of all, the mathematical model of an inverted pendulum system is derived to obtain the state space representation of the system. Then, the design phase of the State-Feedback Controller can be conducted after linearization technique is performed to the nonlinear equation with the aid of mathematical aided software such as Mathcad. After that, the design is simulated using MATLAB/Simulink software. The controller design of the inverted pendulum system is verified using simulation and experiment test. Finally the controller design is compared with PID controller for benchmarking purpose

Arquitectura asimétrica multicore con procesador de Petri

Se ha determinado, en una arquitectura multi-Core SMP, el lugar donde incorporar el PP o el HPP sin alterar el ISA del resto de los core. Se ha obtenido una familia de procesadores que ejecutan los algoritmos de Petri para dar solución a sistemas reactivos y concurrentes, con una sólida verificación formal que permite la programación directa de los procesadores. Para esto, se ha construido el hardware de un PP y un HPP, con un IP-Core en una FPGA, integrado a un sistema multi-Core SMP, que ejecuta distintos tipo de RdP. Esta familia de procesadores es configurable en distintos aspectos: - Tamaño del procesador (cantidad de plazas y transiciones). - Procesadores con tiempo y procesadores temporales. - Arquitectura heterogénea, que permite distribuir los recursos empleados para instanciar el procesador según se requiera, y obtener un ahorro sustancial. - La posibilidad de configurar el procesador en pos de obtener los requerimientos y minimizar los recursos. Muy valorado en la construcción de sistemas embebidos. En los sistemas con alta necesidad de concurrencia y sincronización, donde se ha evaluado este procesador, las prestaciones han mostrado una importante mejora en el desempeño. El procesador tiene la capacidad de resolver simultáneamente, por conjuntos múltiples disparos, lo que disminuye los tiempos de consulta y decisión, además los programas ejecutados cumplen con los formalismos de las RdP extendidas y sincronizadas, y los resultados de su ejecución son determinísticos. Los tiempos de respuesta para determinar una sincronización son de dos ciclos por consulta (entre la solicitud de un disparo y la respuesta).Facultad de Informátic