Incorporation of fractional-order dynamics into an existing PI/PID DC motor control loop

The problem of changing the dynamics of an existing DC motor control system without the need of making internal changes is considered in the paper. In particular, this paper presents a method for incorporating fractional-order dynamics in an existing DC motor control system with internal PI or PID controller, through the addition of an external controller into the system and by tapping its original input and output signals. Experimental results based on the control of a real test plant from MATLAB/Simulink environment are presented, indicating the validity of the proposed approach.This work was partially supported by the following grants under the Slovak Grant Agency, the Slovak Research and Development Agency: VEGA 1/0552/14, VEGA 1/0729/12, VEGA 1/0497/11, VEGA 1/2578/12, and APVV-0482-11, and the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund, and the Estonian Doctoral School in Information and Communication Technology through the interdisciplinary project FOMCON

Adaptive Control

Adaptive control has been a remarkable field for industrial and academic research since 1950s. Since more and more adaptive algorithms are applied in various control applications, it is becoming very important for practical implementation. As it can be confirmed from the increasing number of conferences and journals on adaptive control topics, it is certain that the adaptive control is a significant guidance for technology development.The authors the chapters in this book are professionals in their areas and their recent research results are presented in this book which will also provide new ideas for improved performance of various control application problems

Optimisation of time domain controllers for supply ships using genetic algorithms and genetic programming

The use of genetic methods for the optimisation of propulsion and heading controllers for marine vessels is presented in this thesis. The first part of this work is a study of the optimisation, using Genetic Algorithms, of controller designs based on a number of different time-domain control methodologies such as PID, Sliding Mode, H8, and Pole Placement. These control methodologies are used to provide the structure for propulsion and navigation controllers for a ship. Given the variety in the number of parameters to optimise and the controller structures, the Genetic Algorithm is tested in different control optimisation problems with different search spaces. This study presents how the Genetic Algorithm solves this minimisation problem by evolving controller parameters solutions that satisfactorily perform control duties while keeping actuator usage to a minimum. A variety of genetic operators are introduced and a comparison study is conducted to find the Genetic Algorithm scheme best suited to the parameter controller optimisation problem. The performance of the four control methodologies is also compared. A variation of Genetic Algorithms, the Structured Genetic Algorithm, is also used for the optimisation of the H8 controller. The H8 controller optimisation presents the difficulty that the optimisation focus is not on parameters but on transfer functions. Structured Genetic Algorithm incorporates hierarchy in the representation of solutions making it very suitable for structural optimisation. The H8 optimisation problem has been found to be very appropriate for comparing the performance of Genetic Algorithms versus Structured Genetic Algorithm. During the second part of this work, the use of Genetic Programming to optimise the controller structure is assessed. Genetic Programming is used to evolve control strategies that, given as inputs the current and desired state of the propulsion and heading dynamics, generate the commanded forces required to manoeuvre the ship. Two Genetic Programming algorithms are implemented. The only difference between them is how they generate the numerical constants needed for the solution of the problem. The first approach uses a random generation of constants while the second approach uses a combination of Genetic Programming with Genetic Algorithms. Finally, the controllers optimised using genetic methods are evaluated through computer simulations and real manoeuvrability tests in a laboratory water basin facility

Vibration, Control and Stability of Dynamical Systems

From Preface: This is the fourteenth time when the conference “Dynamical Systems: Theory and Applications” gathers a numerous group of outstanding scientists and engineers, who deal with widely understood problems of theoretical and applied dynamics. Organization of the conference would not have been possible without a great effort of the staff of the Department of Automation, Biomechanics and Mechatronics. The patronage over the conference has been taken by the Committee of Mechanics of the Polish Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Poland. It is a great pleasure that our invitation has been accepted by recording in the history of our conference number of people, including good colleagues and friends as well as a large group of researchers and scientists, who decided to participate in the conference for the first time. With proud and satisfaction we welcomed over 180 persons from 31 countries all over the world. They decided to share the results of their research and many years experiences in a discipline of dynamical systems by submitting many very interesting papers. This year, the DSTA Conference Proceedings were split into three volumes entitled “Dynamical Systems” with respective subtitles: Vibration, Control and Stability of Dynamical Systems; Mathematical and Numerical Aspects of Dynamical System Analysis and Engineering Dynamics and Life Sciences. Additionally, there will be also published two volumes of Springer Proceedings in Mathematics and Statistics entitled “Dynamical Systems in Theoretical Perspective” and “Dynamical Systems in Applications”

Fraktionale Flussschätzung in aktiven Magnetlagern

Seit jeher sind Wirbelströme ein fester Bestandteil der Leistungsbilanz und Verlustberechnung in zahlreichen elektromagnetischen Energiewandlern. In aktiven Magnetlagern und Aktoren haben sie jedoch häufig einen zusätzlichen Einfluss auf die Kraftdynamik, da die einhergehende Feldverdrängung parasitäre Magnetisierungsströme hervorbringt, welche die meist strombasierten Kraftregler beeinträchtigen. Besonders betroffen sind die in dieser Dissertation beispielhaft betrachteten magnetischen Axiallager mit ihrer dreidimensionalen Flussführung, für welche die sonst übliche und effektive Blechung des Kerns unwirksam wird. Aus diesen Gründen werden regelungsbasierte Lösungen angestrebt. Bekannte fortschrittliche Topologien nutzen mitunter aufwendige Regler und Beobachter, wobei der direkte physikalische Bezug zu den mechanischen Parametern Steifigkeit und Dämpfung meist verloren geht. Diese Analogie zu mechanischen Lagern ist jedoch essentiell für eine einfache Inbetriebnahme des Magnetlagers, ein Grund, weshalb sich viele alternative Topologien nicht nachhaltig durchsetzen konnten und die dezentrale kaskadierte Lageregelung mit unterlagerter Stromregelung noch immer als weit verbreiteter Industriestandard gilt. Die in Axiallagern eingeschränkte Stabilität, Dynamik und Bandbreite aufgrund der Wirbelstromeffekte wird dabei zu Gunsten der einfacheren Anwendbarkeit toleriert. Diese Arbeit stellt ein fraktionales Kompensationsglied in Gestalt eines Flussschätzers vor, welches im Rückführungszweig der unterlagerten Regelung die Folgen der Wirbelströme dort herausrechnet, wo sie physikalisch wirken. Die resultierende modellbasierte Flussregelung erhält somit sämtliche physikalische Bezüge und die gute Anwendbarkeit, bei gleichzeitig verbesserten Regelungseigenschaften, sodass diesbezüglich keine Kompromisse notwendig sind. Das zugrundeliegende Modell leitet sich aus der Lösung der Diffusionsgleichung für den massiven Kern ab und stellt zunächst ein transzendentes fraktionales System dar, welches nicht direkt in einer Regelung anwendbar ist. Über Kettenbruchentwicklungen und Frequenzganganalysen ist es jedoch möglich, eine rationale Systembeschreibung zu ermitteln, die in Form einer digitalen Biquad-Filter-Kaskade auch in bestehende Mikroprozessor-Regelungen echtzeitfähig implementierbar ist. Die Arbeit dokumentiert das Vorgehen für eine Vielzahl von Randbedingungen und berücksichtigt verschiedene denkbare Einschränkungen, die in praktischen Anwendungen erwartbar sind. Der messtechnische Funktionsnachweis zeigt eine nahezu vollständige Kompensation der Wirbelstromeffekte in der unterlagerten Regelung, während sich die Bandbreite der Lageregelung nachweislich mindestens vervierfacht bei einem um bis zu 90 % Überschwingen gegenüber dem Industriestandard.Eddy currents have always been part of loss calculations and power balances in numerous electromagnetic energy converters. In active magnetic bearings and actuators they additionally have a great influence on the force dynamic, as the concomitant magnetic skin effect provokes parasitic magnetizing currents that impair the usually current-based force controllers. Thrust bearings with their three-dimensional flux propagation, which serve as example in this thesis, are especially affected, due to the ineffectiveness of the commonly applied lamination of the iron core. For these reasons, control-based solutions are desired. Known advanced control topologies employ possibly intricating controllers and observers, which hardly preserve the direct physical reference to mechanical parameters like stiffness and damping. However, this analogy to mechanical bearings is essential for a simple bearing operation. That is one reason why many alternative topologies could not been established sustainably and the decentralized cascaded position control with subordinated current control is considered as the indisputable industry standard. Its limitation of stability, dynamic and bandwidth, caused by the eddy current effects in thrust bearings, is only tolerated, in favor of a superior applicability. This thesis introduces a fractional-order compensation element in the form of a flux estimator that compensates the eddy currents effects, where they physically occur, to wit, within the feedback path of the subordinated control. Hence, the resulting flux control maintains all physical references and the simple applicability, but does not compromise on the control characteristic in this regard. The underlying model is derived from the solution of the diffusing equation that describes the nonlaminated core. It firstly constitutes a transcendental fractional-order system, which cannot be directly applied to a bearing control. However, by the use of continued fraction expansions and frequency analysis, a rational system description is determinable, which can be implemented as biquad filter cascade for real-time application even in existing microprocessor controls. This work documents the procedure for a variety of boundary conditions while considering various possible restrictions, which are to be expected in practical applications. The experimental proof of concept reveals a nearly complete compensation of the eddy current effects in the subordinated control. The bandwidth of the outer position control is at least quadrupled, while the overshoot can be reduced by up to 90 % compared to the industry standard

NASA Tech Briefs, Fall 1976

Topics include: NASA TU Services: Technology Utilization services that can assist you in learning about and applying NASA technology; New Product Ideas: A summary of seloc.ted Innovations of value to manufacturers for the development of new products; Electronic Components and Circuits; Electronic Systems; Physical Sciences; Materials; Life Sciences; Mechanics; Machinery; Fabrication Technology; Mathematics and Information Sciences

Cumulative index to NASA Tech Briefs, 1970-1975

Tech briefs of technology derived from the research and development activities of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration are presented. Abstracts and indexes of subject, personal author, originating center, and tech brief number for the 1970-1975 tech briefs are presented

Development of a thin steel strip casting process. Final report

This is a comprehensive effort to develop direct strip casting to the point where a pilot scale program for casting carbon steel strip could be initiated. All important aspects of the technology were being investigated, however the program was terminated early due to a change in the business strategy of the primary contractor, Armco Inc. (focus to be directed at specialty steels, not low carbon steel). At termination, the project was on target on all milestones and under budget. Major part was casting of strip at the experiment casting facility. A new caster, capable of producing direct cast strip of up to 12 in. wide in heats of 1000 and 3000 lb, was used. A total of 81 1000-1200 lb heats were cast as well as one test heat of 3000 lb. Most produced strip of from 0.016 to 0.085 in. thick. Process reliability was excellent for short casting times; quality was generally poor from modern hot strip mill standards, but the practices necessary for good surface quality were identified