Control of Towing Kites for Seagoing Vessels

In this paper we present the basic features of the flight control of the SkySails towing kite system. After introduction of coordinate definitions and basic system dynamics we introduce a novel model used for controller design and justify its main dynamics with results from system identification based on numerous sea trials. We then present the controller design which we successfully use for operational flights for several years. Finally we explain the generation of dynamical flight patterns.Comment: 12 pages, 18 figures; submitted to IEEE Trans. on Control Systems Technology; revision: Fig. 15 corrected, minor text change

Optimal Universal Controllers for Roll Stabilization

Roll stabilization is an important problem of ship motion control. This problem becomes especially difficult if the same set of actuators (e.g. a single rudder) has to be used for roll stabilization and heading control of the vessel, so that the roll stabilizing system interferes with the ship autopilot. Finding the "trade-off" between the concurrent goals of accurate vessel steering and roll stabilization usually reduces to an optimization problem, which has to be solved in presence of an unknown wave disturbance. Standard approaches to this problem (loop-shaping, LQG, $H_{\infty}$-control etc.) require to know the spectral density of the disturbance, considered to be a \colored noise". In this paper, we propose a novel approach to optimal roll stabilization, approximating the disturbance by a polyharmonic signal with known frequencies yet uncertain amplitudes and phase shifts. Linear quadratic optimization problems in presence of polyharmonic disturbances can be solved by means of the theory of universal controllers developed by V.A. Yakubovich. An optimal universal controller delivers the optimal solution for any uncertain amplitudes and phases. Using Marine Systems Simulator (MSS) Toolbox that provides a realistic vessel's model, we compare our design method with classical approaches to optimal roll stabilization. Among three controllers providing the same quality of yaw steering, OUC stabilizes the roll motion most efficiently

Rudder roll stabilization for ships

This paper describes the design of an autopilot for rudder roll stabilization for ships. This autopilot uses the rudder not only for course keeping but also for reduction of the roll. The system has a series of properties which make the controller design far from straightforward: the process has only one input (the rudder angle) and two outputs (the heading and the roll angle); the transfer from rudder to roll is non-minimum-phase; because large and high-frequency rudder motions are necessary, the non-linearities of the steering machine cannot be disregarded; the disturbances caused by the waves vary considerably in amplitude and frequency spectrum.\ud \ud In order to solve these problems a new approach to the LQG method has been developed. The control algorithms were tested by means of computer simulations, scale-model experiments and full-scale trials at sea. The results indicate that a rudder roll stabilization system is able to reduce the roll as well as a conventional fin stabilization system, while it requires less investments. Based on the results obtained in this project the Royal Netherlands Navy has decided to implement rudder roll stabilization on a series of ships under construction at this moment

Recursive identification of ship manoeuvring dynamics and hydrodynamics

This article presents new applications of recursive identification methods to estimation of ship manoeuvring dynamics and hydrodynamics. A vessel operated in sea water can be represented by a mathematical model with unknown coefficients called ship manoeuvring dynamic coefficients or hydrodynamic coefficients. Computer simulation and full scale experiments on board a small vessel verify the feasibility of the methods and show that the estimated parameters converge very well. At the Australian Maritime College there are many model vessels without any mathematical models. Hydrodynamic coefficients of these model vessels are determined by experiments to be conducted with hydrodynamics facilities at the College and by the recursive estimation methods we develop. References W. W. Zhou, D. B. Cherchas, S. Calisal and G. Rohling. Identification of rudder-yaw and -roll steering model. Unknown source. 93--101. 1986. doi:10.1002/oca.4660150203. W. W. Zhou and M. Blanke. Identification of a class of nonlinear state space model using the recursive prediction error techniques. IEEE Transactions on Automatic Control. 34(2), 312--316, UK. 1986. C. C. Hang, T. H. Lee and W. K. Ho. Adaptive control. Instrument Society of America. USA. 1993. L. Ljung and T. Soderstrom. Theory and practice of recursive identification. MIT Press, MA, USA. 1983. H. D. Nguyen. Recursive optimal manoeuvring systems for maritime search and rescue mission. Proceedings of MTS/IEEE TECHNO-OCEAN'04 (OTO'04). 911--918, Kobe, Japan. 2004. http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/9636/30461/01405599.pdf H. D. Nguyen. Self-tuning pole assignment and optimal control systems for ships, Ph.D thesis. Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan. 2001. W. W. Zhou. Linear and nonlinear recursive prediction error methods in state space model. Proceedings of 8th IFAC Symposium on Identification and Systems Parameter Estimation. 1092--1099, Beijing, China. 1988

Application of MPC and sliding mode control to IFAC benchmark models

The comparison of Model Predictive Control (MPC) and Sliding Mode Control (SMC) are presented in this paper. This paper investigates the performance of each controller as the navigation system for IFAC benchmark ship models (cargo vessel and oil tanker). In this investigation the navigation system regulates the heading angle of the two types of marine vessel with reference to a desired heading trajectory. In this investigation, the result obtained from MPC is compared with a well-established control methodology, namely Sliding Mode control theory. Wave disturbances and actuator limits are implemented to provide a more realistic evaluation and comparison for the proposed control structure

Aerospace Medicine and Biology. A continuing bibliography with indexes

This bibliography lists 244 reports, articles, and other documents introduced into the NASA scientific and technical information system in February 1981. Aerospace medicine and aerobiology topics are included. Listings for physiological factors, astronaut performance, control theory, artificial intelligence, and cybernetics are included

Genetic programming for the automatic design of controllers for a surface ship

In this paper, the implementation of genetic programming (GP) to design a contoller structure is assessed. GP is used to evolve control strategies that, given the current and desired state of the propulsion and heading dynamics of a supply ship as inputs, generate the command forces required to maneuver the ship. The controllers created using GP are evaluated through computer simulations and real maneuverability tests in a laboratory water basin facility. The robustness of each controller is analyzed through the simulation of environmental disturbances. In addition, GP runs in the presence of disturbances are carried out so that the different controllers obtained can be compared. The particular vessel used in this paper is a scale model of a supply ship called CyberShip II. The results obtained illustrate the benefits of using GP for the automatic design of propulsion and navigation controllers for surface ships

A Supervisor for Control of Mode-switch Process

Many processes operate only around a limited number of operation points. In order to have adequate control around each operation point, and adaptive controller could be used. When the operation point changes often, a large number of parameters would have to be adapted over and over again. This makes application of conventional adaptive control unattractive, which is more suited for processes with slowly changing parameters. Furthermore, continuous adaptation is not always needed or desired. An extension of adaptive control is presented, in which for each operation point the process behaviour can be stored in a memory, retrieved from it and evaluated. These functions are co-ordinated by a ¿supervisor¿. This concept is referred to as a supervisor for control of mode-switch processes. It leads to an adaptive control structure which quickly adjusts the controller parameters based on retrieval of old information, without the need to fully relearn each time. This approach has been tested on experimental set-ups of a flexible beam and of a flexible two-link robot arm, but it is directly applicable to other processes, for instance, in the (petro) chemical industry