A COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM FOR AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLES

The work in this thesis is concerned with the development of a novel and practical collision avoidance system for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Synergistically, advanced stochastic motion planning methods, dynamics quantisation approaches, multivariable tracking controller designs, sonar data processing and workspace representation, are combined to enhance significantly the survivability of modern AUVs. The recent proliferation of autonomous AUV deployments for various missions such as seafloor surveying, scientific data gathering and mine hunting has demanded a substantial increase in vehicle autonomy. One matching requirement of such missions is to allow all the AUV to navigate safely in a dynamic and unstructured environment. Therefore, it is vital that a robust and effective collision avoidance system should be forthcoming in order to preserve the structural integrity of the vehicle whilst simultaneously increasing its autonomy. This thesis not only provides a holistic framework but also an arsenal of computational techniques in the design of a collision avoidance system for AUVs. The design of an obstacle avoidance system is first addressed. The core paradigm is the application of the Rapidly-exploring Random Tree (RRT) algorithm and the newly developed version for use as a motion planning tool. Later, this technique is merged with the Manoeuvre Automaton (MA) representation to address the inherent disadvantages of the RRT. A novel multi-node version which can also address time varying final state is suggested. Clearly, the reference trajectory generated by the aforementioned embedded planner must be tracked. Hence, the feasibility of employing the linear quadratic regulator (LQG) and the nonlinear kinematic based state-dependent Ricatti equation (SDRE) controller as trajectory trackers are explored. The obstacle detection module, which comprises of sonar processing and workspace representation submodules, is developed and tested on actual sonar data acquired in a sea-trial via a prototype forward looking sonar (AT500). The sonar processing techniques applied are fundamentally derived from the image processing perspective. Likewise, a novel occupancy grid using nonlinear function is proposed for the workspace representation of the AUV. Results are presented that demonstrate the ability of an AUV to navigate a complex environment. To the author's knowledge, it is the first time the above newly developed methodologies have been applied to an A UV collision avoidance system, and, therefore, it is considered that the work constitutes a contribution of knowledge in this area of work.J&S MARINE LT

Advanced Mathematics and Computational Applications in Control Systems Engineering

Control system engineering is a multidisciplinary discipline that applies automatic control theory to design systems with desired behaviors in control environments. Automatic control theory has played a vital role in the advancement of engineering and science. It has become an essential and integral part of modern industrial and manufacturing processes. Today, the requirements for control precision have increased, and real systems have become more complex. In control engineering and all other engineering disciplines, the impact of advanced mathematical and computational methods is rapidly increasing. Advanced mathematical methods are needed because real-world control systems need to comply with several conditions related to product quality and safety constraints that have to be taken into account in the problem formulation. Conversely, the increment in mathematical complexity has an impact on the computational aspects related to numerical simulation and practical implementation of the algorithms, where a balance must also be maintained between implementation costs and the performance of the control system. This book is a comprehensive set of articles reflecting recent advances in developing and applying advanced mathematics and computational applications in control system engineering

Autonomous Vehicles

This edited volume, Autonomous Vehicles, is a collection of reviewed and relevant research chapters, offering a comprehensive overview of recent developments in the field of vehicle autonomy. The book comprises nine chapters authored by various researchers and edited by an expert active in the field of study. All chapters are complete in itself but united under a common research study topic. This publication aims to provide a thorough overview of the latest research efforts by international authors, open new possible research paths for further novel developments, and to inspire the younger generations into pursuing relevant academic studies and professional careers within the autonomous vehicle field

Underwater Vehicles

For the latest twenty to thirty years, a significant number of AUVs has been created for the solving of wide spectrum of scientific and applied tasks of ocean development and research. For the short time period the AUVs have shown the efficiency at performance of complex search and inspection works and opened a number of new important applications. Initially the information about AUVs had mainly review-advertising character but now more attention is paid to practical achievements, problems and systems technologies. AUVs are losing their prototype status and have become a fully operational, reliable and effective tool and modern multi-purpose AUVs represent the new class of underwater robotic objects with inherent tasks and practical applications, particular features of technology, systems structure and functional properties

Time-optimal trajectory and robust adaptive control for hybrid underwater glider

The undersea environment is generally still a mystery for the human race, although it has been with us for a long time. To explore under the sea, the underwater glider is the efficient equipment capable of sustainable operation for several months. For faster and longer duration performance, a new design of underwater glider (UG) shaping ray type is proposed. To have the shortest settling time, a new design of time-optimal trajectory (TOT) for controlling the states of the ray-type hybrid underwater glider (RHUG) is proposed. And for the stable flight control, a robust adaptive controller is designed for the RHUG with unknown parameters and environmental disturbances. The heading dynamics of the RHUG is presented with linear and quadratic damping. A closed form solution of the heading dynamics is realized for designing the time-optimal trajectory. The conventional and super-twisting sliding mode control will be constructed for tracking this trajectory. The tracking performance considering the disturbance effect will be discussed in simulations. For identification of unknown parameters of the system, the adaptive control is designed and implemented by the heading experiment. The RHUG uses the net buoyancy force for gliding under the water, so the depth control is essential. In this dissertation, a robust control algorithm with TOT will be carried out for the heaving motion using a hybrid actuation of the buoyancy engine and the propeller. The net buoyancy force with a constant rate is generated by the buoyancy engine for both descending and ascending motion. And the second actuator for the depth control is the propeller with quick response in producing thrusting force. To apply the robust control with TOT, the control input is designed for the buoyancy engine and thruster individually. And finally, the robust control with TOT using the buoyancy engine and thruster is simulated with consideration of external disturbances. When the RHUG is the underactuated system, a robust adaptive control is designed for the RHUG dynamics based on Lyapunov’s direct method using the backstepping and sliding mode control techniques. The performance of this controller is simulated for gliding motion and depth control with unknown parameters and bounded disturbances.Contents Contents i List of Tables iv List of Figures v Chapter 1. Introduction 1 1.1. Hybrid underwater glider 1 1.2. Time-optimal trajectory 4 1.3. Nonlinear control design 5 Chapter 2. Dynamics of RHUG 8 2.1 Dynamics of underwater vehicles 8 2.2 Design of RHUG platform 11 2.2.1 Hull design 11 2.2.2 Buoyancy engine and mass-shifter 12 2.2.3 Battery 13 2.2.4 Sensors 14 2.2.5 Assembly 16 2.3 Dynamics of RHUG 17 2.4 Hydrodynamic coefficients 19 2.5 Thruster modeling 21 2.6 Buoyancy engine modeling 22 2.7 Mass-shifter modeling 23 Chapter 3. Time-optimal trajectory with actuator saturation for heading control 25 3.1 Time-optimal trajectory 25 3.2 Heading motion 25 3.3 Analytic solution of heading dynamic equation 26 3.3.1 Right-hand direction 29 3.3.2 Left-hand direction 36 3.4 Time-optimal trajectory 42 3.5 Super-twisting sliding mode control 44 3.6 Computer simulation 46 3.6.1 Simulation 1 46 3.6.2 Simulation 2 47 3.6.3 Simulation 3 49 Chapter 4. Time-optimal trajectory for heaving motion control using buoyancy engine and propeller individually 51 4.1. Heave dynamics and TOT 51 4.2. Analytical solution of heave dynamics with buoyancy and thruster force individually 54 4.2.1 First segment with positive rate 54 4.2.2 Second segment with maximum input 55 4.2.3 Third segment with constant velocity 56 4.2.4 Fourth segment with negative rate 57 4.2.5 Fifth segment with minimum input 58 4.3. Time-optimal trajectory for depth motion 59 4.3.1 Find z1, w1 and w1 59 4.3.2 Find t2, z2, w2 and w2 61 4.3.3 Find w3, z4 and w4 62 4.3.4 Find z3, t3 and t4 63 4.3.5 Find α and t5 64 4.4. Sliding mode control for heave dynamics 64 4.5. Computer simulation 66 4.5.1. Simulation 1 66 4.5.2. Simulation 2 69 Chapter 5. Experimental study of direct adaptive control along TOT for heading motion 72 5.1. Motivation 72 5.2. Composition of RHUG 73 5.3. Robust adaptive control for heading dynamics 77 5.4. Computer simulation 79 5.5 Experiment 82 5.5.1 First experiment with k1=2.5,k2=30 82 5.5.2 Second experiment with k1=2,k2=30 83 5.5.3 Third experiment with k1=2,k2=50 85 Chapter 6. Robust adaptive control design for vertical motion 89 6.1. Dynamics of vertical plane 89 6.2. Adaptive sliding-mode control for pitch motion 91 6.3. Adaptive sliding-mode control for surge motion 93 6.4. LOS and PI depth-keeping guidance 95 6.5. Computer simulation 97 6.5.1 Simulation 1 97 6.5.2 Simulation 2 104 Chapter 7. Conclusion 111 Reference 113Docto

Efficiency and Sustainability of the Distributed Renewable Hybrid Power Systems Based on the Energy Internet, Blockchain Technology and Smart Contracts

The climate changes that are visible today are a challenge for the global research community. In this context, renewable energy sources, fuel cell systems, and other energy generating sources must be optimally combined and connected to the grid system using advanced energy transaction methods. As this book presents the latest solutions in the implementation of fuel cell and renewable energy in mobile and stationary applications such as hybrid and microgrid power systems based on energy internet, blockchain technology, and smart contracts, we hope that they are of interest to readers working in the related fields mentioned above

Reliable and Safe Motion Control of Unmanned Vehicles

Unmanned vehicles (UVs) are playing an increasingly significant role in modern daily life. In the past decades, numerous commercial, scientific, and military communities across the world are developing fully autonomous UVs for a variety of applications, such as environmental monitoring and surveillance, post-disaster search and rescue, border patrol, natural resources exploration, and experimental platforms for new technologies verification. The excessive opportunities and threats that come along with these diverse applications have created a niche demand for UVs to extend their capabilities to perform more sophisticated and hazardous missions with greater autonomy, lower costs of development and operation, improved personnel safety and security, extended operational range (reliability) and precision, as well as increased flexibility in sophisticated environments including so-called dirty, dull, harsh, and dangerous missions. In order to successfully and effectively execute missions and meet their corresponding performance criteria and overcome these ever-increasing challenges, greater autonomy together with more advanced reliable and safe motion control systems are required to offer the critical technologies for ensuring intelligent, safe, reliable, and efficient control of UVs in the presence of disturbances, actuator saturation, and even actuator faults, especially for practical applications. This thesis concentrates on the development of different reliable and safe motion control algorithms/strategies applicable to UVs, in particular, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). A number of contributions pertaining to the fault detection and diagnosis (FDD), fault-tolerant control (FTC), disturbance estimation and compensation, and actuator saturation avoidance have been made in this thesis. In addition to the control problems, this thesis also presents several guidance-related contributions, including adaptive observer-based line-of-sight (LOS) guidance law, time-varying lookahead distance scheme, piecewise path switching criterion for guiding a single UV, as well as a proportional-integral (PI) type of leader-follower formation guidance strategy for a group of UVs

44th Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium

The Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium (AMS) provides a unique forum for those active in the design, production and use of aerospace mechanisms. A major focus is the reporting of problems and solutions associated with the development and flight certification of new mechanisms

Modular high maneuverability autonomous underwater vehicle

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2009.Includes bibliographical references (p. 111-115).The design and construction of a modular test bed autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is analyzed. Although a relatively common stacked-hull design is used, the state of the art is advanced through an aggressive power plant, with capability to support azimuthing thrusters and a 2DOF front sensor assembly. Through an application of lean principles to developmental hardware, the notion of a delayed differentiation is isolated as a key to minimizing rework and creating essentially transparent electronic hardware. Additionally, the use of bus-modular structural and electronic interconnects facilitates reconfiguration of the vehicle across a large range of components, allowing the rapid development of new sensors, control algorithms, and mechanical hardware. Initial wet tests confirm basic data acquisition capabilities and allowed sensor fusion of scanning sonar returns at the beam level with data from an IMU for an orientation-corrected sonar mosaic.by Daniel G. Walker.S.M