Coordination and navigation of heterogeneous MAV-UGV formations localized by a 'hawk-eye'-like approach under a model predictive control scheme

n approach for coordination and control of 3D heterogeneous formations of unmanned aerial and ground vehicles under hawk-eye-like relative localization is presented in this paper. The core of the method lies in the use of visual top-view feedback from flying robots for the stabilization of the entire group in a leader–follower formation. We formulate a novel model predictive control-based methodology for guiding the formation. The method is employed to solve the trajectory planning and control of a virtual leader into a desired target region. In addition, the method is used for keeping the following vehicles in the desired shape of the group. The approach is designed to ensure direct visibility between aerial and ground vehicles, which is crucial for the formation stabilization using the hawk-eye-like approach. The presented system is verified in numerous experiments inspired by search-and-rescue applications, where the formation acts as a searching phalanx. In addition, stability and convergence analyses are provided to explicitly determine the limitations of the method in real-world applications

Mathematical Modelling of the Drilling Process for Real-time Applications in Drilling Simulation, Interpretation and Assistance

For the last thirty years, mathematical modelling has been used to develop software solutions that support drilling engineering activities at the planning stage of drilling operations. But it is only for the last decade that mathematical models have been used for the real-time support of drilling operations. Moving from a pure engineering perspective to having models that can respect real-time requirements, necessitates many improvements of the subjacent mathematical modelling of the drilling process. First, it is not anymore possible to ignore transient behaviors that were somewhat irrelevant at the planning stage. Second, there is a need for solutions that should be fast enough to cope with the real-time constraints of the drilling process. With the perspective of creating applications that can support the drilling process in real-time, the following mathematical models have been developed: • Drilling fluid behavior. The properties of drilling fluids depend on their composition and pressure-temperature conditions. For instance, the pressure-temperature dependence of the mass density of drilling fluids, depends on the individual PVT-properties (Pressure-Volume-Temperature) of each of the components and their relative volume fractions. Therefore, the addition of drill-cuttings in the drilling fluid also changes the drilling fluid PVT-behavior. Furthermore, the rheological behavior of drilling fluids depends also on its composition. We have found that the rheological behavior of a KCl/polymer water-based mud is simultaneously modified by the relative proportion of barite and sand. Furthermore, it is known that drilling fluids are thixotropic. Yet, we found that the thixotropic behavior of drilling fluids is different from the one of other thixotropic fluids and we have determined that one of the causes for the discrepancy is related to the presence of solids in the fluid mix. We have developed a method to estimate the rheological behavior and its associated uncertainty, as a function of the modification of the solid proportions. • Drill-string mechanical sub-models coupled with hydraulic effects. Hydraulic pressure has also an impact on drill-string mechanical forces not only because the fluid mass density modifies buoyancy but more generally because viscous pressure gradients generate net forces along the drill-string. These hydraulic related forces are superposed to those engendered by mechanical friction and elastic deformation. • Steady state and transient drill-string mechanical models. Steady state torque and drag models utilizing the above-mentioned drill-string mechanical sub-models can be used to assess some characteristics of the drilling process when constant velocities are prevalent. But, during a drilling operation, there are many moments during which the drill-string displacement is in transient mode. Therefore, it is also important to have access to transient torque and drag models with a fast response time. • Transient cuttings transport model. The transport of cuttings is obviously influenced by hydraulic circulation but also drill-string rotational speed, at least in the deviated parts of a well. On the other hand, the presence of drill-cuttings in suspension or settling on the low-side of the borehole, influences pressure losses and mechanical forces along the drill-string. Therefore, the estimation of the transient displacement of drill-cuttings plays an important role in the overall estimation of the actual drilling conditions during a drilling operation. However, a transient cuttings transport model shall also be sufficiently fast, especially when it is used in real-time applications. Equipped with such models of the drilling process that are compatible with real-time constraints, then it is possible to solve problems that are relevant for the assistance of drilling operations. A first domain of application is related to the estimation, in real-time, of surface and downhole sensor values as a function of external commands like the block position and speed, the top-drive rotational velocity and the pump rates. We will refer to this domain of application as “drilling simulation”. However, comparison of measured values with simulated ones, require the proper modelling of the sensors and the impact of their actual position on the readings. For instance, drilling fluid is retained in the flowline and mud treatment equipment. Therefore, to simulate pit volumes, it is important to model the retention mechanism. Transient hydraulic, mechanical and heat transfer models, associated with precise modelling of sensor measurements, can then be used to interpret the current actual drilling conditions, because if their estimated parameters differ from the measurements, then a possible reason is that something unexpected is happening downhole. However, such drilling symptom detection method necessitates two additional conditions to be fulfilled: • The models shall be calibrated. Regardless of the quality of the drilling models, the inputs to these models are always known with a limited degree of accuracy and therefore their outputs may differ from measurements for that simple reason. However, it is important to distinguish between uncertainties that are related to properties that do not change substantially during a given drilling operation, from those that can change at any time. To avoid influencing the calibration of time invariant properties with possible side effects of the deterioration of the drilling condition, it is important to utilize drilling conditions by which undesirable side effects have no or little influence on the measurements that are used to calibrate the property. • Uncertainty of the modelled outputs shall be estimated. Calibration may reduce the uncertainty on the model outputs, but it does not eliminate it completely. It is therefore important to estimate the uncertainty of the predicted values. To achieve this, it is necessary to capture the precision by which the inputs of the process are known and to propagate that uncertainty throughout the modelling of the outputs. With continuously calibrated models and an estimation of the current downhole conditions, then it is possible to address some preliminary drilling process assistance functions: • Safety triggers. During the execution of automation functions, the situation awareness of the driller is reduced as he does not drive the drilling machines himself. Therefore, it shall not be attempted to automate any functions before a minimum set of protection functions are in place. Such safety triggers shall detect and react to incidents related to the axial and rotational movement of the drill-string and, of course, associated with pressure. Example of such safety triggers are: o Reactions to overpulls and set-down weights. o Reactions to abnormal torques. o Reactions to abnormal pressures. • Safeguards. Any drill-string or drilling fluid movements shall not generate a drilling incident. Therefore, commands to the drilling machines shall be kept within safe operational envelopes. For instance, upward movement of the drill-string shall not decrease the downhole pressure below the pore pressure or the collapse pressure of the open hole formations. Similarly, the applied flowrate combined with a possible downward movement and rotation of the drill-string shall not overpass the fracturing pressure of open hole formation rocks. • Automated procedures. Protected by safety triggers and operating within acceptable safeguards, then it is possible to automate some standard procedures. However, such automatic procedures must continuously be adapted to the current drilling conditions. For instance, the length of a friction must be modified to account for the current drill-string length and mechanical friction, or the flowrate applied during the ream-down sequence of a reciprocation procedure shall be reduced as a function of the current potential surging risk

Controlling of Vehicles Formation

Cieľom tejto práce je vytvoriť systém na riadenie kolesových vozidiel s pohybovými obmedzeniami. V práci sa rieši riadenie formácie a jej dynamické prispôsobovanie v závislosti od prekážok v okolí a zároveň aj riadenie vozidiel. Algoritmy riadiace vozidlo sú založené na báze potenciálových polí. Systém je implementovaný v 2D prostredí v hernom engine Unity. V závere je systém otestovaný na rôznych scenároch ako prechod formácie úzkym miestom, prekážka čiastočne blokujúca formáciu, scenár s dynamickou prekážkou apod.The goal of this thesis is to create system for formation management of wheeled vehicles with kinematic constraints. The work presents the way to control vehicle and how to manage formation in presence of obstacles. Algorithms used for vehicle control are based on potential fields. Whole system is implemented in Unity game engine in 2D enviroment. The system is then tested on various scenarios such as passing through narrow passage, obstacle partially blocking formation, dynamic obstacle avoidance etc.

CHARMM: The biomolecular simulation program

CHARMM (Chemistry at HARvard Molecular Mechanics) is a highly versatile and widely used molecular simulation program. It has been developed over the last three decades with a primary focus on molecules of biological interest, including proteins, peptides, lipids, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and small molecule ligands, as they occur in solution, crystals, and membrane environments. For the study of such systems, the program provides a large suite of computational tools that include numerous conformational and path sampling methods, free energy estimators, molecular minimization, dynamics, and analysis techniques, and model-building capabilities. The CHARMM program is applicable to problems involving a much broader class of many-particle systems. Calculations with CHARMM can be performed using a number of different energy functions and models, from mixed quantum mechanical-molecular mechanical force fields, to all-atom classical potential energy functions with explicit solvent and various boundary conditions, to implicit solvent and membrane models. The program has been ported to numerous platforms in both serial and parallel architectures. This article provides an overview of the program as it exists today with an emphasis on developments since the publication of the original CHARMM article in 1983. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.J Comput Chem, 2009.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/63074/1/21287_ftp.pd

Dynamic state estimation for mobile robots

The scientific goal of this thesis is to tackle different approaches for effective state estimation and modelling of relevant problems in the context of mobile robots. The starting point of this dissertation is the concept of probabilistic robotics, an emerging paradigm that combines state-of-the-art methods with the classic probabilistic theory, developing stochastic frameworks for understanding the uncertain nature of the interaction between a robot and its environment. This allows introducing relevant concepts which are the foundation of the localisation system implemented on the main experimental platform used on this dissertation. An accurate estimation of the position of a robot with respect to a fixed frame is fundamental for building navigation systems that can work in dynamic unstructured environments. This development also allows introducing additional contributions related with global localisation, dynamic obstacle avoidance, path planning and position tracking problems. Kinematics on generalised manipulators are characterised for dealing with complex nonlinear systems. Nonlinear formulations are needed to properly model these systems, which are not always suitable for real-time realisation, lacking analytic formulations in most cases. In this context, this thesis tackles the serial-parallel dual kinematic problem with a novel approach, demonstrating state-of-the-art accuracy and real-time performance. With a spatial decomposition method, the forward kinematics problem on parallel robots and the inverse kinematics problem on serial manipulators is solved modelling the nonlinear behaviour of the pose space using Support Vector Machines. The results are validated on different topologies with the analytic solution for such manipulators, which demonstrates the applicability of the proposed method. Modelling and control of complex dynamical systems is another relevant field with applications on mobile robots. Nonlinear techniques are usually applied to tackle problems like feature or object tracking. However, some nonlinear integer techniques applied for tasks like position tracking in mobile robots with complex dynamics have limited success when modelling such systems. Fractional calculus has demonstrated to be suitable to model complex processes like viscoelasticity or super diffusion. These tools, that take advantage of the generalization of the derivative and integral operators to a fractional order, have been applied to model and control different topics related with robotics in recent years with remarkable success. With the proposal of a fractional-order PI controller, a suitable controller design method is presented to solve the position tracking problem. This is applied to control the distance of a self-driving car with respect to an objective, which can also be applied to other tracking applications like following a navigation path. Furthermore, this thesis introduces a novel fractional-order hyperchaotic system, stabilised with a full-pseudo-state-feedback controller and a located feedback method. This theoretical contribution of a chaotic system is introduced hoping to be useful in this context. Chaos theory has recently started to be applied to study manipulators, biped robots and autonomous navigation, achieving new and promising results, highlighting the uncertain and chaotic nature which also has been found on robots. All together, this thesis is devoted to different problems related with dynamic state estimation for mobile robots, proposing specific contributions related with modelling and control of complex nonlinear systems. These findings are presented in the context of a self-driving electric car, Verdino, jointly developed in collaboration with the Robotics Group of Universidad de La Laguna (GRULL)

Formation control of autonomous vehicles with emotion assessment

Autonomous driving is a major state-of-the-art step that has the potential to transform the mobility of individuals and goods fundamentally. Most developed autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) aim to sense the surroundings and control the vehicle autonomously with limited or no driver intervention. However, humans are a vital part of such vehicle operations. Therefore, an approach to understanding human emotions and creating trust between humans and machines is necessary. This thesis proposes a novel approach for multiple AGVs, consisting of a formation controller and human emotion assessment for autonomous driving and collaboration. As the interaction between multiple AGVs is essential, the performance of two multi-robot control algorithms is analysed, and a platoon formation controller is proposed. On the other hand, as the interaction between AGVs and humans is equally essential to create trust between humans and AGVs, the human emotion assessment method is proposed and used as feedback to make autonomous decisions for AGVs. A novel simulation platform is developed for navigating multiple AGVs and testing controllers to realise this concept. Further to this simulation tool, a method is proposed to assess human emotion using the affective dimension model and physiological signals such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) and photoplethysmography (PPG). The experiments are carried out to verify that humans' felt arousal and valence levels could be measured and translated to different emotions for autonomous driving operations. A per-subject-based classification accuracy is statistically significant and validates the proposed emotion assessment method. Also, a simulation is conducted to verify AGVs' velocity control effect of different emotions on driving tasks

Toward a Framework for Systematically Categorizing Future UAS Threat Space

Title from PDF of title page, viewed September 21, 2022Dissertation advisor: Travis FieldsVitaIncludes bibliographical references (pages 241-270)Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2021The development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is occurring as fast or faster than any other innovation throughout the course of human history. Building an effective means of defending against threats posed by malicious applications of novel technology is imperative in the current global landscape. Gone are the days where the enemy and the threat it poses are well defined and understood. Defensive technologies have to be modular and able to adapt to a threat technology space which is likely to recycle several times over during the course of a single defense system acquisition cycle. This manuscript wrestles with understanding the unique threat posed by UAVs and related technologies. A thorough taxonomy of the problem is given including projections for how the defining characteristics of the problem are likely to change and grow in the near future. Next, a discussion of the importance of tactics related to the problem of a rapidly changing threat space is provided. A discussion of case studies related to lessons learned from military acquisition programs and pivotal technological innovations in the course of history are given. Multiple measures of success are proposed which are designed to allow for meaningful comparisons and honest evaluations of capabilities. These measures are designed to facilitate discussions by providing a common, and comprehensible language that accounts for the vast complexity of the problem space without getting bogged down by the details. Lastly, predictions for the future threat space comprising UAVs is given. The contributions of this work are thus threefold. Firstly, an analytic framework is presented including a detailed parameterization of the problem as well as various solution techniques borrowed from a variety of fields. Secondly, measures of success are presented which attempt to compare the effectiveness of various systems by converting to expected values in terms of effective range, or extending the popular concept of kill chain and collapsing effectiveness into units of time. A novel technique for measuring effectiveness is presented whereby effectiveness is composed of various individual probabilities. Probabilities and associated distributions can be combined according to the rules of joint probabilities and distributions and allows performance against a probabilistic threat to be measured succinctly and effectively. The third contribution concerns predictions made with respect to the UAS threat space in the future. These predictions are designed to allow for defensive systems to be developed with a high expected effectiveness against current and future threats. Essentially this work comprises a first attempt toward developing a complete framework related to engagement and mission level modeling of a generic defensive system (or combination of systems) in the face of current and future threats presented by UAS.Introduction -- Literature review -- War gaming -- Measures of success -- Conclusion

Robuste Berechnungsverfahren zur nichtlinearen dynamischen Analyse von Balken- und Schalenstrukturen

Gegenwärtige und zukünftige dynamisch beanspruchte, schlanke Strukturen aus mehrschichtig verbundenen, hyperelastischen Werkstoffen, z. B. Windenergieanlagen und Hubschrauber usw., sind sehr komplex. Eine genaue Untersuchung im Zeitbereich erfordert den Einsatz von Methoden, die kinematische, geometrische sowie, bis zu einem gewissen Grad, materielle Nichtlinearitäten berücksichtigen sollten. Daher könnten Simulationen mit Beachtung von großen Verschiebungen, Drehungen und Verzerrungen nötig sein, um das mechanische Verhalten akkurat zu vorhersagen zu vermögen. Zunächst werden die Bewegungsgleichungen räumlich diskretisiert. Dann werden die zum Teil diskretisierten Gleichungen mittels eines Integrationsverfahrens zeitlich diskretisiert. Solche diskreten Gleichungen sind sehr steif, sodass sich die Berechnung der langzeitigen Lösung erschwert. Darüber hinaus ist die Einführung von Nebenbedingungen oft nötig, um komplexere Strukturen aufstellen zu können, wodurch sich die Komplexität erhöht wird und unerwünschte Eigenschaften noch verschärft werden. Um Robustheit zu gewinnen, sollen Berechnungsverfahren hergeleitet werden, die die zugrunde legende Physik in gewissem Maße erhalten können und gleichzeitig den hochfrequenten Anteil der Lösung unterdrücken können. Die Erfüllung dieser Anforderungen stellt sich als sehr herausfordernd dar. Das Hauptziel dieser Arbeit liegt an der Entwicklung von Berechnungsverfahren zur Vertiefung des Verständnises des dynamischen Verhaltens von Balken- und Schalenstrukturen. Um dieses Ziel zu erreichen, wird ein umfassender Ansatz vorgeschlagen. Dieser besteht aus: i) Einer auf Direktoren basierenden, Finite-Elemente-Formulierung für den geometrisch exakten Balken mit allgemeinen Querschnittseigenschaften; ii) einer auf Direktoren basierenden, Finite-Elemente-Formulierung für die Kontinuumsmechanik-basierte Schale aus mehrschichtig verbundenen, hyperelastischen Werkstoffen; iii) einer vereinheitlichten Beschreibung von Starrkörpern, Balken und Schalen und deren Kopplung mittels kinematischer Nebenbedingungen; und, iv) einem robusten Integrationsverfahren basierend auf dem gemittelten Vektorfeld. Des Weiteren wird Folgendes ebenfalls vorgeschlagen: v) Die Partikularisierung der Hauptgeodätenanalyse zur nichtlinearen Identifikation von Bewegungsmoden an Balkenstrukturen; und, vi) ein neues konservatives/dissipatives Integrationsverfahren für allgemeine nichtlineare mechanische Systeme basierend auf optimierten Modifizierungen höherer Ordnung, die die Defizite der Mittelpunktsregel beheben. Die sehr gute Leistung des vorgeschlagenen Ansatzes wird durch mehrere Beispiele unterschiedlicher Komplexität nachgewiesen.Existing and new slender structures made of hyperelastic multilayer composite materials subject to highly dynamic loads, e.g., wind turbines, helicopters, cars, speedboats or submarines inter alia, are very complex. Their dynamic analysis requires fully nonlinear formulations, at least from the kinematic and geometric point of view, and also to some extent from the material point of view. Thus, simulations in time-domain involving large displacements, rotations and strains could be necessary to predict their mechanical behavior accurately. Numerical procedures to carry out such simulations rely firstly on the partial discretization in space of the governing equations, for instance with finite elements. These semi discrete equations are further discretized in time with an integration scheme. The resulting discrete equations are in fact very stiff and therefore, the computation of the long-term behavior could be problematic. In many applications, the introduction of constraints is also necessary for rendering more complex structures. Besides introducing a new level of complexity, this can sharpen conditioning problems already present in the fully discrete problem. Additionally, we also require procedures able to annihilate the unwanted unresolved high-frequency content without upsetting of the underlying physics. However, the simultaneous satisfaction of all these requirements is a very challenging task. The main objective of this work is to provide means intended for helping to understand further the nonlinear dynamics of beam and shell structures made of hyperelastic multilayer composite materials subject to highly dynamic loads. To accomplish this main goal, we propose a unifying computational approach that relies on: i) a director-based finite-element formulation for geometrically exact beams with general cross-section properties; ii) a director-based finite-element formulation for solid-degenerate shells made of hyperelastic multilayer composite materials; iii) a unifying description of rigid bodies, geometrically exact beams and solid-degenerate shells and their combination with kinematic pairs, which avoids inherently the necessity of rotational degrees of freedom; and, iv) a robust integration scheme based on the average vector field. Additionally, we propose: v) the particularization of the principal geodesic analysis to identify motion patters exhibited by beam structures in a purely nonlinear setting; and, vi) a new conservative/dissipative integration method for general nonlinear mechanical systems, which relies on high-order correction terms that optimally modify the midpoint rule. Moreover, the excellent numerical performance of the proposed unifying framework and procedures is illustrated by means of a good number of examples with different difficulty levels