Robust tuning of robot control systems

The computed torque control problem is examined for a robot arm with flexible, geared, joint drive systems which are typical in many industrial robots. The standard computed torque algorithm is not directly applicable to this class of manipulators because of the dynamics introduced by the joint drive system. The proposed approach to computed torque control combines a computed torque algorithm with torque controller at each joint. Three such control schemes are proposed. The first scheme uses the joint torque control system currently implemented on the robot arm and a novel form of the computed torque algorithm. The other two use the standard computed torque algorithm and a novel model following torque control system based on model following techniques. Standard tasks and performance indices are used to evaluate the performance of the controllers. Both numerical simulations and experiments are used in evaluation. The study shows that all three proposed systems lead to improved tracking performance over a conventional PD controller

The effect of bandwidth on telerobot system performance

The purpose of the experiment was to determine the effect that various slave-joint bandwidths have on telerobot system performance. The telerobot system consisted of a slave arm controlled by a master. The slave incorporated an impedance loop to provide local compliance in addition to the compliance provided by the operator via force feedback. Three joint bandwidths, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 Hz, were used. The performance measures were the task completion time and the sums of the squared forces and moments exerted on the environment. The task consisted of peg-in-hole insertion and removal. The results of the experiment indicate a significant performance decrease at 0.5-Hz bandwidth relative to the 1- and 2-Hz bandwidths. There was no significant change in performance between the 1- and 2-Hz bandwidths

A GIS Hub at Pace University

The Thinkfinity Grant is to use technology to develop a GIS Hub at Pace University. The Hub is intended to show the larger community the work done at Pace and to show that our students and faculty are using GIS to solve geographically-based problems for communities and organizations. It also is intended to serve as a site from which users can download data to make their own maps and as a place where the larger community can find examples of maps and have the ability to manipulate maps

A Modeling approach for analysis and improvement of spindle-holder-tool assembly dynamics

The most important information required for chatter stability analysis is the dynamics of the involved structures, i.e. the frequency response functions (FRFs) which are usually determined experimentally. In this study, the tool point FRF of a spindle-holder-tool assembly is analytically determined by using the receptance coupling and structural modification techniques. Timoshenko’s beam model is used for increased accuracy. The spindle is also modeled analytically with elastic supports representing the bearings. The mathematical model is used to determine the effects of different parameters on the tool point FRF and to identify contact dynamics from experimental measurements. The applications of the model are demonstrated and the predictions are verified experimentally

Disruptive Innovationen für Unternehmen

Wie häufig bündelt auch hier der englische Begriff zahllose deutsche Entsprechungen, die von „Störung“ über „Bruch“, „Riss“ und „Spaltung“ bis zu „Zersprengen“ reichen. Dieses Spektrum gibt zum Inhalt einen ersten Anhaltspunkt, denn Disruption kann sich in all diesen Dimensionen zeigen. Verschiedene Theorien liefern zudem Erklärungen für die Geschehnisse rund um Disruption. Die bekannteste Theorie stammt vom Professor der ‚Harvard Business School‘, Clayton Christensen. Er nutzt den Begriff „Disruptive Innovation“ und erklärt mit seiner Theorie den Erfolg von Unternehmen wie Netflix, Apple und Co. Eine Betrachtung der Grundüberlegungen seiner Theorie kann nicht ausbleiben, wenn man sich mit dem Thema näher beschäftigen und die Fragen nach der Bedeutung von Disruption für das eigene Unternehmen diskutieren möchte

Influence de la position de l'outil sur le comportement dynamique en fraisage de parois minces

Vibratory problems encountered when milling a thin walled structure affect the surface quality of the finished workpiece and to a lesser extent, the life of the tool and the spindle. This is why, it is necessary to be able to limit these problems by an appropriate choice of the cutting conditions. The stability lobes theory allows to choose the suitable cutting conditions according to the dynamic behaviour of the workpiece and the tool. We introduce here the variations of dynamic behaviour due to the tool position, in order to obtain optimum cutting conditions all along the machining. This general implementation of the classical stability lobes graph leads us to represent the lobes in three dimensions. These theoretical results are compared with experimental milling of thin walled structure, in down-milling

Hierarchical Production Planning for General Jobs Shops : Part 1 : Modeling

The study is divided into two parts. In part 1, we provide an extensive bibliographical study on the subject and introduce a two-level hierarchical production planning model. The whole model is composed of the low level model, the high level model, and the links between both. These models are supposed to be known. We provide a mathematical formulation of the production planning problem and an iterative algorithm to solve it. In the second part of the study, we will provide several numerical examples, including an industrial application. We will also provide a comparison of the hierarchical approach and the monolithic approach in terms of efficiency, memory requirement and computational complexity

An Internet-Based Work Instructions System

The Black & Decker factory in Easton, Maryland, uses parallel, off-line assembly lines to produce multiple models in small, infrequent production runs. The University of Maryland and Black & Decker have implemented an Internet-based work instructions system that supports parallel, off-line assembly. Black & Decker personnel create and update easy-to-read paperless work instructions, and each assembly station automatically retrieves the correct paperless work instructions and displays them

Hierarchical Production Planning for General Jobs Shops : Part 2 : Evaluation and Application

In the first part of this study, we provided a hierarchical model for mediumn- and short-term planning, as well as solution algorithms which iteratively provide near optimal solutions. In part 2, we evaluate these algorithms from different points of view. We first compare the hierarchical approach and the monolithic approach in terms of memory requirement and computational complexity. We then study the quality of production plans obtained using these algorithms. Finally, we present an industrial application and compose the results obtained using the hierarchical approach with those obtained by the MRP II system currently in use in the company