Robust control for underwater vehicle systems with time delays

A robust control scheme is presented for controlling systems with time delays. The scheme is based on the Smith controller and the LQG/LTR (linear quadratic Gaussian/loop transfer recovery) methodology. The methodology is applicable to underwater vehicle systems that exhibit time delays, including tethered vehicles that are positioned through the movements of a surface ship and autonomous vehicles that are controlled through an acoustic link. An example, using full-scale data from the tethered vehicle ARGO, demonstrates the developments     

Underwater autonomous manipulation for intervention missions AUVs

Many underwater intervention tasks are today performed using manned submersibles or remotely operated vehicles in teleoperation mode. Autonomous underwater vehicles are mostly employed in survey applications. In fact, the low bandwidth and significant time delay inherent in acoustic subsea communications represent a considerable obstacle to remotely operate a manipulation system, making it impossible for remote controllers to react to problems in a timely manner.Nevertheless, vehicles with no physical link and with no human occupants permit intervention in dangerous areas, such as in deep ocean, under ice, in missions to retrieve hazardous objects, or in classified areas. The key element in underwater intervention performed with autonomous vehicles is autonomous manipulation. This is a challenging technology milestone, which refers to the capability of a robot system that performs intervention tasks requiring physical contacts with unstructured environments without continuous human supervision.Today, only few AUVs are equipped with manipulators. SAUVIM (Semi Autonomous Underwater Vehicle for Intervention Mission, University of Hawaii) is one of the first underwater vehicle capable of autonomous manipulation.This paper presents the solutions chosen within the development of the system in order to address the problems intrinsic to autonomous underwater manipulation. In the proposed approach, the most noticeable aspect is the increase in the level of information transferred between the system and the human supervisor.We describe one of the first trials of autonomous intervention performed by SAUVIM in the oceanic environment. To the best knowledge of the authors, no sea trials in underwater autonomous manipulation have been presented in the literature. The presented operation is an underwater recovery mission, which consists in a sequence of autonomous tasks finalized to search for the target and to securely hook a cable to it in order to bring the target to the surface.     

Robust control for an autonomous underwater vehicle that suppresses pitch and yaw coupling

Attitude control systems for autonomous underwater vehicles are often implemented with separate controllers for pitch motion in the vertical plane and yaw motion in the horizontal plane. We propose a novel time-varying model for a streamlined autonomous underwater vehicle that explicitly displays the coupling between yaw and pitch motion due to nonzero roll angle and/or roll rate. The model facilitates the use of a multi-input multi-output H_∞ control design that is robust to yaw-pitch coupling. The efficacy of our approach is demonstrated with field trials.     

A high-fidelity ocean sampling mobile network (SAMON) simulatortestbed for evaluating intelligent control of unmanned underwatervehicles

The Ocean Sampling Mobile Network (SAMON) simulator testbed has been developed at Penn State for designing and evaluating multirobot ocean-mapping missions, in realistic underwater environments, prior to in-water testing. The goal in developing the testbed is to enable web-based integration of high-fidelity simulators of heterogeneous autonomous undersea vehicles from multiple organizations and a variety of on-board and fixed sensors in a realistic ocean environment in order to formulate and evaluate intelligent control strategies for mission execution. A formal control language facilitates real-time interactions between heterogeneous autonomous components. A simulation experiment is described that demonstrates multistage inferencing and decision/control strategies for spatio-temporal coordination and multilayered adaptation of group behavior in response to evolving environmental physics or operational dynamics     

Decoupled PD set-point controller for underwater vehicles

A set-point controller for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) is proposed in this paper. The controller is expressed in transformed equations of motion with a diagonal inertia matrix. It takes into account the dynamics of the system and it can be applied for fully actuated AUVs. The stability of the designed control law is demonstrated by means of a Lyapunov-based argument. Some advantages arising from the use of the controller are considered too. The performance of the proposed controller is validated via simulation on a 6-DOF underwater vehicle.     

Numerical analysis of control surface effects on AUV manoeuvrability

Computational fluid dynamics, CFD, is becoming an essential tool in the prediction of the hydrodynamic efforts and flow characteristics of underwater vehicles for manoeuvring studies. However, when applied to the manoeuvrability of autonomous underwater vehicles, AUVs, most studies have focused on the determination of static coefficients without considering the effects of the vehicle control surface deflection. This paper analyses the hydrodynamic efforts generated on an AUV considering the combined effects of the control surface deflection and the angle of attack using CFD software based on the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes formulations. The CFD simulations are also independently conducted for the AUV bare hull and control surface to better identify their individual and interference efforts and to validate the simulations by comparing the experimental results obtained in a towing tank. Several simulations of the bare hull case were conducted to select the k–ω SST turbulent model with the viscosity approach that best predicts its hydrodynamic efforts. Mesh sensitivity analyses were conducted for all simulations. For the flow around the control surfaces, the CFD results were analysed according to two different methodologies, standard and nonlinear. The nonlinear regression methodology provides better results than the standard methodology does for predicting the stall at the control surface. The flow simulations have shown that the occurrence of the control surface stall depends on a linear relationship between the angle of attack and the control surface deflection. This type of information can be used in designing the vehicle's autopilot system.     

Zero-G Class Underwater Robots: Unrestricted Attitude Control Using Control Moment Gyros

The "Zero-G" is designated as a new class of underwater robot that is capable of unrestricted attitude control. A novel control scheme based on internal actuation using control moment gyros (CMGs) is developed to provide Zero-G class autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) with this unique freedom in control. This is implemented in the CMG-actuated Zero-G class internal kinematic underwater robot actuation (IKURA) system that was developed as part of this research. A series of experiments are performed to demonstrate the practical application of CMGs and verify the associated theoretical developments. The ability to actively stabilize the translational dynamics of the robot is assessed and unrestricted attitude control is demonstrated in an experiment that involves vertically pitched diving and surfacing in surge. Finally, potential applications for Zero-G class AUVs are discussed.     

混合驱动自主潜航器续航能力分析

混合驱动自主潜航器融合了自主潜航器机动灵活和水下滑翔机续航能力强的优点,针对自身携带能源有限的问题,对在两种工作模式下如何实现最大航行距离进行了研究.从航行过程中的能源消耗入手,得出航行距离与速度、电子设备功率等的关系,通过理论分析和仿真手段得出最大续航能力的实现方法.在螺旋桨驱动模式下,当以经济航速航行时,可以达到最大航行距离;在浮力驱动模式下,当以最大滑翔效率航行时,水平方向上的滑翔距离最大,并且水平方向上的滑翔距离随着剖面深度的增大而增大,当剖面深度大到一定程度之后,最大滑翔距离趋于恒定.该研究方法可为类似水下航行器电源管理系统的能源分配提供参考,也可为航行器外形的设计和传感器的选型提供理论指导.     

Position and attitude tracking of AUV's: a quaternion feedbackapproach

A position and attitude tracking control law for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV's) in 6 degrees of freedom (DOF) is derived. The 4-parameter unit quaternion (Euler parameters) is used in a singularity-free representation of attitude. Global convergence of the closed-loop system is proven. In addition, several 3-parameter representations in terms of the Euler parameters are discussed with application to the same control law. These schemes contain singularities, and only local convergence can therefore be proven. The proposed control scheme is simulated with Euler parameters and Euler angles     

Underwater Terrain Positioning Method Based on Least Squares Estimation for AUV

To achieve accurate positioning of autonomous underwater vehicles, an appropriate underwater terrain database storage format for underwater terrain-matching positioning is established using multi-beam data as underwater terrainmatching data. An underwater terrain interpolation error compensation method based on fractional Brownian motion is proposed for defects of normal terrain interpolation, and an underwater terrain-matching positioning method based on least squares estimation(LSE) is proposed for correlation analysis of topographic features. The Fisher method is introduced as a secondary criterion for pseudo localization appearing in a topographic features flat area, effectively reducing the impact of pseudo positioning points on matching accuracy and improving the positioning accuracy of terrain flat areas. Simulation experiments based on electronic chart and multi-beam sea trial data show that drift errors of an inertial navigation system can be corrected effectively using the proposed method. The positioning accuracy and practicality are high, satisfying the requirement of underwater accurate positioning.     

Underwater Terrain Positioning Method Based on Least Squares Estimation for AUV

To achieve accurate positioning of autonomous underwater vehicles, an appropriate underwater terrain database storage format for underwater terrain-matching positioning is established using multi-beam data as underwater terrain-matching data. An underwater terrain interpolation error compensation method based on fractional Brownian motion is proposed for defects of normal terrain interpolation, and an underwater terrain-matching positioning method based on least squares estimation (LSE) is proposed for correlation analysis of topographic features. The Fisher method is introduced as a secondary criterion for pseudo localization appearing in a topographic features flat area, effectively reducing the impact of pseudo positioning points on matching accuracy and improving the positioning accuracy of terrain flat areas. Simulation experiments based on electronic chart and multi-beam sea trial data show that drift errors of an inertial navigation system can be corrected effectively using the proposed method. The positioning accuracy and practicality are high, satisfying the requirement of underwater accurate positioning.     

Model-based feedback control of autonomous underwater gliders

We describe the development of feedback control for autonomous underwater gliders. Feedback is introduced to make the glider motion robust to disturbances and uncertainty. Our focus is on buoyancy-propelled, fixed-wing gliders with attitude controlled by means of active internal mass redistribution. We derive a nonlinear dynamic model of a nominal glider complete with hydrodynamic forces and coupling between the vehicle and the movable internal mass. We use this model to study stability and controllability of glide paths and to derive feedback control laws. For our analysis, we restrict to motion in the vertical plane and consider linear control laws. For illustration, we apply our methodology to a model of our own laboratory-scale underwater glider     

Design and implementation of time efficient trajectories for autonomous underwater vehicles

This paper discusses control strategies adapted for practical implementation and efficient motion of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). For AUVs we would like efficiency in both the measured time and the energy consumption, the mission dictating the weight to put on each of these cost. As a first approach to this problem, we focus in this paper on time minimization. Based on the structure of the time optimal trajectories and of the pure motions, we develop an algorithm to design time efficient trajectories corresponding to piecewise constant thrust arcs with few actuator switchings. We do that by solving a new optimization problem where the unknowns are the time period between two actuator switchings as well as the values of the constant thrust arcs. We apply a direct method to compute the solutions numerically. With our algorithm, we gain considerable computational time. Moreover, with as few as three actuator switchings, the duration of our trajectories is within 10% of the optimal trajectories. Since our control strategies have a simple structure they can be implemented on a test-bed vehicle. For the experiments displayed in this paper we use a spherical underwater vehicle which exhibits with almost no preference of direction or orientation for movement; this gives us a very controllable and versatile vehicle.     

Maneuvering modeling and simulation of AUV dynamic systems with Euler-Rodriguez quaternion method

The purpose of this study is to develop maneuvering models and systems of a simulator to improve the motion performance of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) at the preliminary design stages in advance. The AUVs simulation systems based on the standard submarine equations of motion in six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) integrated with the Euler-Rodriguez quaternion method for representing singularity-free AUV attitude and time-saving calculation, and with a nonlinear control model for maneuvering and depth control simulations, time-marching in the fourth-order Runge-Kutta scheme. For validation of the simulation codes, results of the ISiMI AUV open-loop tests including turning test and zigzag test as well as an AUV simulator on the basis of Euler-angle method were used to compare with the quaternion-based AUV simulator. The computational results from the proposed simulator agree well with those from both the ISiMI AUV experiments and the Euler-angle based simulations. Additionally, a new maneuvering procedure, namely "put-out" was implemented to test directional stability for a large-scale AUV in the proposed AUV simulator that can be considered for vehicles in space as well as in constrained planes.     

潜水器控制系统层次故障诊断模型设计

在潜水器控制系统的基础上,按照结构、功能和组件的关系,为潜水器控制系统进行故障诊断建模。依据基于模型的层次故障诊断技术,建立了适用于潜水器控制系统故障诊断的具体诊断和推理策略,开发了故障诊断软件系统,描述了故障诊断具体过程,并利用数字仿真验证系统设计的有效性。     

Formation control of multiple underwater vehicles subject to communication faults and uncertainties

This paper proposes a novel approach to analyze and design the formation keeping control protocols for multiple underwater vehicles in the presence of communication faults and possible uncertainties. First, we formulate the considered vehicle model as the Port-controlled Hamiltonian form, and introduce the spring-damping system based formation control. Next, the dynamics of multiple underwater vehicles under uncertain relative information is reformulated as a network of Lur’e systems. Moreover, the agents under unknown disturbances generated by an external system are considered, where the internal model is applied to tackle the uncertainties, which still can be regulated as the Lur’e systems. In each case, the formation control is derived from solving LMI problems. Finally, a numerical example is introduced to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed theoretical approach.     

Investigation of a method for predicting AUV derivatives

The paper addresses the problem of autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) modelling and parameter estimation as a means to predict the dynamic performance of underwater vehicles and thus provide solid guidelines during their design phase. The use of analytical and semi-empirical (ASE) methods to estimate the hydrodynamic derivatives of a popular class of AUVs is discussed. A comparison is done with the results obtained by using computational fluid dynamics to evaluate the bare hull lift force distribution around a fully submerged body. An application is made to the estimation of the hydrodynamic derivatives of the MAYA AUV, an autonomous underwater vehicle developed under a joint Indian-Portuguese project. The estimates obtained were used to predict the turning diameter of the vehicle during sea trials.     

水下机器人推力器布置及控制仿真研究

针对自治水下机器人(Autonomous underwater vehicle,AUV)推力器布置和控制仿真的困难性及以往电机仿真难以进行的缺点,提出1种进行多推力器运动仿真的方法,该方法建立的模型克服了推力器推力控制系统不能与电机结合的问题,能较好地反映推力器布置和电机的响应情况,可为AUV的运动控制、布置设计及控制系统开发等提供验证模型.针对流线型AUV CRanger-2的推力器布置情况,在对其建立推力器模型的基础上,利用模型对设定推力下的推力器控制进行仿真.仿真结果表明:该方法能够有效地模拟推力器布置既定情况下的电机运动与推力控制,可为水下机器人控制策略优化提供仿真平台.     

A two-level, protocol-based approach to controlling autonomousoceanographic sampling networks

Autonomous oceanographic sampling networks (AOSNs) are groups of autonomous underwater vehicles and other instrument platforms. They were envisioned to address the serious undersampling problem that exists for the ocean. Advanced AOSNs will include numerous heterogeneous components and perform complex, long-duration missions. They will have to cope with vehicles failing, new vehicles arriving, and changes in the mission and environment. Controlling such a system is a very challenging task. The Cooperative Distributed AOSN control (CoDA) project focuses on developing intelligent control mechanisms for advanced AOSNs. CoDA treats AOSN components as agents that follow protocols to create an effective organization to carry out the mission. CoDA is a two-level approach. A meta-level organization (MLO) first self-organizes from a subset of the agents to discover the AOSNs' total capability repertoire, then designs a task-level organization (TLO) to efficiently carry out the mission. When changes occur, the MLO can step in to reorganize the AOSN to fit the changed situation. This two-level approach allows the AOSN to be both efficient and flexible in the face of change. In addition to describing CoDA, this paper also presents simulation results to show its behavior, both normally and when agents fail     

Nonlinear path-following control of an AUV

A new type of control law is developed to steer an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) along a desired path. The methodology adopted for path-following deals explicitly with vehicle dynamics. Furthermore, it overcomes stringent initial condition constraints that are present in a number of path-following control strategies described in the literature. Controller design builds on Lyapunov theory and backstepping techniques. The resulting nonlinear feedback control law yields convergence of the path-following error trajectory to zero. Simulation results illustrate the performance of the control system proposed.