Design,Modeling and Control of a Simulator of an Aircraft Maneuver in the Wind Tunnel Using Cable Robot

International Journal of Control, Automation and Systems - In this paper, a new controllable simulator is proposed and modeled by which, experimental tests of the aircraft’s models can be...     

Analytical design of optimal trajectory with dynamic load-carrying capacity for cable-suspended manipulator

This paper describes the development of an approach for trajectory planning of cable-suspended parallel robots using optimal control approach. A prototype has been built, and tests have been carried out to verify the theoretical results. This paper briefly illustrates this device and presents some initial tests. The final dynamic equations are organized in a closed form similar to serial manipulator equations. Dynamic load-carrying capacity problem is converted into a trajectory optimization problem which is fundamentally a constrained nonlinear optimization problem. The problem is formulated using optimal control theory, and the ideas are analyzed using Pontryagin’s minimum principle. The optimal solutions are found by solving the corresponding nonlinear two-point boundary value problems. The main objective is to find the manipulator load-carrying capacity in point-to-point task by considering actuator torque while cable forces are positive.     

Maximum DLCC of Spatial Cable Robot for a Predefined Trajectory Within the Workspace Using Closed Loop Optimal Control Approach

One of the most important applications of cable robots is load carrying along a specific path. Control procedure of cable robots is more challenging compared to linkage robots since cables can’t afford pressure. Meanwhile carrying the heaviest possible payload for this kind of robots is desired. In this paper a nonlinear optimal control is proposed in order to control the end-effector within a predefined trajectory while the highest Dynamic Load Carrying Capacity (DLCC) can be carried. This purpose is met by applying optimum torque distribution among the motors with acceptable tracking accuracy. Besides, other algorithms are applied to make sure that the allowable workspace constraint is also satisfied. Since the dynamics of the robot is nonlinear, feedback linearization approach is employed in order to control the end-effector on its desirable path in a closed loop way while Linear Quadratic Regulator (LOR) method is used in order to optimize its controlling gains since the state space is linearized by the feedback linearization. The proposed algorithm is supported by doing some simulation studies on a two Degrees of Freedom (DOF) constrained planar cable robot as well as a six DOFs under constrained cable suspended robot and their DLCCs are calculated by satisfying the motor torque, tracking error and allowable workspace constraints. The results including the angular velocity, motors’ torque, actual tracking of the end-effector and the DLCC of the robot are calculated and verified using experimental tests done on the cable robot. Comparison of the results of open loop simulation results, closed loop simulation results and experimental tests, shows that the results are improved by applying the proposed algorithm. This is the result of tuning the motors’ torque and accuracy in a way that the highest DLCC can be achieved.     

A novel method for recording the position and orientation of the end effector of a spatial cable-suspended robot and using for closed-loop control

In this paper, a new method of recording the position and orientation of the end effector as a feedback of a spatial cable-suspended robot is presented based on coupling the data of image processing and laser sensors. All of the degrees of freedoms (DOFs) of the end effector can be easily fed back through the proposed protocol in an online way and with the highest accuracy. This method has advantages over encoder feedback method since encoder feedback method does not consider the effect of structural uncertainties like vibrations of the cables. Also, the proposed method is preferable to ultrasonic sensor feedback method or accelerometers, because it does not suffer from the effect of reflecting the sound from obstacles and indoor small room syndrome or the accelerometer noise problems. It is possible to use this setup in almost every environmental situation and for any configuration of the end effector. The position and orientation of the end effector recorded in an online way are used to prepare a feedback signal and control the robot in a closed-loop way using feedback linearization approach. A simulation study is carried out on the ICaSbot which is a spatial cable-suspended robot. Finally, experimental tests are conducted on the ICaSbot to validate the proposed algorithm and simulation results performed in the MATLAB environment.     

Dynamic Load Carrying Capacity of Flexible Cable Suspended Robot: Robust Feedback Linearization Control Approach

In this paper dynamic load carrying capacity (DLCC) of a cable robot equipped with a closed loop control system based on feedback linearization, is calculated for both rigid and flexible joint systems. This parameter is the most important character of a cable robot since the main application of this kind of robots is their high load carrying capacity. First of all the dynamic equations required for control approach are represented and then the formulation of control approach is driven based on feedback linearization method which is the most suitable control algorithm for nonlinear dynamic systems like robots. This method provides a perfect accuracy and also satisfies the Lyapunov stability since any desired pole placement can be achieved by using suitable gain for controller. Flexible joint cable robot is also analyzed in this paper and its stability is ensured by implementing robust control for the designed control system. DLCC of the robot is calculated considering motor torque constrain and accuracy constrain. Finally a simulation study is done for two samples of rigid cable robot, a planar complete constrained sample with three cables and 2 degrees of freedom and a spatial unconstrained case with six cables and 6 degrees of freedom. Simulation studies continue with the same spatial robot but flexible joint characteristics. Not only the DLCC of the mentioned robots are calculated but also required motors torque and desired angular velocity of the motors are calculated in the closed loop condition for a predefined trajectory. The effectiveness of the designed controller is shown by the aid of simulation results as well as comparison between rigid and flexible systems.     

Optimal regulation of a cable suspended robot equipped with cable interfering avoidance controller

Closed-loop regulation of a spatial cable suspended robot is performed in this paper subject to maximizing the Dynamic Load Carrying Capacity (DLCC) of the end-effector while the cable interference is avoided actively. Optimization is performed between two predefined boundaries and considering the cable interference constraint. This constraint is satisfied by designing a controller which prevents the cables’ collision. The overall formulation of the closed-loop optimal control based on Feedback linearization is derived in this paper for planning the optimal path with the highest load capacity. Then a complementary adaptive controller is designed and implemented to the main controller which is responsible for providing cable interfering avoidance. The efficiency of the designed controller for preventing the cables’ collision is shown by performing and analyzing some comparative simulations conducted on an under constrained cable robot with six cables and six DOFs. All results related to regulation, tracking and DLCC are compared between the simple optimal closed-loop system and the system which is equipped with the proposed cable interfering avoidance controller. It is proved that the planned path satisfies cable interference constraint while its DLCCs are optimized.     

Design and manufacturing a torque measurement mechanism for the motors of ICaSbot robot and developing its applications

In this paper, online control of the ICaSbot cable-suspended robot is improved by using the online output of the loadcells. At first, the tension of the cables can be sensed, leading to the evaluation of the required motor torque and consequently resulting in a more accurate motor torque control. Second, the DLCC of the robot can be predefined, which help us not to violate the allowable load to satisfy the acceptable accuracy, and finally the small deflection of cable vibrations can be calculated which results in an even more accurate sensing of the actual position of the end-effector together with the data of the encoders to achieve better feedback and control of the end-effector. This paper presents online recording of the actual cable tension provided using proper data transferring system and the constructed electrical boards which filter the noises. Data acquisition card is used to transfer the data to a computer, and LabView is employed to record and control the robot in an online procedure. Finally, the efficiency of the designed mechanism and the proposed applications are verified by comparing the experimental tests conducted on the IUST cable robot (ICaSbot) with the simulation results using MATLAB software.     

Design and optimal control of dual-stage Stewart platform using Feedback-Linearized Quadratic Regulator

Design and optimal control of a dual-stage Stewart robot is performed in this paper using sequential optimal feedback linearization method considering the dynamics of the jacks. Considering the limited length of the jacks, the possible dynamic workspace of this robot is extremely limited. Dual-stage platform version of this robot is designed and proposed in this paper to improve this limitation. As a result, the dynamic workspace of the robot is increased by increasing the degrees of freedom (DOFs) of the system. Modeling and dynamics of the new proposed system are developed considering the dynamics of the jacks. Besides, the robot is controlled with the highest accuracy and the lowest energy using an optimal control strategy based on Feedback-Linearized Quadratic Regulator (FLQR). Two sequential controlling loops are employed for simultaneous control of the joint space and work space of the robot. The efficiency of the proposed manipulator toward increasing the workspace of the robot and also the accuracy of the proposed controller are investigated using MATLAB for a dual-stage Stewart robot. The kinematics and kinetics of the robot are extracted, the proposed controller is implemented and the results are analyzed which show the efficiency of the proposed structure and controlling method.