Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In recent years Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) have become interesting for harbor mapping and protection. AUVs require a SONAR sensor for observing their surroundings, thus enabling them to perform collision avoidance manoeuvres and scanning their operating environment for intruders or foreign objects, e.g. mines. To perform such actions the SONAR sensor is required to supply very fine range resolution for target imaging, as well as providing information about possible target velocity. Basic SONAR theory is discussed, as well as different approaches to signal design and processing techniques, for achieving the required resolution in range and target velocity. Two of the discussed approaches are selected for processing range and target velocity, respectively. Both approaches are simulated for their validity before being tested by using a custom-built platform. The platform is highly configurable and designed for capacity of testing a variety of SONAR signals and set ups. Furthermore, the platform is built by using off-the-shelf components to minimize development costs. The results of simulations and practical tests are presented. A high correlation between theory and practice is achieved. The knowledge and the platform presented form the stepping stone for further SONAR sensor developments. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die laaste jare het outonome onderwater voertuie (OOV) toenemend belangrik geword vir die kartografie en beskerming van hawens. OOV’s vereis SONAR sensore wat hulle in staat stel, om hulle omgewing waar te neem en sodoende botsing vermydings take te verrig en ook om hul werksomgewing noukeurig te skandeer om indringers of vreemde voorwerpe, bv. myne, op te spoor. Om sulke werk te verrig, word van die SONAR sensor vereis, om baie fyn afstand oplossings vir teiken te verskaf, insluitend die moontlike snelheid van die teiken. Basiese SONAR teorie word bespreek, en dan verskeie benaderings van sein ontwerp en verwerkings tegnieke. Twee van die bespreekte benaderings word gekies om afstand en teiken snelheid onderskeidelik te verwerk. Altwee benaderings word gesimuleer om hul geldigheid vas te stel, voor dat hulle getoets word op ’n pasmaat vervaardigde platform. Die platform is hoogs aanpasbaar en is ontwerp vir sy vermoë om ’n verskeidenheid SONAR seine en verwerkings te hanteer. Verder is die platform vervaardig met standard rakonderdele om ontwikkelingskoste so laag as moontlik te hou. Die uitslae van die simulerings en praktiese toetse word voorgestel. ’n Hoë mate aan korrelasie is bereik tussen teorie en praktyk. Die kennis en die platvorm, wat hier voorgestel word, vorm die eerste trappie vir toekomstige SONAR sensor ontwikkeling.

Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis presents the design process of the movement control and guidance systems for an automated underwater vehicle (AUV) constructed by the Institute of Maritime Technology in Simon’s Town. The full non-linear mathematical model and simulation environment for the AUV were previously developed in [1]. The design process in this thesis covers an analysis of existing test data and the performance of the current systems in place on the AUV, derivation and analysis of the linear model for the AUV, design of upgraded control and guidance systems, analysis of the new designs including simulation results, practical implementation of the new designs and the results thereof. Over the course of this project a number of flaws were identified in the original control designs and other aspects of the AUV. Most notably, the capability of the AUV is limited owing to its construction, and the current control and guidance methods result in poor movement characteristics. The new control designs are executed through multiple SISO feedback loops, with the most complicated controllers consisting of proportional and integral control. A completely new guidance method was designed which grants theAUVthe ability to track both straight line and circular path segments with no steady state error. These designs were tested in simulation, with results showing good tracking performance, even in the presence of output disturbances. The new designs were implemented on the physical AUV, but testing was limited, with poor results being obtained. The poor test results were caused primarily by the construction of the AUV. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis stel die ontwerpsproses voor vir die bewegingsbeheer- en navigasiestelsels vir ’n outonome duikboot wat gebou is deur die Instituut vir Maritieme Tegnologie in Simonstad. Die volle nie-lineˆere wiskundige model en simulasieomgewing vir die duikboot is voorheen ontwikkel in [1]. Die ontwerpsproses in hierdie tesis behels ’n analise van bestaande toetsdata en van die werksverrigting van die stelsels wat tans op die duikboot ge¨ınstalleer is, die afleiding en analise van ’n lineˆere model vir die duikboot, die ontwerp van verbeterde beheer- en navigasiestelsels, die analise van die nuwe ontwerpe, wat simulasieresultate insluit, die praktiese implementering van die nuwe ontwerpe, en die resultate daarvan. Deur die loop van die projek is ’n aantal tekortkominge ge¨ıdentifiseer in die oorspronklike beheerstelselontwerpe en ander aspekte van die duikboot. Die mees beduidende tekortkominge is dat die vermo¨e van die duikboot beperk word deur die konstruksie daarvan, en dat die huidige beheer- en navigasietegnieke swak bewegingseienskappe lewer. Die nuwe beheerstelselontwerpe is uitgevoer deur ’n aantal enkelintree, enkeluittree terugvoerlusse, waar die mees komplekse beheerders bestaan uit proporsionele en integraalbeheer. ’n Heeltemal nuwe navigasiemetode is ontwerp, wat die duikboot in staat stel om beide reguit lyne en sirkulˆere padsegmente te volg sonder ’n stasionˆere volgfout. Hierdie ontwerpe is getoets in simulasie, waar die resultate goeie volging getoon het, selfs in die teenwoordigheid van uittreeversteurings. Die nuwe ontwerpe is ge¨ımplementeer op die fisiese duikboot, maar beperkte toetse is gedoen, en het swak resultate gelewer. Die swak toetsresultate was hoofsaaklik as gevolg van die konstruksie van die duikboot.

The interest for marine research and exploration has increased rapidly during the past decades and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) have been found useful in an increased amount of applications. The demand for versatile platform AUVs, able to perform a wide range of tasks, has become apparent. A vital part of an AUV is its motion control system, and an emerging problem for multipurpose AUVs is that the control performance is affected when the vehicle is configured with different payloads for each mission. Instead of having to manually re-tune the control system between missions, a method for automatic tuning of the control system has been developed in this master’s thesis. A model-based approach was implemented, where the current vehicle dynamics are identified by performing a sequence of excitation maneuvers, generating informative data. The data is used to estimate model parameters in predetermined model structures, and model-based control design is then used to determine an appropriate tuning of the control system. The performance and potential of the suggested approach were evaluated in simulation examples which show that improved control can be obtained by using the developed auto-tuning method. The results are considered to be sufficiently promising to justify implementation and further testing on a real AUV. The automatic tuning process is performed prior to a mission and is meant to compensate for dynamic changes introduced between separate missions. However, the AUV dynamics might also change during a mission which requires an adaptive control system. By using the developed automatic tuning process as foundation, the first steps towards an indirect adaptive control approach have been suggested. Also, the AUV which was studied in the thesis composed another interesting control problem by being overactuated in yaw control, this because yawing could be achieved by using rudders but also by differential drive of the propellers. As an additional and separate part of the thesis, an approach for using both techniques simultaneously have been proposed.

Este trabalho apresenta o estudo e a implementação de um sistema de navegação em tempo-real utilizado para estimar a posição, a velocidade e a atitude de um veículo submarino autônomo. O algoritmo investigado é o do Filtro de Kalman Estendido. Este filtro é freqüentemente usado para realizar a fusão de dados obtidos de diferentes sensores, em uma estimativa estatisticamente ótima, quando se respeita algumas condições. Neste trabalho, fez se a fusão entre os seguintes sensores: unidade de navegação inercial do tipo strapdown, sensor acústico de posicionamento, profundímetro, sensor de velocidade de efeito Doppler e uma bússola. Para a aplicação embarcada do Filtro de Kalman, faz-se necessário o seu desenvolvimento em tempo real. Conseqüentemente, este trabalho apresenta o estudo das principais características de um sistema de tempo real. Para desenvolver o código em C utilizou-se de algumas funções do Matlab com a finalidade de se tentar minimizar os erros de implementação do filtro. Além disto, para facilitar a implementação e respeitar os critérios de sistemas de tempo real utilizou-se de um sistema operacional, C/OS-II que possibilita aplicar sistemas com multiprocessos e utilizar semáforos para o gerenciamento do EKF, além disto, foram utilizadas normas de programação, MISRAC, para padronizar o código e aumentar a sua confiabilidade. São apresentadas também a modelagem cinemática, a metodologia e as ferramentas computacionais utilizadas para o filtro. Com base nas simulações e nos ensaios de campo executados on-line, observou-se que os filtros projetados para se estimar a atitude e a posição do veículo obtiveram bons desempenhos, além disto, foi possível verificar a convergência dos EKFs. Para estas simulações e ensaios, foram também estudados casos de situações adversas como, por exemplo, uma falha no sensor de referência de posição, sendo que para esta situação, o EKF de posição e velocidade obteve resultados satisfatórios. / This paper presents the study and implementation of a real-time navigation system used to estimate the position, velocity and attitude of an autonomous underwater vehicle. The Extended Kalman Filter, EKF, was adopted. This filter is often used to perform the data fusion from different sensors, in generating a statistically optimal estimate when some required conditions are fulfilled. The algorithm implements the fusion of the following sensors: an inertial navigation unit sensor (strapdown type), an acoustic positioning, a depth gauge, a Doppler velocity log sensor and a magnetic compass. This work presents the kinematic modelling, the methodology and computational tools used for developing the EKF algorithm. In order to integrate the EKF into an embedded system, it is necessary to develop it in real time. It was adopted the C / OS-II operational system, which allows to implement multithreaded systems and use traffic lights to manage the EKF. Furthermore, programming standards, such as MISRA C, was chosen to standardize the code and increase its reliability. The C code implementation took advantage of some Matlab functions to minimize implementation errors. Based on simulations and field tests carried out online, it was concluded that the filters designed to estimate the attitude and position of the vehicle provided good performances, in addition, it was possible to verify the EKFs convergence. The filters were tested in same adverse situations, e.g., a fault in the position reference sensor, providing satisfactory results as well.

Este trabalho apresenta o estudo e a implementação de um sistema de navegação em tempo-real utilizado para estimar a posição, a velocidade e a atitude de um veículo submarino autônomo. O algoritmo investigado é o do Filtro de Kalman Estendido. Este filtro é freqüentemente usado para realizar a fusão de dados obtidos de diferentes sensores, em uma estimativa estatisticamente ótima, quando se respeita algumas condições. Neste trabalho, fez se a fusão entre os seguintes sensores: unidade de navegação inercial do tipo strapdown, sensor acústico de posicionamento, profundímetro, sensor de velocidade de efeito Doppler e uma bússola. Para a aplicação embarcada do Filtro de Kalman, faz-se necessário o seu desenvolvimento em tempo real. Conseqüentemente, este trabalho apresenta o estudo das principais características de um sistema de tempo real. Para desenvolver o código em C utilizou-se de algumas funções do Matlab com a finalidade de se tentar minimizar os erros de implementação do filtro. Além disto, para facilitar a implementação e respeitar os critérios de sistemas de tempo real utilizou-se de um sistema operacional, C/OS-II que possibilita aplicar sistemas com multiprocessos e utilizar semáforos para o gerenciamento do EKF, além disto, foram utilizadas normas de programação, MISRAC, para padronizar o código e aumentar a sua confiabilidade. São apresentadas também a modelagem cinemática, a metodologia e as ferramentas computacionais utilizadas para o filtro. Com base nas simulações e nos ensaios de campo executados on-line, observou-se que os filtros projetados para se estimar a atitude e a posição do veículo obtiveram bons desempenhos, além disto, foi possível verificar a convergência dos EKFs. Para estas simulações e ensaios, foram também estudados casos de situações adversas como, por exemplo, uma falha no sensor de referência de posição, sendo que para esta situação, o EKF de posição e velocidade obteve resultados satisfatórios. / This paper presents the study and implementation of a real-time navigation system used to estimate the position, velocity and attitude of an autonomous underwater vehicle. The Extended Kalman Filter, EKF, was adopted. This filter is often used to perform the data fusion from different sensors, in generating a statistically optimal estimate when some required conditions are fulfilled. The algorithm implements the fusion of the following sensors: an inertial navigation unit sensor (strapdown type), an acoustic positioning, a depth gauge, a Doppler velocity log sensor and a magnetic compass. This work presents the kinematic modelling, the methodology and computational tools used for developing the EKF algorithm. In order to integrate the EKF into an embedded system, it is necessary to develop it in real time. It was adopted the C / OS-II operational system, which allows to implement multithreaded systems and use traffic lights to manage the EKF. Furthermore, programming standards, such as MISRA C, was chosen to standardize the code and increase its reliability. The C code implementation took advantage of some Matlab functions to minimize implementation errors. Based on simulations and field tests carried out online, it was concluded that the filters designed to estimate the attitude and position of the vehicle provided good performances, in addition, it was possible to verify the EKFs convergence. The filters were tested in same adverse situations, e.g., a fault in the position reference sensor, providing satisfactory results as well.

This diploma thesis is dealing with design of explorative robot named Gloin, which is designed especially for the exploration and mapping of the underwater part of Hranická propast, which is the second deepest fresh-water abbys in the world. This thesis is concentrating on design of algorithms needed for control and navigation of robot in the abyss. The designed algorithms are verified by simulation.

Autonomous underwater vehicles have become a popular countermeasure to naval mines. Saab’s AUV62-MR detects, locates and identifies mine-like objects through three phases. By extracting functionality from the AUV62-MR and placing it on a second vehicle, it is suggested that the second and third phases can be performed in parallel. This thesis investigates how to design the second vehicle so that the runtime of the mine reconnaissance process is minimized. A simulation framework is implemented to simulate the second and third phases of the mine reconnaissance process in order to test various design choices. The vehicle design choices in focus are the size and the route planning of the second vehicle. The route-planning algorithms investigated in this thesis are a nearest neighbour algorithm, a simulated annealing algorithm, an alternating algorithm, a genetic algorithm and a proposed Dubins simulated annealing algorithm. The algorithms are evaluated both in a static environment and in the simulation framework. Two different vehicle sizes are investigated, a small and a large, by evaluating their performances in the simulation framework. This thesis takes into account the limited travelling distance of the vehicle and implements a k-means clustering algorithm to help the route planner determine which mine-like objects can be scanned without exceeding the distance limit. The simulation framework is also used to evaluate whether parallel execution of the second and third phases outperforms the current sequential execution. The performance evaluation shows that a major reduction in runtime can be gained by performing the two phases in parallel. The Dubins simulated annealing algorithm on average produces the shortest paths and is considered the preferred route-planning algorithm according to the performance evaluation. It also indicates that a small vehicle size results in a reduced runtime compared to a larger vehicle.

The term hydrobatics refers to the agile maneuvering of underwater vehicles. Hydrobatic capabilities in autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) can enable increased maneuverability without a sacrifice in efficiency and speed. This means innovative robot designs and new use case scenarios are possible. Benefits and technical challenges related to hydrobatic AUVs are explored in this thesis. The dissertation contributes to new knowledge in simulation, control and field applications, and provides a structured approach to realize hydrobatic capabilities in real world impact areas. Three impact areas are considered - environmental monitoring, ocean production and security. A combination of agility in maneuvering and efficiency in performance is crucial for successful AUV applications. To achieve such performance, two technical challenges must be solved. First, these AUVs have fewer control inputs than degrees of freedom, which leads to the challenge of underactuation. The challenge is described in detail and solution strategies that use optimal control and model predictive control (MPC) are highlighted. Second, the flow around an AUV during hydrobatic maneuvers transitions from laminar to turbulent flow at high angles of attack. This renders flight dynamics modelling difficult. A full 0-360 degree envelope flight dynamics model is therefore derived, which combines a multi-fidelity hydrodynamic database with a generalized component-buildup approach. Such a model enables real-time (or near real-time) simulations of hydrobatic maneuvers including loops, helices and tight turns. Next, a cyber-physical system (CPS) is presented -- it safely transforms capabilities derived in simulation to real-world use cases in the impact areas described. The simulator environment is closely integrated with the robotic system, enabling pre-validation of controllers and software before hardware deployment. The small and hydrobatic SAM AUV (developed in-house at KTH as part of the Swedish Maritime Robotics Center) is used as a test platform. The CPS concept is validated by using the SAM AUV for the search and detection of a submerged target in field operating conditions. Current research focuses on further exploring underactuated control and motion planning. This includes development of real-time nonlinear MPC implementations running on AUV hardware, as well as intelligent control through feedback motion planning, system identification and reinforcement learning. Such strategies can enable real-time robust and adaptive control of underactuated systems. These ideas will be applied to demonstrate new capabilities in the three impact areas. / Termen hydrobatik avser förmåga att utföra avancerade manövrer med undervattensfarkoster. Syftet är att, med bibehållen fart och räckvidd, utvigda den operationella förmågan i manövrering, vilket möjliggör helt nya användningsområden för maximering av kostnadseffektivitet. I denna avhandling undersöks fördelar och tekniska utmaningar relaterade till hydrobatik som tillämpas på undervattensrobotar, vanligen kallade autonoma undervattensfarkoster (AUV). Avhandlingen bidrar till ny kunskap i simulering, reglering samt tillämpning i experiment av dessa robotar genom en strukturerad metod för att realisera hydrobatisk förmåga i realistiska scenarier.  Tre nyttoområden beaktas - miljöövervakning, havsproduktion och säkerhet. Inom dessa nyttoområden har ett antal scenarios identifierats där en kombination av smidighet i manövrerbarhet samt effektivitet i prestanda är avgörande för robotens förmåga att utföra sin uppgift. För att åstadkomma detta måste två viktiga tekniska utmaningar lösas. För det första har dessa AUVer färre styrytor/trustrar än frihetsgrader, vilket leder till utmaningen med underaktuering. Utmaningen beskrivs i detalj och lösningsstrategier som använder optimal kontroll och modellprediktiv kontroll belyses. För det andra är flödet runt en AUV som genomför hydrobatiska manövrar komplext med övergång från laminär till stark turbulent flöde vid höga anfallsvinklar. Detta gör flygdynamikmodellering svår. En full 0-360 graders flygdynamikmodell härleds därför, vilken kombinerar en multi-tillförlitlighets hydrodynamisk databas med en generaliserad strategi för komponentvis-superpositionering av laster. Detta möjliggör prediktering av hydrobatiska manövrar som t.ex. utförande av looping, roll, spiraler och väldigt snäva svängradier i realtids- eller nära realtids-simuleringar. I nästa steg presenteras ett cyber-fysikaliskt system (CPS) – där funktionalitet som härrör från simuleringar kan överföras till de verkliga användningsområdena på ett effektivt och säkert sätt. Simulatormiljön är nära integrerad i robot-miljön, vilket möjliggör förvalidering av reglerstrategier och mjukvara innan hårdvaruimplementering. En egenutvecklad hydrobatisk AUV (SAM) används som testplattform. CPS-konceptet valideras med hjälp av SAM i ett realistiskt sceanrio genom att utföra ett sökuppdrag av ett nedsänkt föremål under fältförhållanden. Resultaten av arbetet i denna licentiatavhandling kommer att användas i den fortsatta forskningen som fokuserar på att ytterligare undersöka och utveckla ny metodik för reglering av underaktuerade AUVer. Detta inkluderar utveckling av realtidskapabla ickelinjära MPC-implementeringar som körs ombord, samt AI-baserade reglerstrategier genom ruttplaneringsåterkoppling, autonom systemidentifiering och förstärkningsinlärning. Sådan utveckling kommer att tillämpas för att visa nya möjligheter inom de tre nyttoområdena. / SMaRC

<div>Exploring and surveilling the marine environment away from shore is critical for scientific, economic, and military purposes as we progress through the 21st century. Until recently, these missions far from shore were only possible using manned surface vehicles. Over the past decade, advances in energy density, actuators, electronics, and controls have enabled great improvements in vehicle endurance, yet, no solution is capable of supporting persistent operation especially when considering power hungry scientific surveys. This dissertation summarizes contributions related to the development of an adaptable underwater docking station and associated navigation solutions to allow applications in the wide range of maritime missions. The adaptable docking system is a novel approach to the standard funnel shaped docking station design that enables the dock to be collapsible, portable, and support a wide range of vehicles. It has been optimized and tested extensively in simulation. Field experiments in both pool and open water validate the simulation results. The associated control strategies for approach and terminal homing are also introduced and studied in simulation and field trials. These strategies are computationally efficient and enable operation in a variety of scenarios and conditions. Combined, the adaptable docking system and associated navigation strategies can form a baseline for future extended endurance missions away from manned support.</div>

<p>Small, low cost Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) provide ideal platforms for shallow water survey, as they are capable of unmanned navigation and can be programmed to acquire data at constant depth, or constant altitude above the seabed. AUVs can be deployed under most sea states and are unaffected by vessel motions that often degrade sonar and magnetometer data quality. The integration of sonar and magnetometer sensors on AUV’s is challenging, however, due to limited payload and strong magnetic fields produced by the vehicle motor.</p> <p>In this study, a Marine Magnetics Explorer Overhauser magnetometer was mated to a portable AUV (OceanServer Iver2) creating the first practical AUV- deployed magnetic survey system. To eliminate magnetic interference from the AUV, the magnetometer was tethered to the AUV with a 5 m tow cable, as determined by static and dynamic instrument testing. The results of the magnetic tests are presented, along with field data from a shallow water test area in Lake Ontario near Toronto, Canada. AUV-acquired magnetic survey data were compared directly with a conventional boat-towed magnetic survey of the same area. The AUV magnetic data were of superior quality despite being collected in rough weather conditions that would have made conventional survey impossible. The resulting high-resolution total magnetic intensity and analytic signal maps clearly identify several buried and surface ferrometallic targets that were verified in 500-kHz side- scan sonar imaging and visual inspection by divers.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)