Industrial applications increasingly require actuators that offer a combination of high force output, large stroke and high accuracy. The ElectroHydraulic Actuator (EHA) was designed by Drs. Habibi and Goldenberg originally as a high-performance actuator for use in robotics. However, it was determined that the EHA had the potential to achieve high positional accuracy. Little research has been performed in the area of high-accuracy hydraulic positioning systems. Therefore, the objective of this study to achieve nano-scale positional accuracy with the EHA while maintaining large stroke and high force output. It was planned to achieve this objective through modification of the prototype EHA and the use of fuzzy control. During this research project, both hardware and control system modifications to the EHA were performed. A high-precision optical encoder position sensor with a 50 nm resolution was mounted on the inertial load to directly measure the position of the load. A number of device drivers were written to interface the MATLAB real-time control environment with the optical encoder and servo motor amplifier. A Sugeno-inference fuzzy controller was designed and implemented in MATLAB. For comparison purposes, a switched-gain controller and a proportional controller were also implemented in the control environment. The performance of the fuzzy controller was compared to the switched-gain controller and the proportional controller in a number of tests. First, the regulatory and tracking performance of the EHA with an inertial load of 20 kg was examined. It was determined in the regulatory tests that the positional accuracy of the EHA with the fuzzy controller was excellent, achieving a steady state error of 50 ± 25 nm or less for step inputs in the range 5 cm to 200 nm. The positional accuracy during the tracking tests was found to be reduced compared to the regulatory tests since the actuator did not have sufficient time to settle to final accuracy due to the timevarying input signals. In all cases, it was found that the positional accuracy of the EHA with the fuzzy controller was significantly greater than with the switched-gain and proportional controllers for both regulatory and tracking signals. Testing with the inertial load eliminated or changed was not performed because the position sensor was mounted to the load, making it unfeasible to alter the load during the time frame of this study. The regulatory and tracking performance of the EHA with an inertial load of 20 kg plus external resistive loads of 90 to 280 N were investigated. It was found that the positional accuracy of the EHA decreased with the application of an external load to 3.10 ± 0.835 µm for a 1 cm step input (90 N load) and 8.45 ± 0.400 µm for a 3 cm step input (280 N load). Again, the positional accuracy of the EHA decreased during the tracking tests relative to the regulatory tests, for the reason stated above. This implies that the positional accuracy of the EHA with a resistive load is in the microscale, rather than the nano-scale as was put forth as the objective of this study. Nevertheless, the positional accuracy of the EHA with the fuzzy controller was found to be significantly greater than with the switched-gain and proportional controllers. It is postulated that the increase in positional error observed during the external load tests was due to an increase in cross-port leakage, relative to the inertial load tests, caused by the pressure differential induced across the actuator by the external load. Methods of reducing the increase in positional error caused by external loads on the EHA remains an area for future study.

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This thesis presents a visual servo control scheme for a ball-and-plate system with a maze. The maze built on the plate forms obstacles for the ball and increases variety and complexity of its environment. The ball-and-plate system is a two degrees-of-freedom robotic wrist with an acrylic plate attached as the end effector. By using image processing techniques, the ball¡¦s position is acquired from the visual feedback, which was implemented with a webcam and a personal computer. A fuzzy controller, which provides dexterity of the robotic wrist, is designed to decide the slope angles of the plate to guide the ball to a designated target spot. Using the method of distance transform, the path planning based on the current position of the ball is conducted to find the shortest path toward the target spot. Besides, a relaxed path, appears to be more suitable for actual applications, is provided by the obstacle¡¦s expansion approach. Experimental results show that the presented control framework successfully leads the ball to pass through the maze and arrive at target spot. The visual servo control scheme works effectively in both stabilization and tracking control. Based on this preliminary achievement, further improvement and deeper exploration on related research topics can be carried on in the future.

[pt] Um controlador Heurístico Adaptativo baseia-se num conjunto de regras lingüísticas para conduzir um processo com modelo impreciso ou complexo ao estado desejado. O comportamento do processo deve respeitar os requisitos de performance predefinidos. Para satisfazer estes objetivos, a estrutura interna do controle sofre mudanças para adequá- la as condições vigentes no processo. Os métodos de adaptação abordados consideram a modificação de uma estrutura matricial interpretada como as correções incrementais, compatíveis com os ajustes a serem efetuados sobre o processo, ou como regras, constituídas por variáveis nebulosas, que requerem manipulações adicionais para produzir a saída do controlador. Em qualquer dos casos, a adaptação é realizada a partir de uma Tabela de Índices de Performance. Para facilitar a sua obtenção é implementado um procedimento, que fornece a representação matricial das regras lingüísticas, concatenadas na forma de um Algoritmo Lingüístico de Controle. O comportamento dinâmico do Sistema, composto pelos Controladores Heurísticos e por processos com modelos distintos, é considerado para Tabelas de índices de Performance com várias dimensões. As regras lingüísticas, correlacionadas com estas tabelas, foram elaboradas com diversas classes de atributos. As simulações realizadas concentram-se sobre os parâmetros dos controladores, que influenciam significativa- Os estudos abordam também o comportamento da estrutura interna destes controladores e o seu desempenho em termos da velocidade de atuação sobre o processo. / [en] A heuristic Controller uses a set of linguistic rules, which are derived from expertise or human operators´ skills, in order to achieve control of processes that have inaccurate or complex models. An adaptative Heuristic Controller adjusts the set of rules in an automatic and continuous way, aiming to achieve prescribed objectives indicated by a performance measure. The adaptative procedures modify a matrix, the elements of which are either incremental corrections or numeric rules associated with fuzzy variables. In both cases a Performance Index Table and a learning method are employed to correct that matrix. The Performance Table is a matrix calculated from a set of linguistic rules. The controllers are implemented with different Performance Tables, considering various sets of linguistic values and quantization levels. The dynamic behaviour of overdamped and underdamped processes is investigated. The performance of simulated systems is analyzed with respect to relevant parameters that affect their behaviour.

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This thesis presents collision avoidance integrated with lane keeping and adaptive cruise control for a car. Collision avoidance is the ability to avoid obstacles that are in the vehicle's path, without causing damage to the obstacle or car. There are three types of collision avoidance controllers, passive, active, and semi-active. This thesis is designed using active collision avoidance controllers. There are two controllers developed for collision avoidance in this paper. They are an optimal controller and a fuzzy controller. The optimal vehicle trajectory, which maximizes the distance to an obstacle and changes lanes, is derived. The optimal collision avoidance controller is a closed loop controller; with the decisions based on the current state. The fuzzy controller makes decisions based on the system rules. A simulation environment was created to compare these two controllers as viable solutions for collision avoidance. The environment uses MATLAB/Simulink for simulation of the vehicle as well as the optimal and fuzzy controllers. The simulation incorporates system blocks of the kinematics of a car, navigation, states, control law, and velocity controller. Once the controllers are fully developed and tested in the simulation environment, they are implemented and tested on the platform vehicle. This verifies the real world performance of the controllers. The platform vehicle is a modified radio controlled car. This car is completely autonomous. The car has onboard sensors that allow it to follow a white piece of tape as well as detect obstacles. / Master of Science

Ένα από τα σύγχρονα προβλήματα που απασχολούν του την κοινωνία είναι το ενεργειακό πρόβλημα, απόρροια της σταδιακής εξάντλησης των συμβατικών πηγών ενέργειας. Μία ιδιαίτερα ελκυστική λύση, αποτελεί η αξιοποίηση των ανανεώσιμων πηγών ενέργειας και ειδικά του ανέμου που παρέχει την αιολική ενέργεια. Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία έχει ως θέμα τον έλεγχο ανεμογεννήτριας επαγωγικής μηχανής βραχυκυκλωμένου κλωβού(SCIG) με χρήση ασαφούς λογικής. Ο έλεγχος με ασαφή λογική είναι ταχέως αναπτυσσόμενος καθώς πλησιάζει πολύ στην ανθρώπινη λογική. Βασιστήκαμε πάνω σε ένα ήδη υπάρχον μοντέλο μη-γραμμικού ελέγχου για αυτό το είδος ανεμογεννήτριας και το μετατρέψαμε κατάλληλα για την σταδιακή εφαρμογή της ασαφούς λογικής. Το σύστημα προσομοιώθηκε με τη βοήθεια της εφαρμογής Simulink του λογισμικού Matlab. Τα αποτελέσματα παρουσιάζονται μέσω διαγραμμάτων και εξάγονται τα ανάλογα συμπεράσματα. / One of the current issues that concern the society is the energy problem of the gradual depletion of conventional energy sources. A particularly attractive solution is the exploitation of renewable energy sources, especially wind providing the wind. This thesis will deal with controlling wind turbine induction motor squirrel cage (SCIG) using fuzzy logic. The control with fuzzy logic is rapidly growing as it approaches the human sense. We relied on an existing model of nonlinear control for this type turbine and turned it suitable for the application of fuzzy logic. The system was simulated with the help of application Simulink software Matlab. The results are presented through diagrams and the relative conclusions are extracted.

Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In recent years, the use of airships has become popular for observation purposes since they provide a cost effective alternative to other aircraft. For this project a lateral and longitudinal flight control system are required for waypoint navigation flight of an 8m long, non-rigid airship. The airship’s actuators include a rudder, elevator and a propulsion system which can be vectored longitudinally. Two airship models are evaluated for this project. A chosen model is linearised and a modal analysis is done. The modal analysis is compared to a previous modal study done on the YEZ-2A airship and is found to compare well. Each airship mode is discussed and the linear behaviour is compared to the behaviour of the non-linear model. A fuzzy logic controller design approach was undertaken for the design of speed, heading and height controllers. These non-linear controllers were designed for the non-linear model, due to the following reasons: Fuzzy logic controllers show tolerance to model inaccuracies. Complexity of design is simple. Controllers can be adjusted intuitively. Fuzzy logic controllers can be combined with conventional control techniques. Simulation results showed adequate lateral and longitudinal performance, even when subjected to light wind conditions and disturbances. The inertial measuring unit implemented in a previous project is used and additional hardware is designed and implemented for the control of the airship’s actuators. Several improvements are made to the groundstation software to allow for activation of different controllers as well as for setting up the desired flight plan. The controller performance is tested through flight tests and shows adequate performance as well as controller potential. Although further work is still required for improving the controllers’ performance, this thesis acts as a platform for future research. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die afgelope paar jaar het die gebruik van die lugskepe gewild geword vir waarnemings doeleindes aangesien dit ’n koste effektiewe alternatief vir ander lugvaartuie bied. In hierdie projek word ’n laterale en longitudinale beheerstelsel benodig vir merker navigasie vlugte met ’n 8m lang, nierigiede lugskip. Die lugskip se aktueerders sluit in ’n rigtingroer, hoogteroer asook ’n aandrywing stelsel wat oorlangs gestuur kan word. Vir hierdie projek is twee lugskip modelle geïmplementeer. Die gekose model is gelineariseer en ’n modale analise is gedoen. Die modale analise is met ’n vorige modale studie vir die YEZ-2A lugskip vergelyk en wys soortegelyke linieêre gedrag. Die lugskip modusse is bespreek en die linieêre gedrag word met die gedrag van die nie-linieêre model vergelyk. Daar is op ’n fuzzy logiese beheerder ontwerp besluit vir die ontwerp van spoed, rigting en hoogte beheerders. Hierdie nie-linieêre beheerders is ontwerp vir die nie-linieêre model a.g.v. die volgende redes: Fuzzy logiese beheerders toon toleransie vir modellering of meetfoute. Kompleksiteit van die ontwerp is eenvoudig. Beheerders kan intuïtief aangepas word. Fuzzy logiese beheerders kan met konvensionele beheertegnieke gekombineer word. Simulasie resultate toon voldoende werkverrigtinge, selfs in die teenwoordigheid van ligte wind sowel as ander versteurings. Die inersiële metings eenheid, wat geïmplementeer is in ’n vorige projek, is gebruik en addisionele hardeware vir die beheer van die lugskip is aktueerders is ontwerp en geïmplementeer. Talle verbeterings is aangebring aan die grondstasie sagteware vir die aktiveer van die beheerders sowel as die uitleg van die gekose vlugplan. Die beheerders se werksverrigtinge is getoets gedurende vlugtoetse en toon voldoende beheer vermoë sowel as beheerder potensiaal. Alhoewel verdere werk steeds nodig is vir die verbetering van die beheerders, dien hierdie tesis as ’n platform vir toekomstige navorsing.