Thesis (Ph.D.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2009. / "Submitted to Department of Manufacturing Engineering and Engineering Management in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-114)

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2007. / Title from title screen (site viewed July 10, 2007). PDF text: viii, 117 p. : ill. UMI publication number: AAT 3252837. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm and microfiche formats.

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida State University, 2004. / Advisor: Dr. Patrick Hollis, Florida State University, College of Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed June 18, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, June, 2001. / Title from PDF t.p.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wyoming, 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Apr. 1, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 69-71).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Drexel University, 2005. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-67).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Duke University, 2008.

Electric transmission lines suffer from many hazards, including wind-induced vibrations (WIV), which can lead to fatigue failure of the transmission conductors. Current vibration mitigation methods do not adequately address WIV because they overwhelmingly rely on narrow-band fixed absorbers. A mobile damping robot (MDR) can overcome the limitations of these fixed absorbers by actively transporting them to locations of highest amplitude on the cable; i.e., antinodes. These antinodes are where the absorbers can most efficiently remove energy from the system. While analyses have been performed for vibration absorbers on transmission line conductors, they have not been in the context of a mobile damping robot (MDR). There is a need to investigate the potential impact of the MDR on a transmission line and the resulting implications for the MDR's development. In this thesis, we explore the dynamics of a power line conductor through finite element analysis (FEA) and modal testing. We perform numerical analysis in MATLAB using equations of motion obtained via Hamilton's Principle. We discuss the design and validation of an appropriate test bench and MDR prototype. We also experimentally investigate the ability of the MDR prototype to transport a mass along a conductor to antinode locations. Experimental results indicate that the damping robot is indeed able to navigate to cable locations of highest amplitude corresponding to antinodes. We then conclude and discuss future work. The insights gained from this research lay a foundation to guide further development of the MDR. Through this work, we are better able to define the operating conditions of the MDR, which will facilitate the creation of a more robust, adaptable control framework for expanded capability. / Master of Science / Power transmission lines are important civil structures used to deliver electricity across the nation. However, these lines are subject to an array of hazards that can damage them. One such hazard is vibration due to wind, which can cause fatigue damage, leading to power line failure and outages. A popular form of vibration control is the use of a fixed vibration absorber, which has significant limitations. A mobile damping robot (MDR) can greatly improve upon the efficiency of these absorbers by transporting them to optimal locations along the power line. This thesis explores the utility and feasibility of an MDR to do so. We investigate with the help of engineering software and establish the conditions for experimentation. Our research suggests that the MDR prototype we constructed can autonomously navigate itself along the power line to optimal locations. This research will guide improvements to the MDR so that it can be more effective under real-world conditions.

There are millions of robots in operation around the world today, and almost all of them operate on factory floors in isolation from people. However, it is now becoming clear that robots can provide much more value assisting people in daily tasks in human environments. Perhaps the most fundamental capability for a mobile robot is navigating from one location to another. Advances in mapping and motion planning research in the past decades made indoor navigation a commodity for mobile robots. Yet, questions remain on how the robots should move around humans. This thesis advocates the use of semantic maps and spatial rules of engagement to enable non-expert users to effortlessly interact with and control a mobile robot. A core concept explored in this thesis is the Tour Scenario, where the task is to familiarize a mobile robot to a new environment after it is first shipped and unpacked in a home or office setting. During the tour, the robot follows the user and creates a semantic representation of the environment. The user labels objects, landmarks and locations by performing pointing gestures and using the robot's user interface. The spatial semantic information is meaningful to humans, as it allows providing commands to the robot such as ``bring me a cup from the kitchen table". While the robot is navigating towards the goal, it should not treat nearby humans as obstacles and should move in a socially acceptable manner. Three main navigation behaviors are studied in this work. The first behavior is the point-to-point navigation. The navigation planner presented in this thesis borrows ideas from human-human spatial interactions, and takes into account personal spaces as well as reactions of people who are in close proximity to the trajectory of the robot. The second navigation behavior is person following. After the description of a basic following behavior, a user study on person following for telepresence robots is presented. Additionally, situation awareness for person following is demonstrated, where the robot facilitates tasks by predicting the intent of the user and utilizing the semantic map. The third behavior is person guidance. A tour-guide robot is presented with a particular application for visually impaired users.

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