Vision-based object stabilisation is an exciting and challenging area of research, and is one that promises great technical advancements in the field of computer vision. As humans, we are capable of a tremendous array of skilful interactions, particularly when balancing unstable objects that have complex, non-linear dynamics. These complex dynamics impose a difficult control problem, since the object must be stabilised through collaboration between applied forces and vision-based feedback. To coordinate our actions and facilitate delivery of precise amounts of muscle torque, we primarily use our eyes to provide feedback in a closed-loop control scheme. This ability to control an inherently unstable object by vision-only feedback demonstrates an exceptionally high degree of voluntary motor skill. Despite the pervasiveness of vision-based stabilisation in humans and animals, relatively little is known about the neural strategies used to achieve this task. In the last few decades, with advancements in technology, we have tried to impart the skill of vision-based object stabilisation to machines, with varying degrees of success. Within the context of this research, we continue this pursuit by employing the classic Cart Inverted Pendulum; an inherently unstable, non-linear system to investigate dynamic object balancing by vision-only feedback. The Inverted Pendulum is considered to be one of the most fundamental benchmark systems in control theory; as a platform, it provides us with a strong, well established test bed for this research. We seek to discover what strategies are used to stabilise the Cart Inverted Pendulum, and to determine if these strategies can be deployed in Real-Time, using cost-effective solutions. The thesis confronts, and overcomes the problems imposed by low-bandwidth USB cameras; such as poor colour-balance, image noise and low frame rates etc., to successfully achieve vision-based stabilisation. The thesis presents a comprehensive vision-based control system that is capable of balancing an inverted pendulum with a resting oscillation of approximately ±1º. We employ a novel, segment-based location and tracking algorithm, which was found to have excellent noise immunity and enhanced robustness. We successfully demonstrate the resilience of the tracking and pose estimation algorithm against visual disturbances in Real-Time, and with minimal recovery delay. The algorithm was evaluated against peer reviewed research; in terms of processing time, amplitude of oscillation, measurement accuracy and resting oscillation. For each key performance indicator, our system was found to be superior in many cases to that found in the literature. The thesis also delivers a complete test software environment, where vision-based algorithms can be evaluated. This environment includes a flexible tracking model generator to allow customisation of visual markers used by the system. We conclude by successfully performing off-line optimization of our method by means of Artificial Neural Networks, to achieve a significant improvement in angle measurement accuracy. / Goodrich Engine Control Systems and Balfour Beatty Rail Technologies

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Magnetic properties of ferrite structures are known to cause fluctuations in Earth's magnetic field around the object. These fluctuations are known as the object's magnetic signature and are unique based on the object's geometry and material. It is a common practice to neutralize magnetic signatures periodically after certain time intervals, however there is a growing interest to develop real time degaussing systems for various applications. Development of real time degaussing system is a challenging problem because of magnetic hysteresis and difficulties in measurement or estimation of near-field flux data. The goal of this research is to develop a real time feedback control system that can be used to minimize magnetic signatures for ferrite structures. Experimental work on controlling the magnetic signature of a cylindrical steel shell structure with a magnetic disturbance provided evidence that the control process substantially increased the interior magnetic flux. This means near field estimation using interior sensor data is likely to be inaccurate. Follow up numerical work for rectangular and cylindrical cross sections investigated variations in shell wall flux density under a variety of ambient excitation and applied disturbances. Results showed magnetic disturbances could corrupt interior sensor data and magnetic shielding due to the shell walls makes the interior very sensitive to noise. The magnetic flux inside the shell wall showed little variation due to inner disturbances and its high base value makes it less susceptible to noise. This research proceeds to describe a nonlinear controller to use the shell wall data as an input. A nonlinear plant model of magnetics is developed using a constant to represent domain rotation lag and a gain function to describe the magnetic hysteresis curve for the shell wall. The model is justified by producing hysteresis curves for multiple materials, matching experimental data using a particle swarm algorithm, and observing frequency effects. The plant model is used in a feedback controller and simulated for different materials as a proof of concept. / Electrical and Computer Engineering

Este trabalho apresenta todo um projeto de um sistema de supervisão e controle de um trocador de calor, desde os ensaios experimentais para a elaboração de um modelo matemático até a implementação do sistema de controle e supervisão em microcomputador. O sistema implementado consiste de um software didático e um sistema de aquisição de dados que irão realizar a supervisão e controle de um trocador de calor tipo casco e tubos. Neste software didático é possível implementar o controle PID e suas variações PI-D e I-PD além de permitir a implementação do sistema de controle adaptativo estrutura gain scheduling o qual muda os parâmetros de um controle PID de acordo com a mudança da dinâmica do trocador de calor. Como o trocador de calor apresenta um tempo morto em sua dinâmica, então optou-se por adicionar ao software didático um controle com algoritmo preditivo estrutura Preditor de Smith desta forma é possível realizar ensaios com e sem o algoritmo preditivo para uma comparação de resultados. Este sistema de supervisão e controle do trocador de calor poderá ser usado como ferramenta didática para alunos de diversos cursos, onde é possível realizar ensaios de diferentes estruturas de controle para posterior comparação e estudo de seus resultados. Resultados práticos de todas as estruturas de controle que o software implementa são apresentados e comparados neste trabalho. / This work presents thorough a supervision and control system project of a heat exchanger, from the experimental tests for the mathematical model rising to the control system implementation and supervision in a microcomputer. The implemented system consists of didactic software and a data acquisition system that will perform the supervision and control of a heat exchanger shell and tube type. In this didactic software it is possible to implement the PID control and its variations PI-D and I-PD besides allowing the implementation of the adaptive control system gain scheduling structure, which changes the PID control parameters according to the changes of the heat exchanger dynamics. As the heat exchanger presents dead time on its dynamics, it was opted to add to the didactic software a control with Smith Predictor structure predictive algorithm, thus it is possible to perform tests with and without the predictive algorithm for result comparison. This supervision and control system of the heat exchanger will be able to be used as a didactic tool for students from several courses, where it is possible to perform tests with different control structures to further comparison and study of its results. Pratical results of all the control structures that the software implements are presented and compared in this work.

A presente proposta de estudo refere-se à identificação de modelo linear empírico para processo de transferência de oxigênio das bolhas de ar para o meio líquido, simulação para testes de controle e implementação de uma estratégia de controle em escala laboratorial em tempo real. Os ensaios de controle foram na unidade experimental (canal aberto) existente no laboratório de hidráulica ambiental o qual foi adaptado para aeração com sensores, atuadores, microcomputador, interface AD/DA. Foi testado o algoritmo de controle do tipo convencional PID (Proportional Integral Derivative control). Com os resultados obtidos da perturbação degrau na variável de entrada (alimentação do ar) foi possível identificar o sistema como um modelo de primeira ordem, suficiente para os propósitos de controle. Baseado na identificação, foi ajustado um controlador PID para implementação experimental. A principal contribuição desta pesquisa consistiu no emprego de uma estratégia de controle adequada na prática, ao processo de aeração. / The current study refers to the identification of an empirical linear model for the oxygen transfer process from air bubbles to liquid, control tests simulation and implementation of a control strategy at real time in laboratory scale. The control tests were carried out at the experimental unit (open channel) located at the environmental hydraulic laboratory which was adapted to aeration process with sensors, actuators, microcomputer, AD/DA interface. The classic PID (Proportional Integral Derivative control) algorithm was tested. With results from step response of input variable (air feeding) it was possible to identify the system as a first order model, enough for the control purposes. Based on the identification, a PID controller was adjusted for the experimental implementation. The main contribution of this work consisted of the employment of an appropriate control strategy to the aeration process in practice.

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo a implementação de algoritmos de controle do tipo PID com sintonia automática de seus parâmetros para controle de processos térmicos de primeira ordem mais tempo morto. Existe um grande número de métodos para a sintonia automática, os quais requerem informações variadas sobre o processo. A sintonia automática dos parâmetros do controlador escolhida para implementação é baseada no método da realimentação a relê que utiliza o ganho estático e o período e amplitude críticos do processo e pode ser facilmente adotada na indústria. Este método foi implementado em um controlador industrial microprocessado que utiliza um microcontrolador da família 8051. A correta identificação dos parâmetros críticos do processo presume a geração de oscilações simétricas durante a realimentação a relê. O algoritmo de sintonia automática desenvolvido inclui correção em tempo real da amplitude do relê para evitar identificação falsa de um ciclo da oscilação e da assimetria na saída do processo durante a realimentação a relê. A implementação do algoritmo é simples e direta em termos de programação no ambiente de microcontroladores mesmo em linguagem de baixo nível (assembly). São apresentados resultados de simulação e os resultados experimentais realizados em um aparelho industrial comercial. / The objective of this work is the implementation of a PID control algorithm with auto-tuning for a thermal first order process plus dead-time. There is a number of methods for the auto-tuning of PID controllers which require different information on the process. The auto-tuning algorithm is implemented in a industrial controller based on the 8051 microcontroller family. The auto-tuning method considered for implementation is based on the relay feedback procedure which require the process steady state gain and the ultimate point on the Nyquist plot and can be easily adopted by industry. The method is also suited for pre-tuning adaptive controllers. The auto-tuning method used assume symmetrical oscillations during the relay feedback experiment to render the correct ultimate point on the Nyquist plot The proposed auto-tuning algorithm includes on-line correction for asymmetry oscillation and relay amplitude to avoid false capture of the limit cycle. The symmetrical oscillations are ensured by a DC bias signal added to the relay output. The algorithm is simply and straight to be written in a microcontroller programming language. Experimental results accomplished in a industrial PID auto-tuner are presented.

<p>Legislators steadily increase the demands on lowered emissions from heavy duty vehicles. To meet these demands it is necessary to integrate technologies like Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) and Variable Geometry Turbochargers (VGT) together with advanced control systems. A control structure with PID controllers and selectors is proposed and investigated for coordinated control of EGR valve and VGT position in heavy duty diesel engines. Main control goals are to fulfill the legislated emission levels, to reduce the fuel consumption, and to fulfill safe operation of the turbocharger. These goals are achieved through regulation of normalized oxygen/fuel ratio and intake manifold EGR-fraction. These are chosen as main performance variables since they are strongly coupled to the emissions, compared to manifold pressure or air mass flow, which makes it easy to adjust set-points depending on e.g. measured emissions during an emission calibration process. In addition a mechanism for fuel efficient operation is incorporated in the structure, this is achieved by minimizing the pumping work. To design a successful control structure, a mean value model of a diesel engine is developed and validated. The intended applications of the model are system analysis, simulation, and development of model-based control systems. Model equations and tuning methods for the model parameters are described for each subsystem in the model. Static and dynamic validations of the entire model show mean relative errors that are less than 12%. Based on a system analysis of the model, a key characteristic behind the control structure is that oxygen/fuel ratio is controlled by the EGR-valve and EGR-fraction by the VGT-position, in order to handle a sign reversal in the system from VGT to oxygen/fuel ratio. For efficient calibration an automatic controller tuning method is developed. The controller objectives are captured in a cost function, that is evaluated utilizing a method choosing representative transients. The performance is evaluated on the European Transient Cycle. It is demonstrated how the weights in the cost function influence behavior, and that the tuning method is important in order to improve the control performance compared to if only a standard method is used. It is also demonstrated that the controller structure performs well regarding all control objectives. In combination with its efficient tuning, the controller structure thus fulfills all requirements for successful application.</p> / Report code: LiU-TEK-LIC-2006:52.

This thesis deals with the design of multivariable controllers for stable linear time-invariant multi-input multi-output systems, with an unknown mathematical model, subject to constant reference/disturbance signals and actuator saturation constraints. A new controller parameter optimization approach, which can be carried out experimentally with no knowledge of the plant model nor of the order of the system, is proposed. The approach has the advantage that controllers can be optimized by perturbing only the initial conditions of the servocompensator, and that the order of the resulting controller obtained can be specified by the designer. Implementation of the proposed controller design approach is described, and an experimental application study of the proposed method applied to a multivariable system with industrial sensor/actuator components is presented to illustrate the feasibility of the design method in an industrial environment.