This thesis takes a closer look at the complex maneuver known as gravity assist, a popular method of interplanetary travel. The maneuver is used to gain or lose momentum by flying by planets, which induces a speed and direction change. A simulation model is created using the General Mission Analysis Tool (GMAT), which is intended to be easily reproduced and altered to match any desired gravity assist maneuver. The validity of its results is analyzed, comparing them to available data from real missions. Some parameters, including speed and trajectory, are found to be extremely reliable. The model is then used as a tool to investigate the way that different parameters impact this complex environment, and the advantages of performing thrusting burns at different points during the maneuver are explored. According to theory, thrusting at the point of closest approach to the planet is thought to be the most efficient method for changing speed and direction of flight. However, the results from this study show that thrusting before this point can have some major advantages, depending on the desired outcome. The reason behind this is concluded to be the high sensitivity of the gravity assist maneuver to the altitude and location of the point of closest approach. / Detta examensarbete tittar närmare på den komplexa manöver inom banmekanik som kallas gravitationsassisterad manöver, vilken är vanligt förekommande vid interplanetära rymduppdrag. Manövern används för att öka eller minska farkostens rörelsemängd genom att flyga förbi nära planeter, vilket ger upphov till en förändring i fart och riktning. En simuleringsmodell är skapad i NASAs mjukvara GMAT med syftena att den ska vara reproducerbar samt möjlig att ändra för olika gravitationsassisterade manövrar. Resultaten från simuleringarna är validerade mot tillgängliga data från riktigt rymduppdrag. Vissa parametrar, som fart och position, har en väldigt bra överenstämmelse. Modellen används sedan för att noggrannare undersöka hur olika parametrar påverkar det komplexa beteendet vid en graviationsassisterad manöver, genom att specifikt titta på effekterna av en pålagd dragkraft från motorn under den gravitationsassisterade manövern. Teoretiskt fås mest effekt på fart och riktning om dragkraften från motorn läggs på vid punkten närmast planeten. Resultaten från denna studie visar att beroende på vilken parameter man vill ändra så kan man erhålla mer effekt genom att lägga på dragkraften innan den närmsta punkten. Förklaringen till detta är att den gravitationsassisterade manövern är väldigt icke-linjär, så en tidigare pålagd dragkraft kan kraftigt förändra farkostens bana nära planeten, så att farkosten t.ex. kommer närmare och då påverkas mer.

<p> Trajectory planning is a field with widespread utility, and imitation learning pipelines<br> show promise as an accessible training method for trajectory planning. MPNet is the state<br> of the art for imitation learning with respect to success rates. MPNet has two general<br> components to its runtime: a neural network predicts the location of the next anchor point in<br> a trajectory, and then planning infrastructure applies sampling-based techniques to produce<br> near-optimal, collision-less paths. This distinction between the two parts of MPNet prompts<br> investigation into the role of the neural architectures in the Neural Motion Planning pipeline,<br> to discover where improvements can be made. This thesis seeks to explore the importance<br> of neural architecture choice by removing the planning structures, and comparing MPNet’s<br> feedforward anchor point predictor with that of a continuous model trained to output a<br> continuous trajectory from start to goal. A new state of the art model in continuous learning<br> is the Neural Flow model. As a continuous model, it possess a low standard deviation runtime<br> which can be properly leveraged in the absence of planning infrastructure. Neural Flows also<br> output smooth, continuous trajectory curves that serve to reduce noisy path outputs in the<br> absence of lazy vertex contraction. This project analyzes the performance of MPNet, Resnet<br> Flow, and Coupling Flow models when sampling-based planning tools such as dropout, lazy<br> vertex contraction, and replanning are removed. Each neural planner is trained end-to-end in<br> an imitation learning pipeline utilizing a simple feedforward encoder, a CNN-based encoder,<br> and a Pointnet encoder to encode the environment, for purposes of comparison. Results<br> indicate that performance is competitive, with Neural Flows slightly outperforming MPNet’s<br> success rates on our reduced dataset in Simple2D, and being slighty outperformed by MPNet<br> with respect to collision penetration distance in our UR5 Cubby test suite. These results<br> indicate that continuous models can compete with the performance of anchor point predictor<br> models when sampling-based planning techniques are not applied. Neural Flow models also<br> have other benefits that anchor point predictors do not, like continuity guarantees, the ability<br> to select a proportional location in a trajectory to output, and smoothness. </p>

[pt] Neste trabalho, aborda-se a modelagem e controle de um quadricóptero para navegação autônoma em ambientes agrícolas. Os modelos cinemático e dinâmico do veículo aéreo são computados a partir do formalismo de Newton-Euler, incluindo efeitos aerodinâmicos e características das hélices. O sistema de movimento do quadricóptero pode ser dividido em dois subsistemas, um translacional e outro rotacional, responsáveis pelo controle de posição nos eixos x, y, z, and atitude do veículo no espaço Cartesiano. A primeira abordagem de controle é linear, se presenta dois controladores, um controlador proporcional-derivativo (PD) e o adaptativo baseado no espaço de estados. A segunda abordagem é não-linear e baseada em um controlador adaptativo a fim de lidar com a presença de incertezas nos parâmetros do sistema. Simulações numéricas são executadas em Matlab para ilustrar o desempenho e a viabilidade da metodologia de controle proposta. Simulações computacionais 3D são executadas em Gazebo para verificar a navegação autônoma em um campo agrícola. / [en] In this work, we address the modeling and control design of a quadrotor for autonomous navigation in agricultural environments. The kinematic and dynamic models of the aerial vehicle are derived following the Newton-Euler formalism. The motion system of the quadrotor can be split into two subsystems, that is, translational and rotational subsystems, responsible for controlling the position along the longitudinal, transverse and vertical axes of the Cartesian space as well as its orientation about the corresponding axes. The first linear control approach is based on the proportional-derivative (PD) controller, whereas the second nonlinear control approach is based on an adaptive controller in order to deal with the presence of uncertainties in the system parameters. Numerical simulations are carried out in Matlab to illustrate the performance and feasibility of the proposed control methodology. Gazebo was used to perform the 3D simulations for verifying autonomous navigation in agricultural fields.

Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approach aims at implementing various processes of Systems Engineering (SE) through diagrams that provide different perspectives of the same underlying system. This approach provides a basis that helps develop a complex system in a systematic manner. Thus, this thesis aims at deriving a system model through this approach for the purpose of autonomous driving, specifically focusing on developing the subsystem responsible for generating a feasible trajectory for a miniature vehicle, called AutoCar, to enable it to move towards a goal. The report provides a background on MBSE and System Modeling Language (SysML) which is used for modelling the system. With this background, an MBSE framework for AutoCar is derived and the overall system design is explained. This report further explains the concepts involved in autonomous trajectory planning followed by an introduction to Robot Operating System (ROS) and its application for trajectory planning of the system. The report concludes with a detailed analysis on the benefits of using this approach for developing a system. It also identifies the shortcomings of applying MBSE to system development. The report closes with a mention on how the given project can be further carried forward to be able to realize it on a physical system. / Modellbaserade systemteknikens (MBSE) inriktning syftar till att implementera de olika processerna i systemteknik (SE) genom diagram som ger olika perspektiv på samma underliggande system. Detta tillvägagångssätt ger en grund som hjälper till att utveckla ett komplext system på ett systematiskt sätt. Sålunda syftar denna avhandling att härleda en systemmodell genom detta tillvägagångssätt för autonom körning, med särskild inriktning på att utveckla delsystemet som är ansvarigt för att generera en genomförbar ban för en miniatyrbil, som kallas AutoCar, för att göra det möjligt att nå målet. Rapporten ger en bakgrund till MBSE and Systemmodelleringsspråk (SysML) som används för modellering av systemet. Med denna bakgrund, MBSE ramverket för AutoCar är härledt och den övergripande systemdesignen förklaras. I denna rapport förklaras vidare begreppen autonom banplanering följd av en introduktion till Robot Operating System (ROS) och dess tillämpning för systemplanering av systemet. Rapporten avslutas med en detaljerad analys av fördelarna med att använda detta tillvägagångssätt för att utveckla ett system. Det identifierar också bristerna för att tillämpa MBSE på systemutveckling. Rapporten stänger med en omtale om hur det givna projektet kan vidarebefordras för att kunna realisera det på ett fysiskt system.

Trajectory planning constitutes an essential step for proper autonomous vehicles’performance. This work aims at defining and testing a stochastic approach providingsafe, length-optimal and comfortable trajectories accounting for road, model anddisturbance uncertainties. A Stochastic Model Predictive Control (SMPC) problemis formulated using a Linear Parameter Varying Bicycle Model, state-probabilisticconstraints and input constraints. The SMPC is transformed into a tractable quadraticoptimisation problem after assuming independent and gaussian uncertainties.The proposed trajectory planning methodology is intended to be implemented onlinein a Receding Horizon fashion in a real vehicle. Results are presented after computersimulatedtests have been carried out to study the influence of model uncertaintiesand SMPC parameters on the planned and executed trajectories in standard drivingsituations. Particularly, road crosswind is modelled, its effect on vehicles withdifferent steering characteristics is studied and it is considered for improved trajectoryplanning. The approach constitutes a promising method to provide robust trajectoriesto unmodeled errors reaching an equilibrium between conservativeness and quality ofthe solution. / Banplanering utgör ett väsentligt steg för riktiga autonoma fordons prestanda.Syftet med detta arbete är att definiera och testa stokastiska strategier som gersäkra, optimala och bekväma banor som tar hänsyn till vägen, modelbrus ochosäkerheter. En stokastisk Model Predictive Control (SMPC) problem är formuleratmed hjälp av Linear Parameter Varying Bicycle Model, tillstånds-sannolikhetsbivillkoroch inmatningsbivillkor. SMPC transformeras till ett lätthanterlig kvadratiskoptimeringsproblem efter oberoende gaussfördelade osäkerheter antagits.Den föreslagna banplaneringsmetoden är avsedd att implementeras online meden Receding Horizon för ett riktigt fordon. Resultatet är presenterat efterdatorsimulerade experiment har blivit genomförda för att studera påverkan avmodelosäkerheter och SMPC parametrar på den planerade och genomförda banorför standard körsituationer. I synnerhet, är sidovind modellerat, dens effekt påfordon med olika styrkaraktäristik är studerad och är tagen hänsyn till för förbättradbanplanering. Tillvägagångssättet utgör en lovande metod för att tillhandahållarobusta banor för icke-model fel som når en jämvikt mellan konservativitet och kvalitethos lösningen.

This thesis presents the initial components of an integrated guidance, navigation, and control system for vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such that they may map complex environments that may be hostile. The first part of this thesis presents an autonomous guidance system. For goal selection, the map is partitioned around the presence of obstacles and whether that area has been explored. To perform this partitioning, the Octree algorithm is implemented. In this thesis, we test this algorithm to find a parameter set that optimizes this algorithm. Having selected goal points, we perform a comparison of the LPA* and A* path planning algorithms with a custom heuristic that enables reckless or tactical maneuvers as the UAV maps the environment. For trajectory planning, the fMPC algorithm is applied to the feedback-linearized equations of motion of a quadcopter. For collision avoidance, standalone versions of 4 different constraint generation algorithms are evaluated to compare their resulting computation times, accuracy, and computed volume on a voxel map that simulates a 2-story house along with fixed paths that vary in length at fixed intervals as basis of tests. The second part of this thesis presents the theory of Model Reference Adaptive Control(MRAC) along with augmentation for output signal tracking and switched-dynamic systems. We then detail the development of longitudinal and lateral controllers a Quad-Rotor Tailsitter(QRBP) style UAV. In order to successfully implement the proposed controller on the QRBP, significant effort was placed upon physical design and testing apparatus. / Master of Science / For an autonomously operated, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), to operate, it requires a guidance system to determine where and how to go, and a control system to effectively actuate the guidance system's commands. In this thesis, we detail the characterization and optimization of the algorithms comprising the guidance system. We then delve into the theory of MRAC and apply it toward a control system for a QRBP. We then detail additional tools developed to support the testing of the QRBP.

Les robots industriels ont évolué fondamentalement ces dernières années pour répondre aux exigences industrielles de machines et mécanismes toujours plus performants. Ceci se traduit aujourd’hui par de nouveaux robots anthropomorphes plus adaptés laissant entrevoir la réalisation de tâches plus complexes comme la découpe d’objets déformables telle que la découpe de viande ou soumis à de fortes sollicitations comme l’usinage. L’étude du comportement des robots anthropomorphes, à structures parallèles ou hybrides montre une anisotropie aussi bien cinématique, que dynamique, impactant la précision attendue. Ces travaux de thèse étudient l’intégration des redondances cinématiques qui permettent de pallier en partie ce problème en positionnant au mieux la tâche à réaliser dans un espace de travail compatible avec les capacités attendues. Ces travaux ont suivi une démarche en trois étapes : la modélisation analytique de cellules robotiques par équivalent sériel basée sur la méthode TCS, la formalisation des contraintes des processus de découpe de viande et d’usinage et une résolution par optimisation multicritère. Une première originalité de ces travaux réside en le développement d’un modèle à 6 degrés de liberté permettant d’analyser les gestes de l’opérateur qui optimise naturellement le comportement de son bras pour garantir la tâche qu’il réalise. La seconde originalité concerne le placement optimisé des redondances structurales (cellules à 9 ddls) où les paramètres de positionnement sont incorporés comme des variables pilotables (cellule à 11 ddls). Ainsi, ces travaux de thèse apportent des contributions à : - la définition de critères adaptés à la réalisation de tâches complexes et sollicitantes pour la gestion des redondances cinématiques ; - l’identification du comportement des structures sous sollicitations par moyen métrologique (Laser tracker) et l’auto-adaptation des trajectoires par l’utilisation d’une commande en effort industrielle ; - l’optimisation du comportement permettant l’amélioration de la qualité de réalisation des différents processus de coupe (découpe de viande et usinage). / Industrial robots have evolved fundamentally in recent years to reach the industrial requirements. We now find more suitable anthropomorphic robots leading to the realization of more complex tasks like deformable objects cutting such as meat cutting or constrained to high stresses as machining. The behavior study of anthropomorphic robots, parallel or hybrid one highlights a kinematic and dynamic anisotropy, which impacts the expected accuracy. This thesis studied the integration of the kinematic redundancy that can partially overcome this problem by well setting the task to achieve it in a space compatible with the expected capacity. This work followed a three-step approach: analytical modeling of robotic cells by serial equivalent based on the TCS method, formalizing the constraints of meat cutting process and machining process and a multicriteria optimization.The first originality of this work focuses on the development of a 6 DoFs model to analyze the operator actions who naturally optimizes his arm behavior to ensure the task it performs. The second originality concerns the optimized placement of structural redundancy (9 DoFs robotic cell) where positioning parameters are incorporated as controllable variables (11 DoFs robotic cell). Thus, the thesis makes contributions to : - the definition of criteria adapted to the realization of complex and under high stress task for the management of the kinematic redundancy; - the structural behavior identification, under stress, by metrology tools (Laser tracker ) and the self- adaptation paths by using an industrial force control; - the behavior optimization to improve the cutting process quality (meat cutting and machining).

Les robots industriels ont évolué fondamentalement ces dernières années pour répondre aux exigences industrielles de machines et mécanismes toujours plus performants. Ceci se traduit aujourd’hui par de nouveaux robots anthropomorphes plus adaptés laissant entrevoir la réalisation de tâches plus complexes et soumis à de fortes sollicitations comme durant l’usinage. L’étude du comportement des robots anthropomorphes, à structures parallèles ou hybrides montre une anisotropie aussi bien cinématique, que dynamique, impactant la précision attendue. Ces travaux de thèse étudient l’intégration des redondances cinématiques qui permettent de pallier en partie ce problème en positionnant au mieux la tâche à réaliser dans un espace de travail compatible avec les capacités attendues. Ces travaux ont permis d’améliorer notre outil d’optimisation et de le tester à la fois sur un modèle Eléments Finis du robot et sur le robot réel. Ainsi, ces travaux de thèse apportent des contributions à : - la définition de critères adaptés à la réalisation de tâches complexes et sollicitantes pour la gestion des redondances cinématiques ; - l’identification du comportement des structures sous sollicitations par moyen métrologique (Laser tracker) ; - l’optimisation du comportement permettant l’amélioration de la qualité de réalisation des opérations d’usinage ; - la modélisation Eléments Finis des robots prenant en compte l’identification des rigidités des corps et articulaires. / Industrial robots have evolved fundamentally in recent years to reach the industrial requirements. We now find more suitable anthropomorphic robots leading to the realization of more complex tasks like deformable objects cutting such as meat cutting or constrained to high loading like during machining. The behavior study of anthropomorphic robots, parallel or hybrid one highlights a kinematic and dynamic anisotropy, which impacts the expected accuracy.This thesis studied the integration of the kinematic redundancy that can partially overcome this problem by well setting the task to achieve it in a space compatible with the expected capacity.This work helped us to improve our optimization tool and to try it on both FE model of the robot and real robot.Thus, the thesis makes contributions to: - the definition of criteria adapted to the realization of complex and under high loading task for the management of the kinematic redundancy; - the structural behavior identification, under loading, by metrology tools (Laser tracker) ; - the behavior optimization to improve the cutting process quality during machining ; - robots finite elements modeling using stiffness identification for both bodies and joints.

The subject of this splitted article is the commissioning of a new application that may be part of a processing machine. Considering the example of the intermittent transport of small-sized goods, for example, chocolate bars, ideas for increasing the maximum performance are discussed. Starting from an analysis, disadvantages of a conventional motion approach are discussed, and thus, a new motion approach is presented. For realising this new motion approach, a virtual process model has to be built, which is the subject of this article. Therefore, the real process has to be abstracted, so only the main elements take attention in the modelling process. Following, important model parameters are determined and verified using virtual experiments. This finally leads to the possibility to calculate useful operating speed–dependent trajectories using the process model.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:55:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MarceloBN.pdf: 1368278 bytes, checksum: e9f6ea9d9353cb33144a3fc036bd57dc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2005-12-20 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / This work proposes a method to localize a simple humanoid robot, without embedded sensors, using images taken from an extern camera and image processing techniques. Once the robot is localized relative to the camera, supposing we know the position of the camera relative to the world, we can compute the position of the robot relative to the world. To make the camera move in the work space, we will use another mobile robot with wheels, which has a precise locating system, and will place the camera on it. Once the humanoid is localized in the work space, we can take the necessary actions to move it. Simultaneously, we will move the camera robot, so it will take good images of the humanoid. The mainly contributions of this work are: the idea of using another mobile robot to aid the navigation of a humanoid robot without and advanced embedded electronics; chosing of the intrinsic and extrinsic calibration methods appropriated to the task, especially in the real time part; and the collaborative algorithm of simultaneous navigation of the robots / Este trabalho prop?e um m?todo para localizar um rob? human?ide simples, sem sensores embarcados, utilizando imagens obtidas por uma c?mera externa e t?cnicas de processamento de imagens. Localizando o rob? em rela??o ? c?mera, e supondo conhecida a posi??o da c?mera em rela??o ao mundo, podemos determinar a posi??o do rob? human?ide em rela??o ao mundo. Para que a posi??o da c?mera n?o seja fixa, utilizamos um outro rob? m?vel com rodas, dotado de um sistema de localiza??o preciso, sobre o qual ser? colocada a c?mera. Uma vez que o human?ide seja localizado no ambiente de trabalho, podemos tomar as a??es necess?rias para realizar a sua movimenta??o. Simultaneamente, movimentamos o rob? que cont?m a c?mera, de forma que este tenha uma boa visada do human?ide. As principais contribui??es deste trabalho s?o: a id?ia de utilizar um segundo rob? m?vel para auxiliar a movimenta??o de um rob? human?ide sem eletr?nica embarcada avan?ada; a escolha de m?todos de calibra??o dos par?metros intr?nsecos e extr?nsecos da c?mera apropriados para a aplica??o em quest?o, especialmente na parte em tempo real; e o algoritmo colaborativo de movimenta??o simult?nea dos dois rob?s