O adequado deslocamento autônomo de robôs móveis entre fileiras de cultura agrícola implica a apropriada configuração estrutural do veículo, bem como considerar a detecção das filas de plantas ou árvores, e também o desenvolvimento de um sistema de controle de locomoção. Esta tese apresenta o desenvolvimento de um sistema de controle em malha fechada baseado na técnica de otimização H∞, que é aplicado no deslocamento entre fileiras de plantio de um robô móvel agrícola em escala reduzida. Mais especificamente, o foco deste trabalho é o seguimento de caminhos na cultura através da aplicação de técnicas de controle robusto. Duas questões foram fundamentais na elaboração da tese: 1) \"Quais são os métodos e procedimentos necessários para implementar a navegação autônoma de um protótipo de robô móvel entre fileiras de cultura agrícola?\" e, 2) \"É possível aplicar os conceitos relativos a sistemas de controle em malha fechada para solucionar o problema da navegação autônoma do robôs móveis entre fileiras de cultura agrícola?\". Primeiramente é apresentada uma revisão bibliográfica sobre robôs móveis agrícolas que tem locomoção baseada em rodas. Posteriormente, os conceitos relacionados com o projeto de controle baseado na técnica de otimização H∞ são fundamentados. Em seguida, são descritos os detalhes relacionados com a construção da plataforma robótica proposta, o projeto do controlador de caminho, as respectivas simulações e as especificações para a realização de testes em ambiente agrícola. Finalmente os resultados alcançados são apresentados. Conclui-se que o sistema de controle proposto se mostrou efetivo na realização da navegação autônoma do robô entre as fileiras da cultura previamente configuradas para a avaliação do seu desempenho. / Appropriate autonomous navigation of mobile robots between crop rows implies, besides appropriate structural configuration, considering detection of plants or trees in rows, as well as the development of a locomotion control system. Consequently, this thesis presents the development of a closed loop control system based on H∞ optimization technique, which is applied to control the navigation of a low scale car-like mobile robot between crop rows; more specifically, main focus of this work is tracking paths in the culture, by the application of robust control techniques. Two questions were fundamental in the development of the thesis: 1) which are the methods and procedures to implement the autonomous navigation of a mobile robot prototype between crop rows? And 2) is it possible to apply the concepts of closed-loop control systems to solve the problem of autonomous navigation of mobile robots between crop rows? Firstly, we provide a literature review on agricultural mobile robots whose mobility depends on wheels. Secondly, control systems design fundamentals based on the H∞ optimization technique are addressed. Thirdly, details related to the construction of the proposed robotic platform and also the design of the proposed path controller (including its simulation and specifications for testing within an agricultural environment) are described. Finally, results of our findings are presented. It is concluded that our control system showed to be effective in the realization of autonomous navigation between crop rows in agricultural environment, which was properly configured in order to evaluate the performance of our robot.

O adequado deslocamento autônomo de robôs móveis entre fileiras de cultura agrícola implica a apropriada configuração estrutural do veículo, bem como considerar a detecção das filas de plantas ou árvores, e também o desenvolvimento de um sistema de controle de locomoção. Esta tese apresenta o desenvolvimento de um sistema de controle em malha fechada baseado na técnica de otimização H∞, que é aplicado no deslocamento entre fileiras de plantio de um robô móvel agrícola em escala reduzida. Mais especificamente, o foco deste trabalho é o seguimento de caminhos na cultura através da aplicação de técnicas de controle robusto. Duas questões foram fundamentais na elaboração da tese: 1) \"Quais são os métodos e procedimentos necessários para implementar a navegação autônoma de um protótipo de robô móvel entre fileiras de cultura agrícola?\" e, 2) \"É possível aplicar os conceitos relativos a sistemas de controle em malha fechada para solucionar o problema da navegação autônoma do robôs móveis entre fileiras de cultura agrícola?\". Primeiramente é apresentada uma revisão bibliográfica sobre robôs móveis agrícolas que tem locomoção baseada em rodas. Posteriormente, os conceitos relacionados com o projeto de controle baseado na técnica de otimização H∞ são fundamentados. Em seguida, são descritos os detalhes relacionados com a construção da plataforma robótica proposta, o projeto do controlador de caminho, as respectivas simulações e as especificações para a realização de testes em ambiente agrícola. Finalmente os resultados alcançados são apresentados. Conclui-se que o sistema de controle proposto se mostrou efetivo na realização da navegação autônoma do robô entre as fileiras da cultura previamente configuradas para a avaliação do seu desempenho. / Appropriate autonomous navigation of mobile robots between crop rows implies, besides appropriate structural configuration, considering detection of plants or trees in rows, as well as the development of a locomotion control system. Consequently, this thesis presents the development of a closed loop control system based on H∞ optimization technique, which is applied to control the navigation of a low scale car-like mobile robot between crop rows; more specifically, main focus of this work is tracking paths in the culture, by the application of robust control techniques. Two questions were fundamental in the development of the thesis: 1) which are the methods and procedures to implement the autonomous navigation of a mobile robot prototype between crop rows? And 2) is it possible to apply the concepts of closed-loop control systems to solve the problem of autonomous navigation of mobile robots between crop rows? Firstly, we provide a literature review on agricultural mobile robots whose mobility depends on wheels. Secondly, control systems design fundamentals based on the H∞ optimization technique are addressed. Thirdly, details related to the construction of the proposed robotic platform and also the design of the proposed path controller (including its simulation and specifications for testing within an agricultural environment) are described. Finally, results of our findings are presented. It is concluded that our control system showed to be effective in the realization of autonomous navigation between crop rows in agricultural environment, which was properly configured in order to evaluate the performance of our robot.

In the field of mobile robotics, many applications require feedback control laws that provide perfect path following. Previous work has shown that transverse feedback linearization is an effective approach to designing path following controllers that achieve perfect path following and path invariance. This thesis uses transverse feedback linearization and augments it with dynamic extension to present a framework for designing path following controllers for certain kinematic models of mobile robots. This approach can be used to design path following controllers for a large class of paths. While transverse feedback linearization makes the desired path attractive and invariant, dynamic extension allows the closed-loop system to achieve the desired motion along the path. In particular, dynamic extension can be used to make the mobile robot track a desired velocity or acceleration profile while moving along a path.

In the field of mobile robotics, many applications require feedback control laws that provide perfect path following. Previous work has shown that transverse feedback linearization is an effective approach to designing path following controllers that achieve perfect path following and path invariance. This thesis uses transverse feedback linearization and augments it with dynamic extension to present a framework for designing path following controllers for certain kinematic models of mobile robots. This approach can be used to design path following controllers for a large class of paths. While transverse feedback linearization makes the desired path attractive and invariant, dynamic extension allows the closed-loop system to achieve the desired motion along the path. In particular, dynamic extension can be used to make the mobile robot track a desired velocity or acceleration profile while moving along a path.

La génération de chemins lisses pour les voitures intelligentes est l’une des conditions les plus importantes pour faire accepter et faciliter la navigation autonome de ces véhicules. Cette thèse propose plusieurs méthodes de génération de chemins lisses pour les véhicules non-holonomes qui permet une continuité intrinsèque de la courbure de navigation et offre par ailleurs une flexibilité accrue pour diverses conditions aux limites. Le chemin de courbure continue est construit en composant plusieurs clothoids, comprenant notamment des segments de lignes et/ou d’arcs, et où chaque clothoid est obtenue par une régulation appropriée de ses paramètres. À partir de ces propriétés, le chemin obtenu est nommé pCCP (parametric Continuous Curvature Path). Le pCCP fournit un diagramme de courbure qui facilite une commande en orientation du véhicule, ce qui permet d'obtenir une évolution lisse de sa trajectoire. Le problème du pCCP local est défini par des configurations initiales et finales (caractérisées pour chacune par une posture et un angle de braquage). Le problème a été étendu pour être aussi général que possible en incluant plusieurs cas. La génération locale de pCCPs, pour des cibles statiques, est spécifiquement décrite, les problèmes ont été divisés en trois problèmes et chaque problème a été décomposé par la suite en plusieurs sous-classes possibles. Pour avoir une flexibilité importante des pCCPs proposés, des cibles dynamiques ont été considérées, obtenant ainsi le dynamic-pCCP (d-pCCP). Un cadre simple mais efficace pour analyser l'état futur de l'évitement des obstacles est appliqué en configuration 4D (3D avec l’ajout d’un axe temporel) en mettant en exergue deux manoeuvres d’évitement possibles, car les évolutions avant et arrière sont appliquées et validées avec plusieurs exemples. Selon une méthodologie similaire pour atteindre les critères de performance liés à la génération des pCCPs, le h-CCP (pour human-pCCP) est proposé en utilisant des modèles expérimentaux comportementaux d’échantillons de conducteurs humains. À partir de quelques sous-expériences, le modèle de conduite humain pour l’évitement d’obstacles, les changements de voie et les mouvements en virage sont extraits et ces modèles ont été inclus pour créer ainsi le h-CCP (obtenu d’une manière similaire au pCCP mais avec différents critères d’optimisation) qui permet d’améliorer considérablement le confort des passagers. / Smooth path generation for car-like vehicles is one of the most important requisite to facilitate the broadcast use of autonomous navigation. This thesis proposes a smooth path generation method for nonholonomic vehicles which has inherently continuity of curvature and having important flexibility for various boundary conditions. The continuous curvature path is constructed by composing multiple clothoids including lines and/or arc segments, and where each clothoid is obtained by parameter regulation. From those properties the path is named pCCP (parametric Continuous Curvature Path) and provides curvature diagram which facilitates a smooth steering control for path following problem. Local pCCP problem is defined by initial and final tuple configurations (vehicles posture and steering angle). The problem is expanded to be as general as possible by including several cases. The local pCCP generation for steady target pose is specifically described, where the problem is divided into three problems and each problem is also decomposed into several sub-cases. To give more flexibility to the proposed pCCP, dynamic target is considered to obtain dynamic-pCCP (d-CCP). A simple but efficient framework to analyze the future status of obstacle avoidance is applied in 4D (3D with the addition of time axis) configuration and two avoidance maneuvers as front and rear avoidance are applied and validated with several examples. Under the similar methodology in performance criteria of pCCP generation, the human-CCP (h-CCP) is derived from experimental patterns of human driver samples. From several subexperiments, human driving pattern for obstacle avoidance, lane change and cornering motion are extracted and those pattern were included to make the h-CCP (which is obtained with similar way as pCCP but with different optimization criteria) to enhance considerably the passenger comfort.

La navigation autonome des voitures robotisées est un domaine largement étudié avec plusieurs techniques et applications dans une démarche coopérative. Elle intègre du contrôle de bas niveau jusqu’à la navigation globale, en passant par la perception de l’environnement, localisation du robot, et autres aspects dans une approche référencée capteurs. Bien qu’il existe des travaux très avancés, ils présentent encore des problèmes et limitations liés aux capteurs utilisés et à l’environnement où la voiture est insérée.Ce travail aborde le problème de navigation des voitures robotisées en utilisant des capteurs à faible coût dans des milieux urbains. Dans cette thèse, nous avons traité le problème concernant le développement d’un système global de navigation autonome référencée capteur appliqué à un véhicule électrique intelligent, équipé avec des caméras et d’autres capteurs. La problématique traitée se décline en trois grands domaines de la navigation robotique : la perception de l’environnement, le contrôle de la navigation locale et la gestion de la navigation globale. Dans la perception de l’environnement, une approche de traitement d’image 2D et 3D a été proposé pour la segmentation de la route et des obstacles. Cette méthode est appliquée pour extraire aussi des caractéristiques visuelles, associées au milieu de la route, pour le contrôle de la navigation locale du véhicule. Avec les données perçues, une nouvelle méthode hybride de navigation référencée capteur et d’évitement d’obstacle a été appliquée pour le suivi de la route. Cette méthode est caractérisée par la validation d’une stratégie d’asservissement visuel (contrôleur délibératif) dans une nouvelle formulation de la méthode “fenêtre dynamique référencée image" (Dynamic Window Approach - DWA, en anglais) (contrôleur réactif). Pour assurer la navigation globale de la voiture, nous proposons l’association des données de cartes numériques afin de gérer la navigation locale dans les points critiques du chemin, comme les intersections de routes. Des essais dans les scénarios difficiles, avec une voiture expérimentale, et aussi en environnement simulé, montrent la viabilité de la méthode proposée. / Autonomous navigation of car-like robots is a large domain with several techniques and applications working in cooperation. It ranges from low-level control to global navigation, passing by environment perception, robot localization, and many others in asensor-based approach. Although there are very advanced works, they still presenting problems and limitations related to the environment where the car is inserted and the sensors used. This work addresses the navigation problem of car-like robots based on low cost sensors in urban environments. For this purpose, an intelligent electric vehicle was equipped with vision cameras and other sensors to be applied in three big areas of robot navigation : the Environment Perception, Local Navigation Control, and Global Navigation Management. In the environment perception, a 2D and 3D image processing approach was proposed to segment the road area and detect the obstacles. This segmentation approach also provides some image features to local navigation control.Based on the previous detected information, a hybrid control approach for vision based navigation with obstacle avoidance was applied to road lane following. It is composed by the validation of a Visual Servoing methodology (deliberative controller) in a new Image-based Dynamic Window Approach (reactive controller). To assure the car’s global navigation, we proposed the association of the data from digital maps in order tomanage the local navigation at critical points, like road intersections. Experiments in a challenging scenario with both simulated and real experimental car show the viabilityof the proposed methodology.