In this thesis a class of robust non-linear controllers for a gantry crane system are discussed. The gantry crane has three degrees of freedom, all of which are interrelated. These are the horizontal traverse of the cart, the vertical motion of the goods (i.e. rope length) and the swing angle made by the goods during the movement of the cart. The objective is to control all three degrees of freedom. This means achieving setpoint control for the cart and the rope length and cancellation of the swing oscillations. A mathematical model of the gantry crane system is developed using Lagrangian dynamics. In this thesis it is shown that a model of the gantry crane system can be represented as two sub models which are coupled by a term which includes the rope length as a parameter. The first system will consist of the cart and swing dynamics and the other system is the hoist dynamics. The mathematical model of these two systems will be derived independent of the other system. The model that is comprised of the two sub models is verified as an accurate model of a gantry crane system and it will be used to simulate the performance of the controllers using Matlab. For completeness a fully coupled mathematical model of the gantry crane system is also developed. A detailed design of a gain scheduled sliding mode controller is presented. This will guarantee the controller's robustness in the presence of uncertainties and bounded matched disturbances. This controller is developed to achieve cart setpoint and swing control while achieving rope length setpoint control. A non gain scheduled sliding mode controller is also developed to determine if the more complex gain scheduled sliding mode controller gives any significant improvement in performance. In the implementation of both sliding mode controllers, all system states must be available. In the real-time gantry crane system used in this thesis, the cart velocity and the swing angle velocity are not directly available from the system. They will be estimated using an alpha-beta state estimator. To overcome this limitation and provide a more practical solution an optimal output feedback model following controller is designed. It is demonstrated that by expressing the system and the model for which the system is to follow in a non-minimal state space representation, LQR techniques can be used to design the controller. This produces a dynamic controller that has a proper transfer function, and negates the need for the availability of all system states. This thesis presents an alternative method of solving the LQR problem by using a generic eigenvalue solution to solve the Riccati equation and thus determine the optimal feedback gains. In this thesis it is shown that by using a combination of sliding mode and H??? control techniques, a non-linear controller is achieved which is robust in the presence of a wide variety of uncertainties and disturbances. A supervisory controller is also described in this thesis. The supervisory control is made up of a feedforward and a feedback component. It is shown that the feedforward component is the crane operator's action, and the feedback component is a sliding mode controller which compensates as the system's output deviates from the desired trajectory because of the operator's inappropriate actions or external disturbances such as wind gusts and noise. All controllers are simulated using Matlab and implemented in real-time on a scale model of the gantry crane system using the program RTShell. The real-time results are compared against simulated results to determine the controller's performance in a real-time environment.

O problema de transferir uma carga ao se movimentar num plano em tempo mínimo e sem oscilação no ponto de descarga, num guindaste portuário tipo pórtico é investigado neste trabalho. Assume-se que a carga esteja inicialmente em repouso na posição vertical no ponto de carga acima do navio e igualmente em repouso no ponto de descarga na moega de alimentação no porto. Assume-se também que o carro do guindaste esteja em repouso em ambos os pontos. Um modelo completo é apresentado para o sistema do guindaste onde as equações dinâmicas não-lineares são linearizadas para ângulos de oscilação pequenos o suficiente e reescritas para a forma adimensional. A solução de tempo mínimo é buscada considerando como variáveis de controle as funções do tempo que descrevem tanto a força aplicada no carro para produzir seu deslocamento horizontal, como a velocidade de içamento da carga. Um método iterativo preditor-corretor usando a Programação Linear (PL) é proposto, baseado no modelo do sistema de tempo discreto onde as variáveis de controle são tomadas constantes por trechos. Na etapa corretora, assume-se que o movimento de içamento é dado e uma solução de tempo mínimo é obtida resolvendo-se uma seqüência de problemas de PL de tempo fixo e máximo deslocamento. Na etapa preditora, um modelo linearizado é empregado para obter-se uma correção ótima do movimento de içamento usando a PL. O problema de controle de tempo mínimo é formulado levando-se em consideração restrições práticas na velocidade do carro do guindaste, velocidade máxima de içamento, assim como na máxima força que pode ser aplicada ao carro. Resultados numéricos são apresentados e mostram a efetividade do método. / The problem of minimum-time anti-swing transfer of a load in a ship-to-pier gantry crane is investigated in this work. The load is assumed to be initially at rest at the vertical position at the loading point above the ship and equally at rest at the unloading point above the hopper. The trolley is also assumed to be at rest at both points. A complete model is presented for the crane system where the nonlinear dynamic equations are linearized for sufficiently small swing angles and then rewritten in dimensionless form. The minimum-time solution is sought by considering as control variables both the force applied on the trolley that produces its horizontal motion and the hoisting speed of the load as functions of time. A predictor-corrector iterative method using Linear Programming (LP) is proposed based on a discretetime model of the system where the control variables are taken as stepwise constants. At the corrector step, the hoisting motion is assumed given and a minimum-time solution is obtained by solving a sequence of LP problems representing fixed-time maximum-range problems. At the predictor step, a linearized model is employed to obtain an optimal correction of the hoisting motion using LP. The minimum-time control problem is formulated by taking into account practical constraints on the maximum speeds of both the trolley and the load hoisting, as well as on the maximum force that can be applied to the trolley. Numerical results are presented and show the effectiveness of the method.

Bridge and gantry cranes are crucially important elements in the industrial complex; they are used in many areas such as shipping, building construction, steel mills, and nuclear facilities, just to name a few. These types of systems tend to be highly flexible in nature, generally responding to commanded motion with oscillations of the payload and hook. The response of these systems to external disturbances, such as wind, is also oscillatory in nature. Often, the oscillations of the hook and payload have undesirable consequences. For instance, precise manipulation of payloads is difficult when cable sway is present. Oscillation of the hook can also present a safety hazard. For these reasons, the ability to successfully negate these detrimental dynamics can result in improved positioning, quicker settling time, and improved safety. This thesis addresses the dynamic properties of bridge and gantry cranes in an effort to develop a control scheme that enables strides to be made in these areas of positioning, efficiency, and safety. The fundamental advancement arising from this thesis is the development of a control scheme that enables precise positioning of the payload while motion and disturbance-induced oscillations are eliminated. A command generation technique uniquely suited for reducing oscillation in low-frequency flexible systems is examined and utilized in the control. The control scheme is implemented on a 10-ton bridge crane for validation purposes.

The rapid movement of machines is a challenging control problem because it often results in high levels of vibration. As a result, flexible machines are typically moved relatively slowly to avoid such vibration. Therefore, motion-induced vibration limits the operational speed of the system. Input shaping is one method that eliminates motion-induced vibrations by intelligently designing the reference command such that system vibration is cancelled. It has been successfully implemented on a number of systems, including bridge and tower cranes. The implementation of input shaping on cranes provides a substantial increase in the operational efficiency. Unfortunately, most cranes, once erected, have limited or no base mobility. This limits their workspace. The addition of base mobility could help extend the operational effectiveness of cranes and may also expand crane functionality. Mobile cranes may also be better suited for use in harsh and/or distant environments. Teleoperation of oscillatory systems, such as cranes, then becomes another avenue for advancement of crane functionality. Base mobility in cranes presents both additional control challenges and operational opportunities. A crane with base mobility is redundantly actuated (overactuated), such that multiple combinations of actuators can be used to move a payload from one location to another. This opens the possibility for the selection of a combination of actuation that provides both rapid motion and limited system vibration. The extension of input shaping into this operational domain will provide a method to maximize effective actuation combinations. Toward addressing these issues, new multi-input shaping methods were developed and applied to a mobile, portable tower crane. During this development, a firm understanding of robust input shaping techniques and the compromises inherent to input shaper design was formed. In addition, input shaping was compared to other command generation techniques, namely lowpass and notch filtering, and proven to be superior for vibration reduction in mechanical systems. Another, new class of input shapers was also introduced that limit the input shaper induced overshoot in human operated systems. Finally, a series of crane operator studies investigated the application of input shaping techniques to teleoperated cranes. These studies suggested that input shaping is able to dramatically improve remote crane operator performance.

O problema de transferir uma carga ao se movimentar num plano em tempo mínimo e sem oscilação no ponto de descarga, num guindaste portuário tipo pórtico é investigado neste trabalho. Assume-se que a carga esteja inicialmente em repouso na posição vertical no ponto de carga acima do navio e igualmente em repouso no ponto de descarga na moega de alimentação no porto. Assume-se também que o carro do guindaste esteja em repouso em ambos os pontos. Um modelo completo é apresentado para o sistema do guindaste onde as equações dinâmicas não-lineares são linearizadas para ângulos de oscilação pequenos o suficiente e reescritas para a forma adimensional. A solução de tempo mínimo é buscada considerando como variáveis de controle as funções do tempo que descrevem tanto a força aplicada no carro para produzir seu deslocamento horizontal, como a velocidade de içamento da carga. Um método iterativo preditor-corretor usando a Programação Linear (PL) é proposto, baseado no modelo do sistema de tempo discreto onde as variáveis de controle são tomadas constantes por trechos. Na etapa corretora, assume-se que o movimento de içamento é dado e uma solução de tempo mínimo é obtida resolvendo-se uma seqüência de problemas de PL de tempo fixo e máximo deslocamento. Na etapa preditora, um modelo linearizado é empregado para obter-se uma correção ótima do movimento de içamento usando a PL. O problema de controle de tempo mínimo é formulado levando-se em consideração restrições práticas na velocidade do carro do guindaste, velocidade máxima de içamento, assim como na máxima força que pode ser aplicada ao carro. Resultados numéricos são apresentados e mostram a efetividade do método. / The problem of minimum-time anti-swing transfer of a load in a ship-to-pier gantry crane is investigated in this work. The load is assumed to be initially at rest at the vertical position at the loading point above the ship and equally at rest at the unloading point above the hopper. The trolley is also assumed to be at rest at both points. A complete model is presented for the crane system where the nonlinear dynamic equations are linearized for sufficiently small swing angles and then rewritten in dimensionless form. The minimum-time solution is sought by considering as control variables both the force applied on the trolley that produces its horizontal motion and the hoisting speed of the load as functions of time. A predictor-corrector iterative method using Linear Programming (LP) is proposed based on a discretetime model of the system where the control variables are taken as stepwise constants. At the corrector step, the hoisting motion is assumed given and a minimum-time solution is obtained by solving a sequence of LP problems representing fixed-time maximum-range problems. At the predictor step, a linearized model is employed to obtain an optimal correction of the hoisting motion using LP. The minimum-time control problem is formulated by taking into account practical constraints on the maximum speeds of both the trolley and the load hoisting, as well as on the maximum force that can be applied to the trolley. Numerical results are presented and show the effectiveness of the method.

Due to increased demands on fuel economy the question of a more intelligent engine control for driving a truck-mounted crane has been raised. The aim of this thesis is to develop a new engine control for crane driving. The primary concern for the new engine control is fuel economy, but other factors, such as driver environment and drivability, have been taken into consideration as well. A literature study investigating engine control in construction machines has also been carried out and the results are presented in this report. Due to the fact that the hydraulic control system as well as the diesel engine control system is designed by the same construction machine manufacturer, more complex control strategies are utilized in these applications. In order to test the new control strategy a full-scale test has been carried out on a Scania truck with a crane from Hiab. The results point towards lower fuel consumption, better driver experience and lower noise levels. Some of the control features of the new control are suggested to be placed in the crane, and some in the truck. Only a small expansion of the communication between truck and crane would be necessary in order for the new control strategy to work. The experiences from the literature study point on several features utilized in construction machines that could be implemented in the crane control of the future. / På grund av ökade krav på minskad bränsleförbrukning har frågan om en förbättrad motorstyrning vid krankörning av lastbilsmonterade kranar blivit aktuell. Målet för detta examensarbete är att utveckla en ny motorstyrning anpassad för krankörning. I första hand syftar den nya motorstyrningen till att minska bränsleförbrukningen, men även andra faktorer såsom förarmiljö och körbarhet har tagits hänsyn till. En litteraturstudie om motorstyrning i hydrauliska grävmaskiner och andra hydrauliska maskiner har också utförts och resultatet finns presenterat i denna rapport. Eftersom det hydrauliska styrsystemet såväl som dieselmotorstyrsystemet är sammansatt hos en och samma tillverkare används mer komplicerade styralgoritmer i dessa tillämpningar. För att testa den nyutvecklade motorstyrningen har fullskaletest utförts på en Scanialastbil utrustad med en kran från Hiab. Resultaten pekar på lägre bränsleförbrukning, bättre förarupplevelse och lägre ljudnivå. Somliga av funktionerna i den nya styrningen föreslås placeras i lastbilen och andra i kranen. Bara en mycket liten utvidgning av kommunikationen mellan kran och lastbil skulle behövas för att denna styralgoritm skulle fungera. Lärdomarna ifrån litteraturstudien visar på att flera av de styrfunktioner som används ibland annat grävskopor skulle kunna komma till nytta i motor- och kran styrningen i en lastbilsmonterad kran i framtiden.

The aim of the diploma thesis is to prepare the construction called the District Police Department of the Czech Republic in Brno, Bohunice. The diploma thesis contains a technical report on the construction technology project, which deals with architectural and construction design solutions, coordination situation and transport routes, where critical points are assessed time and financial plan of construction, where all construction objects are described with their time and financial schedule, a study of the implementation of the main construction stages, which addresses the various stages of construction. The diploma thesis contains a technical report, item budget, plan for the establishment and liquidation of buildings and drawings of construction site equipment for each stage, design of the main construction machinery for the construction. A detailed time plan of the main building, a plan of its supply of materials for the rough construction was prepared for the given construction. Furthermore, the work contains a technological regulation for a reinforced concrete monolithic staircase, which is related to the control and test plan for a reinforced concrete monolithic staircase. The next assignment deals with the item budget of the main building for the rough construction, the drawing of the formwork for the reinforced concrete monolithic staircase and the economic assessment and evaluation of construction cranes.