Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Developed countries have led the way in the implementation of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), with the main objectives of improving road safety and efficiency. Current ITS solutions are heavily dependent on advanced and expensive technologies, and do not necessarily meet the unique requirements of public transportation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The informal minibus taxi sector dominates public transport in SSA in general, and in South Africa in particular, and is notoriously dangerous – leading to many fatalities annually. This work presents the design and testing of a sensing and reporting system for public transport in SSA. The system contributes to improving the safety and efficiency of minibus taxis in SSA. The system provides three core functions, namely, reckless driving detection, multiple occupancy detection, and wireless reporting to a visualised online platform. The reckless driving detection system implements a novel model that augments inertial vehicle acceleration data with GPS speed information. The model is based on standards used in road design, and takes into account the relationship between a vehicle’s tyres and the road surface. A lateral acceleration threshold, which is speed dependant, and a longitudinal acceleration threshold are suggested to detect reckless driving. Acceleration data is filtered to remove both high-frequency noise and zero-frequency offset, and compared to the thresholds to detect reckless driving events. The occupancy detection system detects multiple occupants in the minibus taxi using low-cost capacitive sensor electrodes, which utilise the electrical field properties of a human body for presence detection. A simplified mathematical model was created to calculate the expected capacitance on the occupancy sensor electrode, and was compared to the measured capacitance in the minibus taxi. The theoretical and empirical results demonstrate that the capacitance of an occupied seat is more than double that of an unoccupied seat. Occupants were clearly detected in various scenarios, such as different occupant sizes, water on seat, various seated positions on the sensor, etc. The wireless reporting inside the vehicle is implemented using a ZigBee network on an Arduino platform. The extra-vehicle wireless reporting uses the existing SSA cellular network, and the online data visualisation is implemented on Trinity Telecoms’ SMART platform. The complete sensing and reporting system is implemented as a prototype, and tested in South African and Ugandan minibus taxis. The results demonstrate that the system achieves the set goals, and could be used to make transport in SSA safer and more efficient. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ontwikkelde lande neem die voortou met die implementering van Intelligente Vervoer Stelsels (IVS) met die hoof doelwit om padveiligheid en vervoerstelsels se effektiwiteit te verbeter. Huidige stelsels wat ontwikkel is vir IVS is baie afhanklik van duur en gevorderde tegnologieë en bevredig dus nie die huidige vereistes binne die openbare vervoer stelsel van Sub-Sahara Afrika (SSA) nie. Die minibus taxi sektor domineer die openbare vervoer stelsel in SSA en meer spesifiek in Suid-Afrika, en daar is jaarliks duisende ongelukke waarvan baie tot sterftes lei. In hierdie werkstuk word daar ’n stelsel voorgestel wat minibus taxi’s in SSA kan monitor. Die doel van die stelsel is om die openbare vervoerstelsel se effektiwiteit en padveiligheid te verbeter. Die stelsel bestaan uit: roekelose bestuur opsporing, veelvoudigepassasier waarneming (monitor van aantal passasiers in voertuig) en network verslagdoening na ’n aanlyn platform. ’n Nuwe model is ontwikkel om roekelose bestuur op te spoor – deur die voertuig se versnelling en spoed te kombineer in berekenings. Die model se berekenings is ook gebasseer op die verwantskap tussen die voertuig se bande en die padoppervlak. Roekelose bestuur word bespeur deur ’n laterale en longitudinale drempel wat spoed afhanklik is. Versnellingsdata word gefilter om hoë-frekwensie geraas en nul-frekwensie afwykings te verwyder. Gefilterde data word dan met die gepaste drempel vergelyk om te bepaal of die bestuurder ’n roekelose beweging uitgevoer het. Die veelvoudige-passasier waarnemingstelsel is getoets in ’n minibus taxi en bestaan uit ’n lae-koste kapasitiewe sensor stelsel. Die stelsel meet ’n passasier se liggaamlike elektriese lading. ’n Wiskundige uitrukking van die kapasitiewe sensor stelsel is bepaal wat ’n teoretiese kapasitansie waarde gee. Dié waarde is met die gemete kapasitansie op die sensor elektrode vergelyk. Die resultate bevestig dat die ontwikkelde stelsels duidelik ’n sittende passasier kan identifiseer. Verskeie toetse is gedoen om te verseker dat die kapasitiewe stelsel gepas is vir die heterogene minibus taxi omgewing. Draadlose verslagdoening word binne die voertuig uitgevoer met behulp van ’n ZigBee netwerk wat geïmplementeer is op ’n Arduino platform. Die buite-voertuig verslagdoening stelsel gebruik bestaande sellulêre kommunikasie netwerke en die inligting word dan op Trinity Telecoms’ SMART platform visueel vertoon. Die volledige ontwikkelde stelsel is as ’n prototipe geïmplementeer en getoets in Suid-Afrikaanse en Ugandese minibus taxi’s. Die resultate toon aan dat die stelsel die doelwitte bereik en dat dit gebruik kan word om die vervoer stelsel in Suid Afrika veiliger en meer doeltreffend te maak.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:51Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-08-30Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:47:24Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 ribeiro_jms_me_ilha.pdf: 1485185 bytes, checksum: 5ab0628a95f1aed7502862f70ee550ce (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Este trabalho apresenta três novas estratégias de controle discreto. O enfoque principal do trabalho foi dado ao Controle Discreto com Modos Deslizantes (CDMD) aplicados em sistemas que possuem atraso no processamento do sinal de controle. As novas estratégias de controle objetivam a elaboração de leis de fácil implementação prática e que ao mesmo tempo sejam robustas a incertezas da planta. Uma característica destas novas abordagens para controle discreto com atraso no tempo é a utilização de um Controle com Modos Deslizantes sem a necessidade de predição do sinal de controle. Os métodos de projeto propostos podem ser aplicados no controle de plantas estáveis ou instáveis com atraso no sinal de controle. Uma das estratégias foi elaborada para realizar controle apenas em sistemas discretos que não possuem atraso no sinal de controle, enquanto que as demais são utilizadas para controle em sistemas com atraso. São apresentadas simulações e resultados de implementações práticas, sobre uma planta estável de Controle Automático da Geração (CAG) e sobre um Sistema Pêndulo Invertido, que caracteriza bem uma planta instável. Os resultados comprovam a eficácia dos novos controladores. / This work presents three new strategies of discrete-time control. The main focus of the work was given to the Sliding Mode Control (SMC) applied in systems that present delay in the processing of the control sign. The new control strategies provide laws of control of easy practical implementation and that at the same time are robust to uncertainties of the plant. A characteristic of these new approaches, for discrete-time control with delay-time, is the use of a Sliding Mode Control without the need of prediction of the control signal. The proposed design methods can be applied in the control of stable or unstable plants, with delay in the control signal. One of the strategies was elaborated to accomplish control just in discrete-time system without delay-time in the control sign, while the others are used for control in systems with delay-time. Simulations and experimental results are shown on a stable plant of Automatic Generation Control (AGC) and on Inverted Pendulum System, that is an unstable plant. The results prove the controllers' effectiveness.

Orientador: José Paulo Fernandes Garcia / Banca: Marcelo Carvalho M. Teixeira / Banca: Edvaldo Assunção / Banca: Fuad Kassab Junior / Banca: Marco Henrique Terra / Resumo: Este trabalho apresenta três novas estratégias de controle discreto. O enfoque principal do trabalho foi dado ao Controle Discreto com Modos Deslizantes (CDMD) aplicados em sistemas que possuem atraso no processamento do sinal de controle. As novas estratégias de controle objetivam a elaboração de leis de fácil implementação prática e que ao mesmo tempo sejam robustas a incertezas da planta. Uma característica destas novas abordagens para controle discreto com atraso no tempo é a utilização de um Controle com Modos Deslizantes sem a necessidade de predição do sinal de controle. Os métodos de projeto propostos podem ser aplicados no controle de plantas estáveis ou instáveis com atraso no sinal de controle. Uma das estratégias foi elaborada para realizar controle apenas em sistemas discretos que não possuem atraso no sinal de controle, enquanto que as demais são utilizadas para controle em sistemas com atraso. São apresentadas simulações e resultados de implementações práticas, sobre uma planta estável de Controle Automático da Geração (CAG) e sobre um Sistema Pêndulo Invertido, que caracteriza bem uma planta instável. Os resultados comprovam a eficácia dos novos controladores. / Abstract: This work presents three new strategies of discrete-time control. The main focus of the work was given to the Sliding Mode Control (SMC) applied in systems that present delay in the processing of the control sign. The new control strategies provide laws of control of easy practical implementation and that at the same time are robust to uncertainties of the plant. A characteristic of these new approaches, for discrete-time control with delay-time, is the use of a Sliding Mode Control without the need of prediction of the control signal. The proposed design methods can be applied in the control of stable or unstable plants, with delay in the control signal. One of the strategies was elaborated to accomplish control just in discrete-time system without delay-time in the control sign, while the others are used for control in systems with delay-time. Simulations and experimental results are shown on a stable plant of Automatic Generation Control (AGC) and on Inverted Pendulum System, that is an unstable plant. The results prove the controllers' effectiveness. / Doutor

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-17T14:53:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pedro Turibe.pdf: 1407215 bytes, checksum: 1301d5c29a7bdde34bd0b2385be26a03 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-10-30 / The conception, design and synthesis of a platform to evaluate the performance of the in real time control algorithms is the main focuses of this Master Thesis. For conception purpose, the platform is classi¯ed in structural and functional parts, the structural one is composed of the hardware that are sensors, actuators, controllers and related devices. The functional part is formed by algorithms to manager the platform resources and real time control strategies. The platform is dedicated to the speed control of a direct current motor and the temperature control of an electric furnace. These plants are used to develop methods for real time control, parameter estimation and controller tuning. The parameter estima- tion of the motor and furnace is performed in the platform, the obtained models are used to design the PID controller optimal gains. / Apresenta-se uma metodologia para o projeto de uma plataforma para avaliar o desempenho de algoritmos de controle em tempo real. O sistema é organizado em partes estrutural e funcional; a estrutural é constituída pelos elementos de hardware que são as plantas, sensores, atuadores e controladores; a parte funcional é constituída pelos algoritmos para o gerenciamento dos recursos da plataforma e para controle de sistemas dinâmicos. A plataforma é dedicada ao controle de velocidade de um motor de corrente continua e controle de temperatura de um forno elétrico, estas plantas são utilizadas para o desenvolvimento de métodos e verificação de aplicações de controle em tempo real, estimação de parâmetros e sintonia de ganhos dos controladores. A plataforma é utilizada para o levantamento dos parâmetros do motor e forno. Os modelos das plantas são utilizados para o projeto de controladores do tipo PID que são sintonizados por métodos de otimização.

A opção por sistemas biológicos prevalece para o tratamento do esgoto sanitário. Nas décadas recentes, sistemas que possuem regiões e/ou zonas anaeróbia, anóxica e aeróbia têm-se mostrado como alternativas atraentes para remoção simultânea de matéria orgânica, nitrogênio e fósforo. No entanto, os aspectos operacionais ainda merecem ser objeto de estudo para alcançar desempenho otimizado. Nesse cenário, com intuito de comparar alternativas para a operação das unidades de tratamento de esgoto, o presente trabalho propôs-se a estudar estratégias operacionais associadas ao monitoramento, em tempo real, sem adição de fonte externa de carbono, para um reator aerado não compartimentado com crescimento suspenso e fluxo contínuo precedido de reator anaeróbio. O sistema experimental, em escala de bancada, era constituído de um reator anaeróbio, com volume útil de 43,54 L, e reator aerado, com volume útil de 68,07 L; sendo que este era formado por sete setores, em série, sem separação física. O estudo foi dividido em duas etapas: I - estudo da variação dos volumes da região aerada e da não aerada; II - estudo da aeração intermitente com ciclo de aeração/agitação pré-fixado e controlado em tempo real por sistema informatizado. Em todas as Etapas do estudo ocorreu elevada remoção de DBO e conversão de NTK para nitrato, contudo não se conseguiu obter desnitrificação em nível desejado. O uso de reatores com setores sequenciais sem divisão física (Etapa I) dificultou a obtenção de regiões distintas predominantemente anóxica e aeróbia, comprometendo a remoção de nitrogênio (principalmente a desnitrificação). A maior eficiência média de remoção de nitrogênio alcançada no reator aerado foi de 35,6% (Etapa II), quando o reator era operado com aeração intermitente sendo o ciclo de aeração/agitação controlado em tempo real. A estratégia de operação com aeração intermitente, estudada na Etapa II, favoreceu a remoção de nitrogênio. A aeração intermitente demonstrou ser uma opção promissora comparada à aeração contínua em setores específicos do reator. O controle automatizado e informatizado em tempo real dos ciclos de aeração/agitação pode ser aplicado no aperfeiçoamento da operação dos sistemas de tratamento de esgoto sanitário. / The option of biological systems prevails for the treatment of sewage waste and in recent decades, systems that have anaerobic, anoxic, aerobic regions and / or zones have proven attractive for simultaneous removal of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus. However, the operational aspects still deserve to be studied in order to achieve the optimized performance of these systems. In this scenario, in order to compare alternatives for the operation of sewage treatment plants, the present work aimed to study operational strategies associated with monitoring, in real time, without the addition of external carbon source, for a non-compartmentalized aerated reactor with growth suspended and continuous flow preceded by anaerobic reactor. The experimental system in bench scale consisted of an anaerobic reactor, with a volume of 43.54 L and an aerated reactor, with a volume of 68.07 L; consisting of seven sectors, in series, without physical separation. The study was divided into two stages: I - study of the variation of the volume of the aerated and non-aerated regions; II - study of intermittent aeration with cycle of aeration/agitation controlled by a pre-fixed time interval; and controlled in real time by a computerized system. In all Stages of the study high BOD removal and conversion of TKN to nitrate occurred, but were unable to obtain denitrification at desired level. The use of reactors with sequential sectors without physical division (Stage I) made it difficult to obtain predominantly distinct anoxic and aerobic regions, compromising the removal of nitrogen (mainly the denitrification). The highest average removal efficiency of nitrogen attained in aerated reactor was 35.6% when the reactor was operated with intermittent aeration with aeration cycle controlled in real time. The operation strategy with intermittent aeration, studied in Stage II, favored the removal of nitrogen. The intermittent aeration proved to be a promising option compared to continuous aeration in specific sectors of the reactor. The automated and computerized control in real-time of the aeration / agitation cycles can be applied in improving the operation of sewage waste treatment systems.

Ce travail porte, de façon théorétique et pratique, sur les sujets plus pertinents autour des drones en navigation autonome et semi-autonome. Conformément à la nature multidisciplinaire des problèmes étudies, une grande diversité des techniques et théories ont été couverts dans les domaines de la robotique, l’automatique, l’informatique, la vision par ordinateur et les systèmes embarques, parmi outres.Dans le cadre de cette thèse, deux plates-formes expérimentales ont été développées afin de valider la théorie proposée pour la navigation autonome d’un drone. Le premier prototype, développé au laboratoire, est un quadrirotor spécialement conçu pour les applications extérieures. La deuxième plate-forme est composée d’un quadrirotor à bas coût du type AR.Drone fabrique par Parrot. Le véhicule est connecté sans fil à une station au sol équipé d’un système d’exploitation pour robots (ROS) et dédié à tester, d’une façon facile, rapide et sécurisé, les algorithmes de vision et les stratégies de commande proposés. Les premiers travaux développés ont été basés sur la fusion de donnés pour estimer la position du drone en utilisant des capteurs inertiels et le GPS. Deux stratégies ont été étudiées et appliquées, le Filtre de Kalman Etendu (EKF) et le filtre à Particules (PF). Les deux approches prennent en compte les mesures bruitées de la position de l’UAV, de sa vitesse et de son orientation. On a réalisé une validation numérique pour tester la performance des algorithmes. Une tâche dans le cahier de cette thèse a été de concevoir d’algorithmes de commande pour le suivi de trajectoires ou bien pour la télé-opération. Pour ce faire, on a proposé une loi de commande basée sur l’approche de Mode Glissants à deuxième ordre. Cette technique de commande permet de suivre au quadrirotor de trajectoires désirées et de réaliser l’évitement des collisions frontales si nécessaire. Etant donné que la plate-forme A.R.Drone est équipée d’un auto-pilote d’attitude, nous avons utilisé les angles désirés de roulis et de tangage comme entrées de commande. L’algorithme de commande proposé donne de la robustesse au système en boucle fermée. De plus, une nouvelle technique de vision monoculaire par ordinateur a été utilisée pour la localisation d’un drone. Les informations visuelles sont fusionnées avec les mesures inertielles du drone pour avoir une bonne estimation de sa position. Cette technique utilise l’algorithme PTAM (localisation parallèle et mapping), qui s’agit d’obtenir un nuage de points caractéristiques dans l’image par rapport à une scène qui servira comme repère. Cet algorithme n’utilise pas de cibles, de marqueurs ou de scènes bien définies. La contribution dans cette méthodologie a été de pouvoir utiliser le nuage de points disperse pour détecter possibles obstacles en face du véhicule. Avec cette information nous avons proposé un algorithme de commande pour réaliser l’évitement d’obstacles. Cette loi de commande utilise les champs de potentiel pour calculer une force de répulsion qui sera appliquée au drone. Des expériences en temps réel ont montré la bonne performance du système proposé. Les résultats antérieurs ont motivé la conception et développement d’un drone capable de réaliser en sécurité l’interaction avec les hommes et les suivre de façon autonome. Un classificateur en cascade du type Haar a été utilisé pour détecter le visage d’une personne. Une fois le visage est détecté, on utilise un filtre de Kalman (KF) pour améliorer la détection et un algorithme pour estimer la position relative du visage. Pour réguler la position du drone et la maintenir à une distance désirée du visage, on a utilisé une loi de commande linéaire. / The present document addresses, theoretically and experimentally, the most relevant topics for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in autonomous and semi-autonomous navigation. According with the multidisciplinary nature of the studied problems, a wide range of techniques and theories are covered in the fields of robotics, automatic control, computer science, computer vision and embedded systems, among others. As part of this thesis, two different experimental platforms were developed in order to explore and evaluate various theories and techniques of interest for autonomous navigation. The first prototype is a quadrotor specially designed for outdoor applications and was fully developed in our lab. The second testbed is composed by a non expensive commercial quadrotor kind AR. Drone, wireless connected to a ground station equipped with the Robot Operating System (ROS), and specially intended to test computer vision algorithms and automatic control strategies in an easy, fast and safe way. In addition, this work provides a study of data fusion techniques looking to enhance the UAVs pose estimation provided by commonly used sensors. Two strategies are evaluated in particular, an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) and a Particle Filter (PF). Both estimators are adapted for the system under consideration, taking into account noisy measurements of the UAV position, velocity and orientation. Simulations show the performance of the developed algorithms while adding noise from real GPS (Global Positioning System) measurements. Safe and accurate navigation for either autonomous trajectory tracking or haptic teleoperation of quadrotors is presented as well. A second order Sliding Mode (2-SM) control algorithm is used to track trajectories while avoiding frontal collisions in autonomous flight. The time-scale separation of the translational and rotational dynamics allows us to design position controllers by giving desired references in the roll and pitch angles, which is suitable for quadrotors equipped with an internal attitude controller. The 2-SM control allows adding robustness to the closed-loop system. A Lyapunov based analysis probes the system stability. Vision algorithms are employed to estimate the pose of the vehicle using only a monocular SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) fused with inertial measurements. Distance to potential obstacles is detected and computed using the sparse depth map from the vision algorithm. For teleoperation tests, a haptic device is employed to feedback information to the pilot about possible collisions, by exerting opposite forces. The proposed strategies are successfully tested in real-time experiments, using a low-cost commercial quadrotor. Also, conception and development of a Micro Aerial Vehicle (MAV) able to safely interact with human users by following them autonomously, is achieved in the present work. Once a face is detected by means of a Haar cascade classifier, it is tracked applying a Kalman Filter (KF), and an estimation of the relative position with respect to the face is obtained at a high rate. A linear Proportional Derivative (PD) controller regulates the UAV’s position in order to keep a constant distance to the face, employing as well the extra available information from the embedded UAV’s sensors. Several experiments were carried out through different conditions, showing good performance even under disadvantageous scenarios like outdoor flight, being robust against illumination changes, wind perturbations, image noise and the presence of several faces on the same image. Finally, this thesis deals with the problem of implementing a safe and fast transportation system using an UAV kind quadrotor with a cable suspended load. The objective consists in transporting the load from one place to another, in a fast way and with minimum swing in the cable.

Le réglage de la tension et la gestion de la puissance réactive est d’une importance capitale pour le bon fonctionnement du système électrique. Les réseaux de distribution connaissent des modifications profondes qui sont tant techniques avec l’insertion de la production décentralisée ou l’enfouissement des lignes aériennes, que réglementaires avec l’entrée en vigueur des codes de réseaux Européens. Aussi, des alternatives aux réglages traditionnels de tension et la mise en place de contrôle des échanges de puissance réactive à l’interface réseau de transport/distribution peuvent être développées. Dans le cadre de ces travaux de doctorat, une solution basée sur l’amélioration du réglage temps réel des réseaux de distribution ainsi que la mise en place d’une gestion conjointe de la puissance réactive entre les gestionnaires du réseau de transport et distribution a été proposée. Ce réglage temps réel est basé sur une méthode de commande prédictive, et s’appuie notamment sur le régleur en charge ou les productions décentralisées pour réaliser un réglage de la tension au sein d’un réseau de distribution et contrôler les échanges de puissance réactive. Les références de puissance réactive à atteindre à l’interface entre réseau de distribution et de transport sont déterminées par le gestionnaire du réseau de transport pour ses propres besoins et en connaissance des réserves de puissance réactive disponible depuis les réseaux de distribution. Par rapport à la littérature, notre démarche a pour originalité de prendre en compte les problèmes à l’interface des réseaux de distribution et de transport et démontre l’intérêt de mener des études conjointes entre gestionnaires / Voltage and reactive power control are of paramount importance to ensure safe and reliable operation of the power system. Distribution grids are undergoing major changes, namely the insertion of distributed generation and the replacement of overhead lines. Along with these physical evolutions, new distribution networks should comply with the requirements of the European Grid Codes on the reactive power exchange at the HV/MV interface. To handle these new operational concerns, alternative solutions to the traditional voltage and reactive power control can be found. In our work, a scheme based on the evolution of the real-time Volt Var Control (VVC) of distribution networks and a joint coordination for the reactive power management of a HV system has been proposed. The real-time VVC of MV grids is based on a predictive control method. This control uses in a coordinated manner the on load tap changer, the distributed generation and the capacitor banks to enforce a suitable MV voltage profile and an appropriate HV/MV reactive power exchange. The reactive power targets at the HV/MV interface are determined by the Transmission System Operator for its own requirements but considering the true MV reactive power reserve. Compared to the literature, the novelty of our approach consists in considering the concerns at the HV/MV system interface. Next our works have shown the relevance of performing joint transmission and distribution system operators analysis.

Cette thèse présente un travail complet sur la modélisation, l'identification et la commande des robots parallèles à câbles dans le but d'améliorer les performances dynamiques en termes de rapidité, de précision et de robustesse obtenues, tout en gérant les problèmes liés à l'utilisation de câbles. Dans le cadre de ces recherches, les techniques d'identification et de commande sont améliorées grâce à l'utilisation de mesures extéroceptives, notamment en utilisant la vision. Des méthodes issues des domaines de la robotique et de l'automatique sont mises en oeuvre et comparées. Les validations expérimentales sont effectuées sur un démonstrateur disponible au laboratoire : un robot INCA 6D conçu par la société Haption, équipé d'un système de capture de mouvement Bonita développé par la société Vicon. / This thesis presents a complete work on modelling, identification and control of cable-driven parallel robots in order to improve the dynamic performances in terms of speed, precision and robustness, while managing the problems related to the use of cables. In the context of these researches, the identification and control techniques are improved thanks to the use of exteroceptive sensors, in particular using vision. Methods from the fields of robotics and control are implemented and compared. The experimental validations are performed on a demonstrator available in the laboratory : an INCA 6D robot designed by Haption company, equipped with a Bonita motion capture system developed by Vicon company.

Real-Time Rollover prevention of Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) is very paramount to its reliability and survivability mostly when operating on unknown and rough terrains like mines or other planets.Therefore this research presents the method of real-time rollover prevention of UGVs making use of Adaptive control techniques based on Recursive least Squares (RLS) estimation of unknown parameters, in order to enable the UGVs to adapt to unknown hush terrains thereby increasing their reliability and survivability. The adaptation is achieved by using indirect adaptive control technique where the controller parameters are computed in real time based on the online estimation of the plant’s (UGV) parameters (Rollover index and Roll Angle) and desired UGV’s performance in order to appropriately adjust the UGV speed and suspension actuators to counter-act the vehicle rollover. A great challenge of indirect adaptive control system is online parameter identification, where in this case the RLS based estimator is used to estimate the vehicles rollover index and Roll Angle from lateral acceleration measurements and height of the centre of gravity of the UGV. RLS is suitable for online parameter identification due to its nature of updating parameter estimate at each sample time. The performance of the adaptive control algorithms and techniques is evaluated using Matlab Simulink® system model with the UGV Model built using SimMechanics physical modelling platform and the whole system runs within Simulink environment to emulate real world application. The simulation results of the proposed adaptive control algorithm based on RLS estimation, show that the adaptive control algorithm does prevent or minimize the likely hood of vehicle rollover in real time. / Electrical and Mining Engineering / M. Tech. (Electrical Engineering)

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / This thesis presents the development, experimentation and validation of a reliable and robust system to monitor the injector pulse generated by an Engine Control Module (ECM) and send the corresponding fueling quantity to the real-time computer in a closed loop Hardware In the Loop (HIL) bench. The system can be easily calibrated for different engine platforms as well. The fueling quantity that is being injected by the injectors is a crucial variable to run closed loop HIL simulation to carry out the performance testing of engine, aftertreatment and other components of the vehicle. This research utilized Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) and Direct Memory Access (DMA) transfer capability offered by National Instruments (NI) Compact Reconfigurable Input-Output (cRIO) to achieve high speed data acquisition and delivery. The research was conducted in three stages. The first stage was to develop the HIL bench for the research. The second stage was to determine the performance of the system with different threshold methods and different sampling speeds necessary to satisfy the required accuracy of the fueling quantity being monitored. The third stage was to study the error and its variability involved in the injected fueling quantity from pulse to pulse, from injector to injector, between real injector stators and cheaper inductor load cells emulating the injectors, over different operating conditions with full factorial design of experimentation and mixed model Analysis Of Variance (ANOVA). Different thresholds were experimented to find out the best thresholds, the Start of Injection (SOI) threshold and the End of Injection (EOI) threshold that captured the injector “ontime” with best reliability and accuracy. Experimentation has been carried out at various data acquisition rates to find out the optimum speed of data sampling rate, trading off the accuracy of fueling quantity. The experimentation found out the expected error with a system with cheaper solution as well, so that, if a test application is not sensitive to error in fueling quantity, a cheaper solution with lower sampling rate and inductors as load cells can be used. The statistical analysis was carried out at highest available sampling rate on both injectors and inductors with the best threshold method found in previous studies. The result clearly shows the factors that affect the error and the variability in the standard deviations in error; it also shows the relation with the fixed and random factors. The real-time application developed for the HIL bench is capable of monitoring the injector waveform, using any fueling ontime table corresponding to the platform being tested, and delivering the fueling quantity in real-time. The test bench made for this research is also capable of studying injectors of different types with the automated test sequence, without occupying the resource of fully capable closed loop test benches for testing the ECM unctionality.