Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Geometric nonlinear control'

Dans la première partie de cette thèse, nous étudions les équations différentielles algébriques (en abrégé EDA) linéaires et les systèmes de contrôles linéaires associés (en abrégé SCEDA). Les problèmes traités et les résultats obtenus sont résumés comme suit : 1. Relations géométriques entre les EDA linéaires et les systèmes de contrôles génériques SCEDO. Nous introduisons une méthode, appelée explicitation, pour associer un SCEDO à n'importe quel EDA linéaire. L'explicitation d'une EDA est une classe des SCEDO, précisément un SCEDO défini, à un changement de coordonnées près, une transformation de bouclage près et une injection de sortie près. Puis nous comparons les « suites de Wong » d'une EDA avec les espaces invariants de son explicitation. Nous prouvons que la forme canonique de Kronecker FCK d'une EDA linéaire et la forme canonique de Morse FCM d'un SCEDO, ont une correspondance une à une et que leurs invariants sont liés. De plus, nous définissons l'équivalence interne de deux EDA et montrons sa particularité par rapport à l'équivalence externe en examinant les relations avec la régularité interne, i.e., l'existence et l'unicité de solutions. 2. Transformation d'un SCEDA linéaire vers sa forme canonique via la méthode d'explicitation avec des variables de driving. Nous étudions les relations entre la forme canonique par bouclage FCFB d'un SCEDA proposée dans la littérature et la forme canonique de Morse pour les SCEDO. Premièrement, dans le but de relier SCEDA avec les SCEDO, nous utilisons une méthode appelée explicitation (avec des variables de driving). Cette méthode attache à une classe de SCEDO avec deux types d'entrées (le contrôle original et le vecteur des variables de driving) à un SCEDA donné. D'autre part, pour un SCEDO linéaire classique (sans variable de driving) nous proposons une forme de Morse triangulaire FMT pour modifier la construction de la FCM. Basé sur la FMT nous proposons une forme étendue FMT et une forme étendue de FCM pour les SCEDO avec deux types d'entrées. Finalement, un algorithme est donné pour transformer un SCEDA dans sa FCFB. Cet algorithme est construit sur la FCM d'un SCEDO donné par la procédure d'explicitation. Un exemple numérique illustre la structure et l'efficacité de l'algorithme. Pour les EDA non linéaires et les SCEDA (quasi linéaires) nous étudions les problèmes suivants : 3. Explicitations, analyse externe et interne et formes normales des EDA non linéaires. Nous généralisons les deux procédures d'explicitation (avec ou sans variables de driving) dans le cas des EDA non linéaires. L'objectif de ces deux méthodes est d'associer un SCEDO non linéaire à une EDA non linéaire telle que nous puissions l'analyser à l'aide de la théorie des EDO non linéaires. Nous comparons les différences de l'équivalence interne et externe des EDA non linéaires en étudiant leurs relations avec l'existence et l'unicité d'une solution (régularité interne). Puis nous montrons que l'analyse interne des EDA non linéaire est liée à la dynamique nulle en théorie classique du contrôle non linéaire. De plus, nous montrons les relations des EDAS de forme purement semi-explicite avec les 2 procédures d'explicitations. Finalement, une généralisation de la forme de Weierstrass non linéaire FW basée sur la dynamique nulle d'un SCEDO non linéaire donné par la méthode d'explicitation est proposée
In the first part of this thesis, we study linear differential-algebraic equations (shortly, DAEs) and linear control systems given by DAEs (shortly, DAECSs). The discussed problems and obtained results are summarized as follows. 1. Geometric connections between linear DAEs and linear ODE control systems ODECSs. We propose a procedure, named explicitation, to associate a linear ODECS to any linear DAE. The explicitation of a DAE is a class of ODECSs, or more precisely, an ODECS defined up to a coordinates change, a feedback transformation and an output injection. Then we compare the Wong sequences of a DAE with invariant subspaces of its explicitation. We prove that the basic canonical forms, the Kronecker canonical form KCF of linear DAEs and the Morse canonical form MCF of ODECSs, have a perfect correspondence and their invariants (indices and subspaces) are related. Furthermore, we define the internal equivalence of two DAEs and show its difference with the external equivalence by discussing their relations with internal regularity, i.e., the existence and uniqueness of solutions. 2. Transform a linear DAECS into its feedback canonical form via the explicitation with driving variables. We study connections between the feedback canonical form FBCF of DAE control systems DAECSs proposed in the literature and the famous Morse canonical form MCF of ODECSs. In order to connect DAECSs with ODECSs, we use a procedure named explicitation (with driving variables). This procedure attaches a class of ODECSs with two kinds of inputs (the original control input and the vector of driving variables) to a given DAECS. On the other hand, for classical linear ODECSs (without driving variables), we propose a Morse triangular form MTF to modify the construction of the classical MCF. Based on the MTF, we propose an extended MTF and an extended MCF for ODECSs with two kinds of inputs. Finally, an algorithm is proposed to transform a given DAECS into its FBCF. This algorithm is based on the extended MCF of an ODECS given by the explication procedure. Finally, a numerical example is given to show the structure and efficiency of the proposed algorithm. For nonlinear DAEs and DAECSs (of quasi-linear form), we study the following problems: 3. Explicitations, external and internal analysis, and normal forms of nonlinear DAEs. We generalize the two explicitation procedures (with or without driving variable) proposed in the linear case for nonlinear DAEs of quasi-linear form. The purpose of these two explicitation procedures is to associate a nonlinear ODECS to any nonlinear DAE such that we can use the classical nonlinear ODE control theory to analyze nonlinear DAEs. We discuss differences of internal and external equivalence of nonlinear DAEs by showing their relations with the existence and uniqueness of solutions (internal regularity). Then we show that the internal analysis of nonlinear DAEs is closely related to the zero dynamics in the classical nonlinear control theory. Moreover, we show relations of DAEs of pure semi-explicit form with the two explicitation procedures. Furthermore, a nonlinear generalization of the Weierstrass form WE is proposed based on the zero dynamics of a nonlinear ODECS given by the explicitation procedure

Differential geometric nonlinear control of a multiple stage evaporator system of the liquor burning facility associated with the Bayer process for alumina production at Alcoa Wagerup alumina refinery, Western Australia was investigated.Mathematical models for differential geometric analysis and nonlinear controller synthesis for the evaporator system were developed. Two models, that were structurally different from each other, were used in the thesis for simulation studies. Geometric nonlinear control structure, consisting of nonlinear state feedback control laws and multi-loop single-input single-output proportional-integral controllers, were designed for the industrial evaporator system. The superiority of the geometric nonlinear control structure for regulatory control of the evaporator system was successfully demonstrated through computer simulations and real-time simulator implementation. The implementation trial has verified the practicality and feasibility of these type of controllers. It also re-solved some practical issues of the geometric nonlinear control structure for industrial control applications. In addition, the implementation trial also established a closer link between the academic nonlinear control theory and the industrial control practices.Geometric nonlinear output feedback controller, consisting of the geometric nonlinear control structure and reduce-order observer was proposed for actual plant implementation on the evaporator system on-site. Its superior performance was verified through computer simulations, but its feasibility on the evaporator system on-site has yet to be investigated either through simulator implementation or actual plant implementation. This investigation was not performed due to the time constraint on the preparation of this thesis and the inavailability of the plant personnel required for this implementation.Robust nonlinear control structures that are simple and computationally efficient have been proposed for enhancing the performance of geometric nonlinear controllers in the presence of plant/model mismatch and/or external disturbances. The robust nonlinear control structures are based on model error compensation methods. Robustness properties of the proposed robust nonlinear control structures on the evaporator system were investigated through computer simulations and the results indicated improved performance over the implemented geometric nonlinear controller in terms of model uncertainty and disturbance reductions.A software package was developed in MAPLE computing environment for the analysis of nonlinear processes and the design of geometric nonlinear controllers. This developed symbolic package is useful for obtaining fast and exact solutions for the analysis and design of nonlinear control systems. Procedures were also developed to simulate the geometric nonlinear control systems. It was found that MAPLE, while it is superior for the analyses and designs, is not viable for simulations of nonlinear control systems. This was due to limitation of MAPLE on the physical, or virtual, memory management. The use of both symbolic and numeric computation for solutions of nonlinear control system analysis, design and simulation is recommended.To sum up, geometric nonlinear controllers have been designed for an industrial multiple stage evaporator system and their simplicity, practicality, feasibility and superiority for industrial control practices have been demonstrated either through computer simulations or real-time implementation. It is hoped that the insights provided in this thesis will encourage more industry-based projects in nonlinear control, and thereby assist in closing the widening gap between academic nonlinear control theory and industrial control practice.Keywords: geometric nonlinear control, input-output linearization, multiple stage evaporator, robust geometric nonlinear control, control performance enhancement.

Differential geometric nonlinear control of a multiple stage evaporator system of the liquor burning facility associated with the Bayer process for alumina production at Alcoa Wagerup alumina refinery, Western Australia was investigated.Mathematical models for differential geometric analysis and nonlinear controller synthesis for the evaporator system were developed. Two models, that were structurally different from each other, were used in the thesis for simulation studies. Geometric nonlinear control structure, consisting of nonlinear state feedback control laws and multi-loop single-input single-output proportional-integral controllers, were designed for the industrial evaporator system. The superiority of the geometric nonlinear control structure for regulatory control of the evaporator system was successfully demonstrated through computer simulations and real-time simulator implementation. The implementation trial has verified the practicality and feasibility of these type of controllers. It also re-solved some practical issues of the geometric nonlinear control structure for industrial control applications. In addition, the implementation trial also established a closer link between the academic nonlinear control theory and the industrial control practices.Geometric nonlinear output feedback controller, consisting of the geometric nonlinear control structure and reduce-order observer was proposed for actual plant implementation on the evaporator system on-site. Its superior performance was verified through computer simulations, but its feasibility on the evaporator system on-site has yet to be investigated either through simulator implementation or actual plant implementation. This investigation was not performed due to the time constraint on the preparation of this thesis and the inavailability of the plant personnel required for this implementation.Robust ++
nonlinear control structures that are simple and computationally efficient have been proposed for enhancing the performance of geometric nonlinear controllers in the presence of plant/model mismatch and/or external disturbances. The robust nonlinear control structures are based on model error compensation methods. Robustness properties of the proposed robust nonlinear control structures on the evaporator system were investigated through computer simulations and the results indicated improved performance over the implemented geometric nonlinear controller in terms of model uncertainty and disturbance reductions.A software package was developed in MAPLE computing environment for the analysis of nonlinear processes and the design of geometric nonlinear controllers. This developed symbolic package is useful for obtaining fast and exact solutions for the analysis and design of nonlinear control systems. Procedures were also developed to simulate the geometric nonlinear control systems. It was found that MAPLE, while it is superior for the analyses and designs, is not viable for simulations of nonlinear control systems. This was due to limitation of MAPLE on the physical, or virtual, memory management. The use of both symbolic and numeric computation for solutions of nonlinear control system analysis, design and simulation is recommended.To sum up, geometric nonlinear controllers have been designed for an industrial multiple stage evaporator system and their simplicity, practicality, feasibility and superiority for industrial control practices have been demonstrated either through computer simulations or real-time implementation. It is hoped that the insights provided in this thesis will encourage more industry-based projects in nonlinear control, and thereby assist in closing the widening gap between academic nonlinear control theory and industrial control ++
practice.Keywords: geometric nonlinear control, input-output linearization, multiple stage evaporator, robust geometric nonlinear control, control performance enhancement.

Thesis (Ph.D)--Mathematics, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009.
Committee Chair: Yi, Yingfei; Committee Member: Chow, Shui-Nee; Committee Member: Dieci, Luca; Committee Member: Verriest, Erik; Committee Member: Weiss, Howie. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

Para abordagem do controle não-linear geométrico, a síntese do controle e elaborada diretamente a partir da descrição do processo com a dinâmica não-linear em espaço de estados. O presente trabalho trata da aplicação dos principais conceitos e formalismos do controle não-linear geométrico para os processos multivariaveis típicos da engenharia química: o controle não-linear continuo da coluna de destilação e o controle não-linear discreto da unidade de craqueamento catalítico em leito fluidizado. A síntese e o projeto do controlador não-linear são enfocados separadamente. O projeto do controlador tem importância pratica para as aplicações industriais. O presente trabalho apresenta metodologias para a abordagem dos seguintes aspectos da aplicação multivariavel do controle geométrico não-linear: (a) como relaxar a sintonia do controlador interno de desacoplamento não-linear; (b) como definir o controlador externo como controle linear de alocação de pólos com coeficientes de hurwitz; (c) neste controlador externo, como incluir a ação integral com prevenção da saturação; e (d) como definir a dinâmica dossetpoints externos.
For the geometric nonlinear control approach, the controller synthesis is elaborated directly from the nonlinear dynamics state space description of the process. This work concerns the application of the main concepts and formalisms of the geometric nonlinear control theory to typical multivariable (MIMO) chemical engineering process as illustrative case studies: the continuous nonlinear control of the distillation column and the discrete nonlinear control of the fluid catalytic cracking unit. The synthesis and the project issues of the nonlinear controller are focused separately. The controller project has the practical importance for the industrial controller applications. This work applies the methodologies to approach the following issues for the MIMO applications of the geometric nonlinear control: (a) to detune the internal nonlinear decoupling controller; (b) to define the external controller as linear pole-placement controllers with Hurwitz coefficients; (c) to include the integral action with anti-reset windup on this external controllers and (d) to define the dynamics of the external setpoints.

The recent years have witnessed increased development of small, autonomous fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). In order to unlock widespread applicability of these platforms, they need to be capable of operating under a variety of environmental conditions. Due to their small size, low weight, and low speeds, they require the capability of coping with wind speeds that are approaching or even faster than the nominal airspeed. In this thesis, a nonlinear-geometric guidance strategy is presented, addressing this problem. More broadly, a methodology is proposed for the high-level control of non-holonomic unicycle-like vehicles in the presence of strong flowfields (e.g. winds, underwater currents) which may outreach the maximum vehicle speed. The proposed strategy guarantees convergence to a safe and stable vehicle configuration with respect to the flowfield, while preserving some tracking performance with respect to the target path. As an alternative approach, an algorithm based on Model Predictive Control (MPC) is developed, and a comparison between advantages and disadvantages of both approaches is drawn. Evaluations in simulations and a challenging real-world flight experiment in very windy conditions confirm the feasibility of the proposed guidance approach.

A flapping-wing micro-air-vehicle (FWMAV) represents a complex multi-disciplinary system whose analysis invokes the frontiers of the aerospace engineering disciplines. From the aerodynamic point of view, a nonlinear, unsteady flow is created by the flapping motion. In addition, non-conventional contributors, such as the leading edge vortex, to the aerodynamic loads become dominant in flight. On the other hand, the flight dynamics of a FWMAV constitutes a nonlinear, non-autonomous dynamical system. Furthermore, the stringent weight and size constraints that are always imposed on FWMAVs invoke design with minimal actuation. In addition to the numerous motivating applications, all these features of FWMAVs make it an interesting research point for engineers. In this Dissertation, some challenging points related to FWMAVs are considered. First, an analytical unsteady aerodynamic model that accounts for the leading edge vortex contribution by a feasible computational burden is developed to enable sensitivity and optimization analyses, flight dynamics analysis, and control synthesis. Second, wing kinematics optimization is considered for both aerodynamic performance and maneuverability. For each case, an infinite-dimensional optimization problem is formulated using the calculus of variations to relax any unnecessary constraints induced by approximating the problem as a finite-dimensional one. As such, theoretical upper bounds for the aerodynamic performance and maneuverability are obtained. Third, a design methodology for the actuation mechanism is developed. The proposed actuation mechanism is able to provide the required kinematics for both of hovering and forward flight using only one actuator. This is achieved by exploiting the nonlinearities of the wing dynamics to induce the saturation phenomenon to transfer energy from one mode to another. Fourth, the nonlinear, time-periodic flight dynamics of FWMAVs is analyzed using direct and higher-order averaging. The region of applicability of direct averaging is determined and the effects of the aerodynamic-induced parametric excitation are assessed. Finally, tools combining geometric control theory and averaging are used to derive analytic expressions for the textit{Symmetric Products}, which are vector fields that directly affect the acceleration of the averaged dynamics. A design optimization problem is then formulated to bring the maneuverability index/criterion early in the design process to maximize the FWMAV maneuverability near hover.
Ph. D.

A presente tese aborda dois problemas distintos e independentes: triangularização de sistemas não-lineares com duas entradas e controle de sistemas sem arrasto que evoluem no grupo especial unitário SU(n). Em relação ao primeiro, estabeleceu-se, através da generalização de resultados bem conhecidos, condições geométricas para que um sistema com duas entradas seja descrito por uma forma triangular específica após uma mudança de coordenadas e uma realimentação de estado estática regular. Para o segundo problema, desenvolveu-se uma estratégia de controle que força o estado do sistema a rastrear assintoticamente uma trajetória de referência periódica que passa por um estado objetivo arbitrário. O método de controle proposto utiliza os resultados de convergência de tipo- Lyapunov que foram estabelecidos pela presente pesquisa e que tiveram como inspiração uma versão periódica do princípio da invariância de LaSalle. Apresentou-se, ainda, os resultados de simulação obtidos com a aplicação da técnica de controle desenvolvida a um sistema quântico consistindo de duas partículas de spin-1/2, com o objetivo de gerar a porta lógica quântica C-NOT.
This thesis treats two distinct and independent problems: triangularization of nonlinear systems with two inputs and control of driftless systems which evolve on the special unitary group SU(n). Concerning the first, one has established, by means of the generalization of well-known results, geometric conditions for a system with two inputs to be described by a specific triangular form after a change of coordinates and a regular static state feedback. For the second problem, one has developed a control strategy that forces the state of the system to track in an asymptotic manner a periodic reference trajectory which passes by an arbitrary goal state. The proposed control method uses Lyapunovlike convergence results that were established in this research and which were inspired in a periodic version of LaSalles invariance principle. Furthermore, one has shown the simulation results obtained from the application of the developed control technique to a quantum system consisting of two spin-1/2 particles, with the aim of generating the C-NOT quantum logic gate.

The main body of this thesis consists of six appended papers. In the  first two, different  cooperative surveillance problems are considered. The second two consider different aspects of the trajectory planning problem, while the last two deal with observer design for mobile robotic and Euler-Lagrange systems respectively.In Papers A and B,  a combinatorial optimization based framework to cooperative surveillance missions using multiple Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) is proposed. In particular, Paper A  considers the the Minimum Time UGV Surveillance Problem (MTUSP) while Paper B treats the Connectivity Constrained UGV Surveillance Problem (CUSP). The minimum time formulation is the following. Given a set of surveillance UGVs and a polyhedral area, find waypoint-paths for all UGVs such that every point of the area is visible from  a point on a waypoint-path and such that the time for executing the search in parallel is minimized.  The connectivity constrained formulation  extends the MTUSP by additionally requiring the induced information graph to be  kept recurrently connected  at the time instants when the UGVs  perform the surveillance mission.  In these two papers, the NP-hardness of  both these problems are shown and decomposition techniques are proposed that allow us to find an approximative solution efficiently in an algorithmic manner.Paper C addresses the problem of designing a real time, high performance trajectory planner for an aerial vehicle that uses information about terrain and enemy threats, to fly low and avoid radar exposure on the way to a given target. The high-level framework augments Receding Horizon Control (RHC) with a graph based terminal cost that captures the global characteristics of the environment.  An important issue with RHC is to make sure that the greedy, short term optimization does not lead to long term problems, which in our case boils down to two things: not getting into situations where a collision is unavoidable, and making sure that the destination is actually reached. Hence, the main contribution of this paper is to present a trajectory planner with provable safety and task completion properties. Direct methods for trajectory optimization are traditionally based on a priori temporal discretization and collocation methods. In Paper D, the problem of adaptive node distribution is formulated as a constrained optimization problem, which is to be included in the underlying nonlinear mathematical programming problem. The benefits of utilizing the suggested method for  online  trajectory optimization are illustrated by a missile guidance example.In Paper E, the problem of active observer design for an important class of non-uniformly observable systems, namely mobile robotic systems, is considered. The set of feasible configurations and the set of output flow equivalent states are defined. It is shown that the inter-relation between these two sets may serve as the basis for design of active observers. The proposed observer design methodology is illustrated by considering a  unicycle robot model, equipped with a set of range-measuring sensors. Finally, in Paper F, a geometrically intrinsic observer for Euler-Lagrange systems is defined and analyzed. This observer is a generalization of the observer proposed by Aghannan and Rouchon. Their contractivity result is reproduced and complemented  by  a proof  that the region of contraction is infinitely thin. Moreover, assuming a priori bounds on the velocities, convergence of the observer is shown by means of Lyapunov's direct method in the case of configuration manifolds with constant curvature.
QC 20100622
TAIS, AURES

Cette thèse possède un double objectif : le premier est l'amélioration des techniques de contrôle en mécanique quantique, et plus particulièrement en RMN, grâce aux techniques du contrôle optimal géométrique. Le second consiste à étudier l'influence des singularités hamiltoniennes dans les systèmes physiques contrôlés. Le chapitre traitant du contrôle optimal étudie trois problèmes classiques en RMN : l'inversion simultanée de deux spins, l'inclusion des termes non-linéaires dans le modèle et la méthode du point fixe. Ensuite, nous appliquons le PMP au problème de transfert de population dans un système quantique à trois niveaux pour retrouver le processus STIRAP. Les deux chapitres suivants étudient les singularités hamiltoniennes. Nous montrons comment l'étude des singularités hamiltoniennes permet de contrôler la polarisation dans différentes fibres optiques. Ensuite, nous montrons l'existence d'une monodromie hamiltonienne généralisée dans le spectre vibrationnel de la molécule HOCl. Enfin, nous donnons une méthode de mesure de la monodromie hamiltonienne dynamique dans deux systèmes classiques en optique non-linéaire : le modèle de Bragg et le mélange à trois ondes

The choice of technology for automotive actuators is driven by the need of high power to size ratio. In general, electro-pneumatic actuators are preferred for application around the engine as they are compact, powerful and require simple controlling devices. Specially, Variable Geometry Turbochargers (VGTs) are almost always controlled with electro-pneumatic actuators. This is a challenging application because the VGT is an important part of the engine air path and the latter is responsible for intake and exhaust air quality and exhaust emissions control. With government regulations on vehicle pollutant emissions getting stringent by the year, VGT control requirements have also increased. These regulations and requirements can only be fulfilled with precise dynamic control of the VGT through its actuator. The demands on actuator control include robustness against uncertainty in operating conditions, fast and smooth positioning without vibration, limited number of measurements. Added constraints such as nonlinear dynamic behavior of the actuator, friction and varying aerodynamic forces in the VGT render classical control methods ineffective. These are the main problems that form the core of this thesis.In this work, we have addressed the above mentioned problems, using model based control complemented with robust control methods to overcome operational uncertainties and parametric variations. In the first step, a detailed physical model of an electro-pneumatic actuator has been developed; taking into account the nonlinear characteristics originating from air compressibility and friction. Means to compensate for aerodynamic force have been studied and implemented in the next step. These include model parametric adaptation and one dimensional CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) modeling. The complete model has been experimentally validated and a sensitivity analysis has been conducted to identify the parameters which have the greatest impact upon the actuator's behavior. The detailed simulation model has then been simplified to make it suitable for control purposes while keeping its essential behavioral characteristics (i.e. transients and dynamics). Next, robust controllers have been developed around the model for the control objective of accurate actuator positioning in presence of operational uncertainty. An important constraint in commercial actuators is that they provide output feedback only, as they are only equipped with low-cost position sensors. This hurdle has been overcome by introducing observers in the control loop, which estimate other system states from the output feedback. The estimation and control algorithms have been validated in simulation and experimentally on diesel engine test benches.

Neste estudo se propõe o desenvolvimento de um modelo numérico para a ligação deslizante entre elementos sólidos bidimensionais, aplicável à simulação de sistemas deslizantes de isolação de base para estruturas. A formulação implementada é baseada no Método dos Elementos Finitos Posicional (MEFP) para análise dinâmica não linear geométrica de estruturas escrita na forma Lagrangeana total. Elementos triangulares planos e isoparamétricos de aproximação cúbica com matriz de massa completa são utilizados principalmente na elaboração da parte sólida dos dispositivos de ligação entre estruturas reticuladas e a base móvel. Esses elementos também poderm ser utilizados na modelagem da estrutura em si, porém, para esse fim, elementos finitos isoparamétricos de barra geral com massa distribuída por unidade de comprimento foram implementados. As equações de movimento são integradas no tempo aplicando o método de Newmark e o problema de deslizamento é resolvido com o algoritmo baseado na técnica dos multiplicadores de Lagrange, onde a restrição das posições de um nó escravo é feita em relação a uma sequência de superfícies mestres. Elementos de barra geral foram usados para simular as superfícies mestres de contato, o que aumenta as possibilidades de aplicações, incluindo mecanismos compostos apenas por barras gerais. Analisam-se exemplos disponíveis na literatura para a validação da formulação proposta e propõem-se aplicações diversas na engenharia das estruturas.
This study proposes the development of a numerical model for the sliding joint between two-dimensional solid elements, applicable to the simulation of sliding base isolation systems. The implemented formulation is based on the Positional Finite Element Method (PFEM) for geometrical nonlinear dynamic analysis of structures written in the total Lagrangian form. Plane and isoparametric triangular cubic approximation elements with full mass matrix are mainly used in the elaboration of the solid part of the devices of joints between reticulated structures and mobile base. These elements can also be used in the modeling of the structure itself, however, for that purpose, isoparametric elements of general bar with mass distributed per unit of length were implemented. The motion equations are integrated in time by applying the Newmark method and the sliding problem is solved with the algorithm based on the technique of Lagrange multipliers, where the constraint of the positions of a slave node is made in relation to a sequence of master surfaces. General bar elements were used to simulate the master contact surface, which increases the possibilities of applications, including mechanisms composed only of general bars. Analyze examples available in the literature for the validation of the proposed formulation and proposed diverse applications in the engineering of the structures.

This dissertation deals with smooth feedback stabilization of control-affine systems via Interconnection and Damping Assignment - Passivity-Based Control (IDA-PBC). The IDA-PBC methodology is a feedback control design technique that aims to establish or manipulate a port-Hamiltonian structure of the closed-loop system. For a mechanical control system, a port-Hamiltonian system is a natural description of the dynamics, and several effective controller designs have been presented for this class of systems. In other fields of engineering, the development of such controller design is an active area of research. In particular, applications of IDA-PBC techniques prove to be difficult in practice for process control applications where the concept of energy is usually ill-defined. This thesis seeks to extend the application of the IDA-PBC methodology beyond mechanical control systems. This is achieved by following three directions of research. First, we establish conditions under which a port-Hamiltonian system can be written as a feedback interconnection of two port-Hamiltonian system. We identify such an interconnection structure for linear control systems based on their intrinsic properties. Second, as observed in application of IDA-PBC to non-mechanical systems, several additional assumptions on the structure of the desired port-Hamiltonian system can effectively reduce the complexity of the matching problem. We establish a unified approach that considers these additional assumptions. Third, we connect the matching problem to the classical feedback equivalence approach. We show that feedback equivalence between control-affine systems can be employed to construct some feasible interconnection and damping structures.
Thesis (Ph.D, Chemical Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2011-01-31 12:59:56.828

In this thesis is initiated a more systematic geometric exploration of energy shaping. Most of the previous results have been dealt wih particular cases and neither the existence nor the space of solutions has been discussed with any degree of generality. The geometric theory of partial differential equations originated by Goldschmidt and Spencer in late 1960s is utilized to analyze the partial differential equations in energy shaping. The energy shaping partial differential equations are described as a fibered submanifold of a $ k $-jet bundle of a fibered manifold. By revealing the nature of kinetic energy shaping, similarities are noticed between the problem of kinetic energy shaping and some well-known problems in Riemannian geometry. In particular, there is a strong similarity between kinetic energy shaping and the problem of finding a metric connection initiated by Eisenhart and Veblen. We notice that the necessary conditions for the set of so-called $ \lambda $-equation restricted to the control distribution are related to the Ricci identity, similarly to the Eisenhart and Veblen metric connection problem. Finally, the set of $ \lambda $-equations for kinetic energy shaping are coupled with the integrability results of potential energy shaping. The procedure shows how a poor design of closed-loop metric can make it impossible to achieve any flexibility in the character of the possible closed-loop potential function. The integrability results of this thesis have been used to answer some interesting questions about the energy shaping. In particular, a geometric proof is provided which shows that linear controllability is sufficient for energy shaping of linear simple mechanical systems. Furthermore, it is shown that all linearly controllable mechanical control systems with one degree of underactuation can be stabilized using energy shaping feedback. The result is geometric and completely characterizes the energy shaping problem for these systems. Using the geometric approach of this thesis, some new open problems in energy shaping are formulated. In particular, we give ideas for relating the kinetic energy shaping problem to a problem on holonomy groups. Moreover, we suggest that the so-called Fakras lemma might be used for investigating the stabilization condition of energy shaping.
Thesis (Ph.D, Mathematics & Statistics) -- Queen's University, 2009-09-02 12:12:55.051

This thesis poses a feedback control method for obtaining humanlike bipedal walking on a human-inspired hybrid biped model. The end goal was to understand better the fundamental mechanisms that underlie bipedal walking in the hopes that this newfound understanding will facilitate better mechanical and control design for bipedal robots. Bipedal walking is hybrid in nature, characterized by periodic contact between a robot and the environment, i.e., the ground. Dynamic models derived from Lagrangians modeling mechanical systems govern the continuous dynamics while discrete dynamics were handed by an impact model using impulse-like forces and balancing angular momentum. This combination of continuous and discrete dynamics motivated the use of hybrid systems for modeling purposes. The framework of hybrid systems was used to model three-dimensional bipedal walking in a general setup for a robotic model with a hip, knees, and feet with the goal of obtaining stable walking. To achieve three-dimensional walking, functional Routhian reduction was used to decouple the sagittal and coronal dynamics. By doing so, it was possible to achieve walking in the two-dimensional sagittal plane on the three-dimensional model, restricted to operate in the sagittal plane. Imposing this restriction resulted in a reduced-order model, referred to as the sagittally-restricted model. Sagittal control in the form of controlled symmetries and additional control strategies was used to achieve stable walking on the sagittally-restricted model. Functional Routhian reduction was then applied to the full-order system. The sagittal control developed on the reduced-order model was used with reduction to achieve walking in three dimensions in simulation. The control schemes described resulted in walking which was remarkably anthropomorphic in nature. This observation is surprising given the simplistic nature of the controllers used. Moreover, the two-dimensional and three-dimensional dynamics were completely decoupled inasmuch as the dynamic models governing the sagittal motion were equivalent. Additionally, the reduction resulted in swaying in the lateral plane. This motion, which is generally present in human walking, was unplanned and was a side-effect of the decoupling process. Despite the approximate nature of the reduction, the motion was still almost completely decoupled with respect to the sagittal and coronal planes.

The subject of this thesis is the motion planning algorithm known as the continuation method. To solve motion planning problems, the continuation method proceeds by lifting curves in state space to curves in control space; the lifted curves are the solutions of special initial value problems called path-lifting equations. To validate this procedure, three distinct obstructions must be overcome. The first obstruction is that the endpoint maps of the control system under study must be twice continuously differentiable. By extending a result of A. Margheri, we show that this differentiability property is satisfied by an inclusive class of time-varying fully nonlinear control systems. The second obstruction is the existence of singular controls, which are simply the singular points of a fixed endpoint map. Rather than attempting to completely characterize such controls, we demonstrate how to isolate control systems for which no controls are singular. To this end, we build on the work of S. A. Vakhrameev to obtain a necessary and sufficient condition. In particular, this result accommodates time-varying fully nonlinear control systems. The final obstruction is that the solutions of path-lifting equations may not exist globally. To study this problem, we work under the standing assumption that the control system under study is control-affine. By extending a result of Y. Chitour, we show that the question of global existence can be resolved by examining Lie bracket configurations and momentum functions. Finally, we show that if the control system under study is completely unobstructed with respect to a fixed motion planning problem, then its corresponding endpoint map is a fiber bundle. In this sense, we obtain a necessary condition for unobstructed motion planning by the continuation method.
Thesis (Ph.D, Chemical Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2012-12-18 20:53:43.272

The attitude (or orientation) of an object is often crucial in its ability to perform a task, whether the task is driving a car, flying an aircraft, or focusing a satellite. In traditional control approaches, the attitude is often parameterized by Euler angles or unit quaternions which exhibit problems such as gimbal lock or ambiguity in representation, respectively. These complications prevent the controllers from achieving global stability and worse they may cause real physical harm due to unexpected large motions. More recent works have achieved global stability and avoided these system failures by working directly on the configuration manifold, but these approaches are generally complex or lack automatic, user-friendly ways to tune them. The goal of this dissertation is to develop simple geometric attitude controllers that are globally, exponentially stable and can be automatically tuned. By simple, we mean that the controllers are computationally efficient for real time implementation on embedded computers and the tuning parameters have geometric interpretations. These properties make the controllers user friendly and practical for real hardware implementation even on fast dynamical systems. Furthermore, we aim to obtain an automatic tuning procedure that ensures convergence, and can also quantify and optimize performance guarantees. We achieve our goal through four major contributions. The first is a substantial generalization on the theory of classical Riemannian metrics for tangent bundles which provides the ability to compare and combine attitude and velocity terms in the stability analysis, allowing us to consider a larger set of feasible controller gains. The second contribution is a framework to study the stability of attitude systems on manifolds and to automatically tune the controller gains by combining Riemannian geometry, contraction theory, and offline optimization. The third contribution is the development of a globally, exponentially stable attitude controller. This controller overcomes the topological limitation that prevents continuous, time-invariant controllers from achieving global stability by using a time-varying intermediate reference trajectory. The fourth contribution is the improvement of the proposed controllers by way of point-wise-in-time quadratic programming.