一种基于有限状态机模型的局部转向避碰路径规划算法

针对多礁石、渔船等障碍物的近海复杂环境下的一些应用,提出了一种基于有限状态机(finite-state machine,FSM)模型的无人船(unmanned surface vehicle,USV)局部转向避碰路径规划算法。首先,基于速度障碍法和障碍物区域分层方法,获取无人船固定航速条件下的航向角约束解析结果。然后,基于该约束条件及障碍物探测情况设计FSM的有限状态及执行动作和状态迁移条件,其中,通过转向控制实现向目标位点或缓冲位点进行导航的状态为FSM的2个重要状态。最终通过FSM的执行实现局部转向避碰路径规划。仿真结果表明提出的多障碍物避碰算法具有可行性和实用性。该方法易于改进和扩展,且容易与当前主流的无人船控制系统结合,有利于无人船避碰系统快速工程化的实现。     

Design and experiment of a small boat track-keeping autopilot

A real time kinematic (RTK), GPS-based, track-keeping control of a small boat is discussed in this paper. The internal model control (IMC) method is adopted in the autopilot design and the controller is recast in the PID controller format that is characterized by its simple structure and relative ease of implementation. The track-keeping mission is achieved through a sequence of course-changing maneuvers and the reference heading is computed with the line-of-sight (LOS) guidance law. Path planning based on Bezier curves to achieve obstacle avoidance is investigated. First, computer simulations are carried out to find the feasible controller design parameter that achieves satisfactory simulation results. Then the feasible controller design parameter is applied in the small-boat-based experiments to demonstrate the practical use of the proposed autopilot design method.     

Drift angle compensation-based adaptive line-of-sight path following for autonomous underwater vehicle

The aim of this study is to solve the problem of poor tracking in autonomous underwater vehicle (AUVs) that are operating based on traditional line-of-sight (LOS) method when tracking different paths in a complex marine environment. An adaptive-LOS (ALOS) guidance law with drift angle compensation is proposed, and is employed to calculate the AUV’s desired course (direction of velocity) and heading. First, an appropriate look-ahead distance is derived by the ALOS guidance law in consideration of the predefined path curvature, real-time tracking error and speed of the AUV. Subsequently, proper compensation is provided with respect to the actual drift angle. Compared with traditional LOS operation, this method flexibly adjusts to a suitable look-ahead distance while considering many related factors, providing a better path following performance. Both simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the effectiveness of this method.     

Unscented Kalman Filter trained neural network control design for ship autopilot with experimental and numerical approaches

In the recent decades, the application and research of unmanned surface vessels are experiencing considerable growth, which have caused the demands of intelligent autopilots to grow along with the ever-growing requirements. In this study, the design of an autopilot based on Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) trained Radial Basis Function Neural Networks (RBFNN) was presented. In particular, in order to provide satisfactory control performance for surface vessels with random external disturbances, the modified UKF was utilised as the weights training mechanism for the RBFNN based controller. The configurations of the newly developed free running scaled model, as well as the online signal processing method, were introduced to enable the experimental studies. The experimental and numerical tests were carried out through using the physical scaled model and corresponding mathematical model to validate the capability of the designed control system under various sailing conditions. The results indicated that the UKF RBFNN based autopilot satisfied the functionalities of course keeping, course changing and trajectory tracking only using the rudder as the actuator. It was concluded that the developed control scheme was effective to track the desired states and robust against unpredictable external disturbances. Moreover, in comparison with Back-Propagation (BP) RBFNN and Proportional-Derivative (PD) based autopilots, the UKF RBFNN based autopilot has the comparable capability in the aspects of providing smooth and effective control laws.     

Path following control system for a tanker ship model

A two-dimensional path following control system for autonomous marine surface vessels is presented. The guidance system is obtained through a way-point guidance scheme based on line-of-sight projection algorithm and the speed controller is achieved through state feedback linearization. A new approach concerning the calculation of a dynamic line-of-sight vector norm is presented which main idea is to improve the speed of the convergence of the vehicle to the desired path. The results obtained are compared with the traditional line-of-sight scheme. It is intended that the complete system will be tested and implemented in a model of the “Esso Osaka” tanker. The results of simulations are presented here showing the effectiveness of the system aiming in to be robust enough to perform tests either in tanks or lakes.     

An assessment of fuzzy logic vessel path control

A fuzzy logic controller for ship path control in restricted waters is developed and evaluated. The controller uses inputs of heading, yaw rate, and lateral offset from the nominal track to produce a commanded rudder angle. Input variable fuzzification, fuzzy associative memory rules, and output set defuzzification are described. Two maneuvering situations are evaluated: track keeping along a specified path where linearized regulator control is valid; and larger maneuvers onto a specified path where nonlinear modeling and control are required. For the track keeping assessment, the controller is benchmarked against a conventional linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) optimal controller and Kalman filter control system. The Kalman filter is used to produce the input state variable estimates for the fuzzy controller as well. An initial startup transient and regulator control performance with an external hydrodynamic disturbance are evaluated using linear model simulations of a crude oil tanker. A fully nonlinear maneuvering model for a smaller product tanker is used to assess the larger maneuvers     

Robust control based on feedback linearization for roll stabilizing of autonomous underwater vehicle under wave disturbances

In the case of Autonomous Underwater Vehicle(AUV) navigating with low speed near water surface,a new method for design of roll motion controller is proposed in order to restrain wave disturbance effectively and improve roll stabilizing performance.Robust control is applied,which is based on uncertain nonlinear horizontal motion model of AUV and the principle of zero speed fin stabilizer.Feedback linearization approach is used to transform the complex nonlinear system into a comparatively simple linear system.For parameter uncertainty of motion model,the controller is designed with mixed-sensitivity method based on H-infinity robust control theory.Simulation results show better robustness improved by this control method for roll stabilizing of AUV navigating near water surface.     

Path Following Control of A Deep-Sea Manned Submersible Based upon NTSM

In this paper, a robust path following control law is proposed for a deep-sea manned submersible maneuvering along a predeterminated path. Developed in China, the submersible is underactuated in the horizontal plane in that it is actuated by two perpendicular thrusts in this plane. The advanced non-singular terminal sliding mode （NTSM） is implemented for the design of the path following controller, which can ensure the convergence of the motion system in finite time and improve its robustness against parametric uncertainties and environmental disturbances. In the process of controller design, the close-loop stability is considered and proved by Lyapunov＇ s stability theory. With the experimental data, numerical simulations are provided to verify the control law for path following of the deep-sea manned submersible.     

Robust sliding mode control of a mini unmanned underwater vehicle equipped with a new arrangement of water jet propulsions: Simulation and experimental study

This paper presents dynamical modeling and robust control of a Mini Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (MUUV) equipped with a new arrangement of water jet propulsion. The water jet propulsion includes some advantages comparing with a propeller one, such as, reducing the number of required motors, desired number and arrangement of the propulsions, removing adverse torque and cavitation due to propeller rotation and etc. In order to model the proposed MUUV, the gray box method is used in such a way that the dynamical equation of motion is derived analytically by Euler-Lagrangian method, and then the hydrodynamic coefficients (such as added mass and drag coefficients) are derived by performing some tests in a Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) software. The dynamical model is used to simulate the MUUV system and also to design the proposed controllers, which are Feedback Linearization Controller (FLC) and Sliding Mode Controller (SMC). In order to investigate and compare the performance of the MUUV and the applied controllers, three types of tests including a desired signal tracking case and two desired path tracking cases are designed. To do so, a method is presented to obtain the desired signals from a desired path under predetermined conditions. Then, an MUUV prototype is designed and constructed in order to investigate the performance of the proposed water jet propulsions and controllers for regulation and tracking desired signal purpose, experimentally. As it is expected, the simulation and experimental results show better performance of the SMC compared to FLC. Furthermore, the experimental results reveal that the water jet propulsion is implementable to practical prototypes and also can be produced in an industrial level.     

蒸发波导环境下风浪对电磁波传播影响的数值模拟研究

蒸发波导是一种特殊的大气波导,在其中传播的电磁波信号会被陷获在近海大气层中,实现超视距传播。受海表面温度、湿度、风速、微波频率等因素的影响,海洋蒸发波导环境中的微波传播特性起伏变化很大,规律十分复杂。以往的工作主要通过计算这些气象因素对蒸发波导条件下大气折射率剖面的影响来分析它们对路径损失的作用,其结果与实验数据仍有较大差异。本文在一定的蒸发波导条件下,利用一维分形海面模型产生海面"地形",将其作为抛物方程电磁波传播模型的边界条件进行计算,得到相应的路径损失,并与传统计算方法进行对比,分析了不同蒸发波导高度、不同频率及不同接收天线高度时的数值模拟情况,可为舰艇通信系统或者雷达系统的设计提供相应的依据。     

Multivariable sliding mode control for autonomous diving andsteering of unmanned underwater vehicles

A six-degree-of-freedom model for the maneuvering of an underwater vehicle is used and a sliding-mode autopilot is designed for the combined steering, diving, and speed control functions. In flight control applications of this kind, difficulties arise because the system to be controlled is highly nonlinear and coupled, and there is a good deal of parameter uncertainty and variation with operational conditions. The development of variable-structure control in the form of sliding modes has been shown to provide robustness that is expected to be quite remarkable for AUV autopilot design. It is shown that a multivariable sliding-mode autopilot based on state feedback, designed assuming decoupled modeling, is quite satisfactory for the combined speed, steering, and diving response of a slow AUV. The influence of speed, modeling nonlinearity, uncertainty, and disturbances, can be effectively compensated, even for complex maneuvering. Waypoint acquisition based on line-of-sight guidance is used to achieve path tracking     

Closed-loop randomized kinodynamic path planning for an autonomous underwater vehicle

A randomized kinodynamic path planning algorithm based on the incremental sampling-based method is proposed here as the state-of-the-art in this field applicable in an autonomous underwater vehicle. Designing a feasible path for this vehicle from an initial position and velocity to a target position and velocity in three-dimensional spaces by considering the kinematic constraints such as obstacles avoidance and dynamic constraints such as hard bounds and non-holonomic characteristic of AUV are the main motivation of this research. For this purpose, a closed-loop rapidly-exploring random tree (CL-RRT) algorithm is presented. This CL-RRT consists of three tightly coupled components: a RRT algorithm, three fuzzy proportional-derivative controllers for heading and diving control and a six degree-of-freedom nonlinear AUV model. The branches of CL-RRT are expanded in the configuration space by considering the kinodynamic constraints of AUV. The feasibility of each branch and random offspring vertex in the CL-RRT is checked against the mentioned constraints of AUV. Next, if the planned branch is feasible by the AUV, then the control signals and related vertex are recorded through the path planner to design the final path. This proposed algorithm is implemented on a single board computer (SBC) through the xPC Target and then four test-cases are designed in 3D space. The results of the processor-in-the-loop tests are compared by the conventional RRT and indicate that the proposed CL-RRT not only in a rapid manner plans an initial path, but also the planned path is feasible by the AUV.     

基于AIS信息校准的双频地波雷达的船只融合跟踪

高频地波雷达（HFSWR）和自动船只确认系统（AIS）是船只跟踪的重要传感器。高频地波雷达可以用来跟踪探测区域的所有船只,而AIS只能用来确认合作船只的信息。由于海杂波的干扰,使用单频率地波雷达的船只跟踪会淹没在布拉格峰值的盲区里,改变探测频率是克服这一缺点的有效手段。在这种背景下,我们提出一种基于AIS校准的双频雷达融合探测算法。因为不同频率的地波雷达测量与AIS的测量值存在系统误差,所以AIS信息可以用来估计和校准地波雷达的每个频率的系统误差。首先,将合作目标的点迹测量与地波雷达的点迹测量通过JVC分配算法进行点迹关联。从合作船只的点迹关联结果中,双频雷达的系统误差可以估计和校准。其次,基于校准的双频雷达数据,使用融合JPDA-UKF算法进行船只跟踪。通过真实探测的数据的实验结果显示所提算法可以实时跟踪船只,相比单频率跟踪可以进一步提高跟踪能力和跟踪精度。     

RSM方法用于产红色素发酵培养基优化

用RSM方法对黄杆菌属产红色素菌株S-9801(Flavobacterium sp.)的培养基进行了优化.首先用部分重复因子实验对培养基组分蛋白胨、酵母粉、葡萄糖及NaCl浓度对菌株产红色素的影响进行评价,找出主要影响因子为葡萄糖和NaCl浓度.两者均为正影响,其他组分对色素含量的影响不显著.第二步用最陡爬坡路径逼近最大响应区域.最后用中心组合设计及响应面分析确定主要影响因子的最佳浓度.菌株在优化培养基中培养较初始培养基色素含量提高320%.     

Feedback Stabilization of High-Speed Planing Vessels by a Controllable Transom Flap

This paper focuses on the mitigation of porpoising instability of high-speed planing vessels using controllable transom flap and dynamic feedback. A control oriented model that captures both steady-state and dynamic characteristics is presented and used to facilitate the model-based control design. A nonlinear controller is developed based on the feedback linearization method to achieve asymptotic stability of the planing boat, thus avoiding porpoising at high speeds. We first show that the full-state nonlinear dynamic model describing the ship motion is not feedback linearizable. A state transformation is then constructed to decompose the model into a linearizable subsystem and a nonlinear internal dynamic subsystem. A reduced order state feedback is shown next to stabilize the planing vessel motion around the equilibrium point. Analysis of the region of attraction is also performed to provide an assessment of the effective safe operating range around the equilibrium point.     

Comparison of numerical solution and semi-empirical formulas to predict the effects of important design parameters on porpoising region of a planing vessel

Stability of the marine vessels in different conditions is one of the most important problems in the design of a planing vessel. In this research, the effects of some important design parameters (mass, longitudinal center of mass, deadrise angle, and length) of DTMB 62 model 4667-1 planing hull on the drag and also on the longitudinal dynamic stability (porpoising) are investigated in the velocity range of 2.12–8.486 m/s in calm water. In this paper, both numerical simulation of Reynolds Average Naiver Stokes (RANS) equations and semi-empirical formulas of Savitsky are used to analyze the motion of a 4667 planing vessel in calm water with two degrees of freedom (2DOF). For this purpose a finite volume, ANSYS-FLUENT, code is used to solve the Navier-Stokes equations for the simulation of the flow field around the vessel. In addition, an explicit VOF scheme and SST- Kω model is used with dynamic mesh scheme to capture the interface of a two-phase flow and to model the turbulence respectively, in 2DOF model (heave and pitch). Also, the results of both methods are compared with each other. According to the present results, changing the aspect ratio of the vessel and also the longitudinal center of gravity have the most effect on the porpoising region.     

Culture medium optimization for pigment production with RSM method

Response surface methodology was used to optimize a medium for a red-pigmented marine bacterium S-9801 strain （Flavobocterium sp.）. In the first optimization step the influence of yeast extract, peptone, glucose and sodium chloride on pigment production was evaluated using a fractional factorial design. Pigment production was positively influenced by glucose and sodium chloride while other components had no significant effect. In the second step the path of steepest ascent was used to approach the optimal region of the medium composition. In the third step the optimal concentration of glucose and sodium chloride was determined by a central composite design and response analysis. The optimized medium allowed pigment production （A 535-650） to be increased from 0.137 to 0.559, being 320% higher than the original medium.     

Combined use of dimensional analysis and modern experimental design methodologies in hydrodynamics experiments

In this paper, a combined use of dimensional analysis (DA) and modern statistical design of experiment (DOE) methodologies is proposed for a hydrodynamics experiment where there are a large number of variables. While DA is well-known, DOE is still unfamiliar to most ocean engineers although it has been shown to be useful in many engineering and non-engineering applications. To introduce and illustrate the method, a study concerning the thrust of a propeller is considered. Fourteen variables are involved in the problem and after dimensional analysis this reduces to 11 dimensionless parameters. Then, a two-level fractional factorial design was used to screen out parameters that do not significantly contribute to explaining the dependent dimensionless parameter. With the remaining five statistically significant dimensionless parameters, various response surface methodologies (RSM) were used to obtain a functional relationship between the dependent dimensionless thrust coefficient, and the five dimensionless parameters. The final model was found to be of reasonable accuracy when tested against results not used to develop the model. The methodologies presented in the paper can be similarly applied to systems with a large number of control variables to systematically derive approximate mathematical models to predict the responses of the system economically and accurately.     

An approach for the determination of hull-girder loads in a seaway including hydrodynamic impacts

The determination of hull-girder loads in a seaway is of particular importance for the design of marine vehicles. This paper shows how the loads can be determined, considering also the impact loads due to slamming. Results have been presented for a fast patrol boat, although the method can be used for other kinds of surface vessels. The theoretical approach presented in the paper is an extension of the linear strip method used extensively in predicting both ship motions and dynamic loads. The equations have been solved by simulating the ship behaviour in an irregular seaway.     

Maximizing the Absorbed Power of A Point Absorber Using An FA-Based Optimized Model Predictive Control

This paper presents an extended model predictive controller for maximizing the absorbed power of a point absorber wave energy converter. Owing to the great influence of controller parameters upon the absorbed power, the optimization of these parameters is carried out for the first time by a firefly algorithm (FA). Error, the difference between output velocity of buoy and input wave speed which leads to power maximization in the optimized MPC is compared with the classical MPC. Simulation results indicate that given the high accuracy and acceptable speed of the algorithm, it can adjust the parameters of the controller to the point where system error decreased effectively and the absorbed energy increased about 4 MW.