Three-dimensional visualization of mission planning and control forthe NPS autonomous underwater vehicle

The Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) is constructing a small autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) with an onboard mission control computer. The mission controller software for this vehicle is a knowledge-based artificial intelligence (AI) system requiring thorough analysis and testing before the AUV is operational. The manner in which rapid prototyping of this software has been demonstrated by developing a controller code on a LISP machine and using an Ethernet link with a graphics workstation to simulate the controller's environment is discussed. The development of a testing simulator using a knowledge engineering environment (KEE) expert system shell that examines AUV controller subsystems and vehicle models before integrating them with the full AUV for its test environment missions is discussed. This AUV simulator utilizes an interactive mission planning control console and is fully autonomous once initial parameters are selected     

A task-based hierarchical control strategy for autonomous motion of an unmanned surface vehicle swarm

In this paper, a hierarchical control framework with relevant algorithms is proposed to achieve autonomous navigation for an underactuated unmanned surface vehicle (USV) swarm. In order to implement automatic target tracking, obstacle avoidance and avoid collisions between group members, the control framework is divided into three layers based on task assignments: flocking strategy design, motion planning and control input design. The flocking strategy design transmits some basic orders to swarm members. Motion planning applies the potential function method and then improves it; thus, the issue of autonomous control is transformed into one of designing the velocity vector. In the last layer, the control inputs (surge force and yaw moment) are designed using the sliding mode method, and the problem of underactuation is handled synchronously. The proposed closed-loop controller is shown to be semi-asymptotically stable by applying Lyapunov stability theory, and the effectiveness of the proposed methodology is demonstrated via numeric simulations of a homogeneous USV swarm.     

Numerical simulation of a short flexible pipe subject to forced motion and vortex-induced vibration

A series of numerical simulations about a small scale(aspect ratio:63.2) flexible pipe undergoing forced harmonious oscillation and vortex-induced vibration(VIV) have been taken into account.The wake hydrodynamics and pipe deformation were accomplished by ANSYS MFX solution strategy designed for fluid-structure interaction(FSI) problem with well-performed LES model.The configuration of structured mesh,multi-domain design,different mesh stiffness admeasured by User Fortran ensured that the numerical task was competent to deal with large deformation related to this case.The introduction of instantaneous amplitude definition and modeless component decomposition method(Chen and Kim,2008) was helpful to reveal much more information from modal analysis.Most results from numerical simulation are generally consistent with those from model test(Choi and Hong,2000) via the comparison between them.As supplementary to model test,visualization of the vortex wake was also provided.It has been proved that the forced oscillation doesn't only excite a complicated dumbbell-like wake pattern around the outer thimble,but also results in inner flow inside the PVC pipe.The velocity of the inner flow increases with the frequency of forced oscillation.     

自治水下机器人机械手系统协调运动研究

简单描述了自治水下机器人搭载的三功能水下电动机械手的设计,鉴于自治水下机器人-机械手系统运动学冗余、内部可能干涉以及载体圆筒式外形等特点,将惩罚调节因子引入系统运动学伪逆矩阵,保证了关节在允许范围内运动,避免载体大幅度姿态变化及载体与机械手之间的干涉,同时采用梯度投影法优化海流作用下的系统推力。仿真表明,该算法在解决系统冗余度的同时,有效地协调多任务下的系统动作。     

Formation control of multiple underwater vehicles subject to communication faults and uncertainties

This paper proposes a novel approach to analyze and design the formation keeping control protocols for multiple underwater vehicles in the presence of communication faults and possible uncertainties. First, we formulate the considered vehicle model as the Port-controlled Hamiltonian form, and introduce the spring-damping system based formation control. Next, the dynamics of multiple underwater vehicles under uncertain relative information is reformulated as a network of Lur’e systems. Moreover, the agents under unknown disturbances generated by an external system are considered, where the internal model is applied to tackle the uncertainties, which still can be regulated as the Lur’e systems. In each case, the formation control is derived from solving LMI problems. Finally, a numerical example is introduced to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed theoretical approach.     

Model-based feedback control of autonomous underwater gliders

We describe the development of feedback control for autonomous underwater gliders. Feedback is introduced to make the glider motion robust to disturbances and uncertainty. Our focus is on buoyancy-propelled, fixed-wing gliders with attitude controlled by means of active internal mass redistribution. We derive a nonlinear dynamic model of a nominal glider complete with hydrodynamic forces and coupling between the vehicle and the movable internal mass. We use this model to study stability and controllability of glide paths and to derive feedback control laws. For our analysis, we restrict to motion in the vertical plane and consider linear control laws. For illustration, we apply our methodology to a model of our own laboratory-scale underwater glider     

Hull hydrodynamic optimization of autonomous underwater vehicles operating at snorkeling depth

Traditionally autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) have been built with a torpedo-like shape. This common shaping is hydrodynamically suboptimal for those AUVs required to operate at snorkeling condition near the free surface. In this case, the wave resistance associated to the wavy deformation of the sea surface induced by the motion of the platform is an important component of the drag. This work has investigated the optimum hull shape of an underwater vehicle moving near the free surface. Specifically a first-order Rankine panel method has been implemented to compute the wave resistance on a body of revolution moving close to the free surface. A simulated annealing algorithm was then employed to search those set of parameters defining the hull shape that minimize the wave resistance. The optimization was constrained to keep constant the total volume of the vehicle. The total drag of scaled models of the torpedo-like and resulting optimum shapes was measured in the naval tank of the University of Trieste. Measurements showed a smaller resistance of the optimized shape in the range of the considered Froude numbers.     

动力定位平台协同运动控制与栈桥运动响应研究

随着海上油气开采作业及海上风电运维项目对于人员安全性、舒适性提出的越来越高的要求,生活支持平台应运而生。生活支持平台与生产平台通过栈桥连接。如何在复杂的海洋环境中保持栈桥的安全性,对于保障人员生命安全,尽可能地延长作业时间以及节约项目运营成本都有着重要意义。针对一座配备动力定位系统的生活支持平台和一座锚泊辅助动力定位的生产平台以及它们之间搭载的栈桥展开研究。设计了基于一致性算法的跟踪控制器,以实现两平台间的协同运动控制,使两平台间的距离不超过栈桥的可伸缩长度范围。在此基础上,研究不同环境载荷方向下栈桥的运动响应情况。当环境载荷方向从0°变化到90°时,伸缩量和变幅角增大,而回转角减小,它们变化的频率也存在一定差异,其中回转角对于环境载荷方向的变化最为敏感。     

On-line learning control of autonomous underwater vehicles usingfeedforward neural networks

A neural-network-based learning control scheme for the motion control of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) is described. The scheme has a number of advantages over the classical control schemes and conventional adaptive control techniques. The dynamics of the controlled vehicle need not be fully known. The controller with the aid of a gain layer learns the dynamics and adapts fast to give the correct control action. The dynamic response and tracking performance could be accurately controlled by adjusting the network learning rate. A modified direct control scheme using multilayered neural network architecture is used in the studies with backpropagation as the learning algorithm. Results of simulation studies using nonlinear AUV dynamics are described in detail. The robustness of the control system to sudden and slow varying disturbances in the dynamics is studied and the results are presented     

Discrete time-delay control of an autonomous underwater vehicle: Theory and experimental results

A discrete time-delay control (DTDC) law for a general six degrees of freedom unsymmetric autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is presented. Hydrodynamic parameters like added mass coefficients and drag coefficients, which are generally uncertain, are not required by the controller. This control law cancels the uncertainties in the AUV dynamics by direct estimation of the uncertainties using time-delay estimation technique. The discrete-time version of the time-delay control does not require the derivative of the system state to be measured or estimated, which is required by the continuous-time version of the controller. This particularly provides an advantage over continuous-time controller in terms of computational effort or availability of sensors for measuring state derivatives, i.e., linear and angular accelerations. Implementation issues for practical realization of the controller are discussed. Experiments on a test-bed AUV were conducted in depth, pitch, and yaw degrees of freedom. Results show that the proposed control law performs well in the presence of uncertainties.     

Adaptive sliding mode control of autonomous underwater vehicles inthe dive plane

The problem of controlling an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in a diving maneuver is addressed. Having a simple controller which performs satisfactorily in the presence of dynamical uncertainties calls for a design using the sliding mode approach, based on a dominant linear model and bounds on the nonlinear perturbations of the dynamics. Nonadaptive and adaptive techniques are considered, leading to the design of robust controllers that can adjust to changing dynamics and operating conditions. The problem of using the observed state in the control design is addressed, leading to a sliding mode control system based on input-output signals in terms of drive-phase command and depth measurement. Numerical simulations using a full set of nonlinear equations of motion show the effectiveness of the proposed techniques     

Studies on an algorithm to control the roll motion using active fins

The very purpose of attaching fins to the hull is to reduce the roll motions of a ship. Roll minimization is a requisite for various operations in the seas. The presence of fin system provides enhanced state of stabilization especially when the vessel is performing a fast maneuvering amidst rough environmental disturbance. The fins in turn are activated by electro-hydraulic mechanism based on the in-built intelligence as per control theory like proportional–integral–derivative (PID) or fuzzy logic. As per this paper, fin system is activated using PID control algorithm. A frigate-type warship is considered for the demonstration purpose. Nonlinear roll motions are controlled using active fins. Lift characteristics of the fins in hydrodynamic flow were studied using CFD package fluent.Good amount of reduction in roll amplitude is achieved from various simulations in random sea. The approach can be used for any irregular sea conditions.     

无人船运动控制方法综述

为实现无人船海上自主作业,无人船运动控制的快速性、准确性以及鲁棒性亟待提高。首先从全驱动控制和欠驱动控制角度,分别概括了国内外无人船航向控制、航速控制、轨迹跟踪控制以及路径跟踪控制的主流控制方法。其次,归纳总结了处理海洋环境不确定扰动的研究进展,包括扰动的建模和消除、抑制扰动的主流方法。最后,总结了无人船运动控制现状与存在的问题,并从工程应用和理论研究两个角度对未来的研究方向进行了展望。     

Methods of estimating allowable motion perturbations in side-scansonar systems

This document describes the effects of nonideal hydrophone array motion on sonar image quality and derives the allowable motion errors for vehicles carrying side-scan sonar systems. Estimates of the quantity of motion that causes just noticeable sensor performance degradation as well as those that render the sensors useless are derived using two different methods. Using a special resolution target, examples of simulated image distortion resulting from several types of motion are presented. A method for quantitatively measuring the actual image distortion in situ is described     

Robust control for an autonomous underwater vehicle that suppresses pitch and yaw coupling

Attitude control systems for autonomous underwater vehicles are often implemented with separate controllers for pitch motion in the vertical plane and yaw motion in the horizontal plane. We propose a novel time-varying model for a streamlined autonomous underwater vehicle that explicitly displays the coupling between yaw and pitch motion due to nonzero roll angle and/or roll rate. The model facilitates the use of a multi-input multi-output H_∞ control design that is robust to yaw-pitch coupling. The efficacy of our approach is demonstrated with field trials.     

基于iSIGHT重于水的无人自治潜水器概念设计及优化方法

介绍一种新型重于水的无人自治潜水器的概念设计及主艇体优化方法,阐述了主艇体、机翼、尾翼等设计原理。以飞鱼Ⅱ设计过程为例,详细描述了重于水的无人自治潜水器概念设计流程,并通过iSIGHT优化设计软件对主艇体的设计参数进行优化。优化结果表明,优化后主艇体重量能够减小48%,阻力减小2.9%。     

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     

Stability analysis of the heave motion of marine cable-body systems

The dynamic stability of the heave motion of marine cable-body systems operating in alternating taut–slack conditions is considered, based upon a single-degree-of-freedom model. In this model the fluid damping is linearised and the cable is replaced by a spring of bi-linear stiffness. The period-one Poincare map is derived, and its stability is analysed by examining its Jacobian matrix. Numerical simulations are also carried out to show the transition from a periodic response to a chaotic one through period doubling.     

Path following control of fully-actuated autonomous underwater vehicle in presence of fast-varying disturbances

This paper presents an improved active disturbances rejecter control (ADRC) for path following control of autonomous underwater vehicles under significant fast-varying disturbances caused by waves and sea currents. Two significant and efficient improvements are introduced to the traditional ADRC in order to accomplish this task. First, a generalized ESO (GESO) and Harmonic ESO (HESO) were designed to achieve a high disturbances estimation quality. Secondly, two AUV path following controllers based on ADRC-GESO and ADRC-HESO were designed to ensure a high performance tracking in presence of periodic-type disturbances. Finally, numerical simulations were performed and the obtained results showed very significant enhancements of robustness and tracking accuracy by the proposed methods compared to conventional ADRC.