GA-optimized feedforward-PID tracking control for a rugged electrohydraulic system design

A novel order-separated generalized feedforward design for motion control in energy-efficient electrohydraulic system with proportional and integral feedback

Existing feedforward, or FF, controllers are based on differentially flat models. For double-acting single-rod cylinders, more compact than the double-rod ones, flat models could be constructed either under an incompressible-flow assumption for low-pressure, slow-response applications or for a matched valve-cylinder combination. Contrasting the existing models tackling only a single nonlinear aspect like valve leakage, oil compressibility or friction, a novel FF controller, generalized for different types of valve-cylinder-pump combinations, has been developed here. It is based on the highest-order assumption of incompressible flow that sustains the piston motion. An FFPI controller has been implemented in a laboratory setup for displacement tracking against sinusoidal demands up to 9 Hz frequency. The FF parameters has been estimated by minimizing the deviation of simulation prediction from an offline experimental time-varying response. The PI gains have been selected through a stability analysis by extending Routh criteria for linearized time-variant error dynamics. Comparison against a PI-only controller with identical gains has established the energy-saving potential of the FFPI controller both working with the same variable-displacement pump. In comparison to existing nonlinear adaptive controllers, more precise and smoother responses have been obtained over wider frequency range at lower control expenses, admittedly with occasional marginal penalty in the phase variation. The FFPI controller has exhibited the shortest transient and the highest resilience against measurement noise.

Intelligent PID control of an industrial electro-hydraulic system

In this study, an intelligent PID (i-PID) controller is designed for position control of a nonlinear electro-hydraulic system with uncertain valve characteristics and supply pressure variations. The proposed controller uses estimation of ultra-local model of the system. To exhibit the capability of the proposed method, the controller parameters are optimized via the particle swarm optimization method through a nominal nonlinear model of the system. Then, the performance of the i-PID controller, parameters of which are optimized by using the nominal model, is examined under uncertainties caused by valve characteristics and supply pressure variations. Moreover, the friction between the piston and the hydraulic cylinder is also considered in experiments. A PID controller whose parameters are also optimized based on the same performance criteria, is used for comparison purposes with i-PID control both in simulations and experiments. Performance metrics of the controllers are examined and presented by employing two separate reference signals: Sine wave and ramp. The results show that the i-PID controller shows significantly better results than the classical PID controller in tracking the test signals under various supply pressures and valve modes.

Autonomous homing control of a powered parafoil with insufficient altitude

In order to realize safe and accurate homing of a powered parafoil under the condition of insufficient initial altitude, a multiphase homing path is designed according to the flight characteristics of the vehicle. With consideration that the traditional control methods cannot ensure the quality of path following because of the nonlinear, large inertial and longtime delay existed in the system and strong disturbances in a complex environment, a homing controller, composed of the vertical and horizontal trajectory tracking controllers, is designed based on active disturbance rejection control (ADRC). Then autonomous homing simulation experiment of the powered parafoil with insufficient altitude is carried on in a windy environment. The simulation results show that the planned multiphase homing trajectory can fulfill the requirements of fixed-point homing and flare landing; the designed homing controller can overcome the influences of uncertain items of the internal and external disturbances, track the desired homing path more rapidly and steadily, and possesses better control performances than traditional PID controllers.

State-dependent differential Riccati equation to track control of time-varying systems with state and control nonlinearities

This work studies an optimal control problem using the state-dependent Riccati equation (SDRE) in differential form to track for time-varying systems with state and control nonlinearities. The trajectory tracking structure provides two nonlinear differential equations: the state-dependent differential Riccati equation (SDDRE) and the feed-forward differential equation. The independence of the governing equations and stability of the controller are proven along the trajectory using the Lyapunov approach. Backward integration (BI) is capable of solving the equations as a numerical solution; however, the forward solution methods require the closed-form solution to fulfill the task. A closed-form solution is introduced for SDDRE, but the feed-forward differential equation has not yet been obtained. Different ways of solving the problem are expressed and analyzed. These include BI, closed-form solution with corrective assumption, approximate solution, and forward integration. Application of the tracking problem is investigated to control robotic manipulators possessing rigid or flexible joints. The intention is to release a general program for automatic implementation of an SDDRE controller for any manipulator that obeys the Denavit-Hartenberg (D-H) principle when only D-H parameters are received as input data.