Planar straightness error evaluation based on particle swarm optimization

Abstract

The straightness error generally refers to the deviation between an actual line and an ideal line. According to the characteristics of planar straightness error evaluation, a novel method to evaluate planar straightness errors based on the particle swarm optimization (PSO) is proposed. The planar straightness error evaluation problem is formulated as a nonlinear optimization problem. According to minimum zone condition the mathematical model of planar straightness together with the optimal objective function and fitness function is developed. Compared with the genetic algorithm (GA), the PSO algorithm has some advantages. It is not only implemented without crossover and mutation but also has fast congruence speed. Moreover fewer parameters are needed to set up. The results show that the PSO method is very suitable for nonlinear optimization problems and provides a promising new method for straightness error evaluation. It can be applied to deal with the measured data of planar straightness obtained by the three-coordinates measuring machines.