Concept Of Autonomous Control Research Articles

Design and Evaluation of an Integrated Autonomous Control Method for Automobile Terminals

Background: Automobile terminals play a key role in global finished car supply chains. Due to their connecting character between manufacturers on the one side and distributers on the other side, they are continuously faced with volatile demand fluctuations and unforeseen dynamic events, which cannot be handled adequately by existing planning methods. Autonomous control concepts already showed promising results coping with such dynamics. Methods: This paper describes the causes of dynamics and the terminal systems’ inherent shortcomings in dealing with such dynamics. On this basis, it derives terminal’s demand for novel planning approaches and presents a new integrated autonomous control method for automobile terminals. This novel autonomous control approach combines yard and berth assignments. This paper evaluates the performance of the new approach in a small comprehensive generic scenario. It compares classical planning approaches with the new autonomous control approach, by using a discrete event simulation model. Moreover, it analyses all relevant parameters of the new approach in a full factorial experiment design. In a second step this paper proves the applicability of the combined autonomous control approach to real-world terminals. It presents a simulation model of a real-world terminal and compares the new method with the existing terminal planning approaches. Results: This paper will show that the autonomous control approach is capable of outperforming existing centralized planning methods. In the generic and in the real-world case the new combined method leads to the best logistic target achievement. Conclusions: The new approach is highly suitable to automobile terminal systems and helps to overcome existing shortcomings. Especially in highly dynamic and complex settings, autonomous control performs better than conventional yard planning approaches.

Distributing decision-making authority in manufacturing – review and roadmap for the factory of the future

The question of the benefits of autonomous control is more important than ever: production managers, governments and society hope that the vision of smart and digital production systems with high flexibility and low costs may save the value adding and therefore welfare in the high wage, industrialised countries. At the same time, the discussion on the social implications of autonomous objects and decentralised control approaches is growing. Looking back on the history of production research and practice, we find that there has been a constant ply among scholars and production managers between the advantages of the two concepts of centralised and decentralised control approaches. In this article, we study the concept of autonomy in production planning and control, enabled by cyber-physical systems and the distribution of decision-making authority. Based on a profound structured literature review, we analyse the perception of autonomy, the technological requirements and the increasing complexities of modern smart manufacturing. Moreover, we find that recently several research streams suggest the advantages and benefits of autonomous control concepts compared to traditional centralised approaches based on qualitative analysis and identify a distinct lack of quantitative results.

Developing the concept of autonomous control of the quarry vehicles movement

Introduction. The article presents the results of studies related to the description of the synthesis and further analysis of the dynamic behavior of unmanned vehicles (UMVs) operating at coal opencast mines and other mining enterprises. The relevance of the research topic is dictated by the need to create safe and effective conditions for overburden / mining and mining transportation operations. This is ensured, among other things, by the operation of unmanned heavy-duty dump trucks. Purpose of the work: in the course of the research, a concept was developed for the formation of route parameters and models of the dynamics of movement of UMVs along technological routes. Methodology. The paper describes the technology for generating and processing signals in control subsystems as part of an automated dispatching system and an on-board subsystem for autonomous control of the UMV. Research methods include the study of the shapes and characteristics of current trajectories (CT) in relation to a nominal axial trajectory (NAT). In this case, a current trajectory of the UMV is considered within the framework of the so-called S-frames, which are formed as geolocations on a certain working UMV route from a bench face to the place of unloading and vice versa. As a variable characterizing the UMV behavior on a current trajectory, a 1D-signal with a time dependent frequency is adopted, the nature of the change of which is determined by the CT dynamic shape relative to the NAT. Results. Such chirp signals – together with the wavelet transforms technique introduced into consideration – allow us in a semantically transparent and information-rich videographic form to display and subject to further processing signals characterizing the current behavior of a UMV on a route. The resulting parameters of such secondary wavelet representations of the current UMV dynamics (wavelet maps) are further planned to be used in the subsystem of dynamic modal control of the UMV movement in the open pit. Conclusions. The results of the studies carried out make it possible to form current routes of UMV movement according to the models generated based on the analytical tools accompanying the dynamics of the UMVs, proposed in the work.

Autonomous Control, Operation, and Protection of the FREEDM System

This paper presents the concept of autonomous control, operation, and protection for a future distribution system named FREEDM system. The system architecture is presented first. Targeted as a grid suitable for large scale integration of distributed resources, the FREEDM System uses solid state transformers to interface the medium voltage distribution system to residential AC and DC microgrids. Innovative autonomous control, operation and protection are proposed and discussed in this paper. Simulation and experimental results are presented to verify the main concept.

A distributed routing concept for vehicle routing problems

Traditional solution concepts for the vehicle routing problem (VRP) are pushed to their limits, when applied on dynamically changing vehicle routing scenarios—which are more close to reality than the static formulation. By contrast, the introduced distributed routing concept is designed to match packages and vehicles and to continuously make route decisions especially within a dynamic environment. In this autonomous control concept, each of these objects makes its own decisions. The developed algorithm was entitled Distributed Logistics Routing Protocol (DLRP). But in spite of the restricted suitability of the traditional VRP concepts for dynamic environments, they are still the benchmark for any VRP-similar task. Therefore, we first present a description of the developed DLRP. Then an adapted vehicle routing problem is defined, which both sides, static and dynamic concepts, can cope with. Finally, both concepts are compared using a tabu search algorithm as a well working instance of traditional VRP-concepts. For a quantitative comparison, four solutions are given for the same adapted problem: the optimal solution as a lower bound, the DLRP solution, a tabu search solution and a random-like solution as an upper bound.

AUTONOMOUS EXCAVATION USING HYDRAULIC MOBILE MACHINE RETROFITTED WITH ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM

Autonomous functions are a common research topic in robotics. However, the robots typically have limited operating conditions and they can only handle relatively small loads. Many autonomous control concepts are applicable to actual construction machinery. The benefits would be considerable regarding efficiency, safety, and operator comfort. The research projects of this field have often led to systems with cost and complexity too high for most applications. This paper presents an implementation of a cost-effective distributed control system that is retrofitted to a small hydraulic excavator. The system can be used to perform simple operator assisting functions but also to develop autonomous excavation.The hardware of the system consists of cost-effective joint angle sensors and a flexible microcontroller unit. Control schemes that produce autonomous functions are discussed and tested with the excavator. These include position controllers for conventional mobile proportional hydraulics. The aim is to find computationally simple but flexible algorithms for autonomous excavation. The results of the preliminary tests are presented. Future improvements are discussed.

Ship Control Technology; A US Navy Perspective

The influence of rapid technology growth and Total Ownership Cost (TOC) reduction pressures on control system design is investigated. The US Navy Smart Ship Program is reviewed as an example of a program seeking to leverage commercial technologies (hardware and software) and apply them to US Navy ships. Advanced control system architectures are explored, beginning with autonomous control concepts using component level intelligence techniques, and proceeding to advanced architectures utilizing intelligent agents. The paper concludes with a discussion of advanced sensing and maintenance techniques.