A robot made of robots: Emergent transport and control of a smarticle ensemble

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (34) ◽  
pp. eaax4316 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Savoie ◽  
Thomas A. Berrueta ◽  
Zachary Jackson ◽  
Ana Pervan ◽  
Ross Warkentin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Closed Loop ◽  
Model System ◽  
Closed Loop Control ◽  
Loop Control ◽  
Robot Locomotion ◽  
Active Particles ◽  
And Control ◽  
Functional Components ◽  
The Relationship

Robot locomotion is typically generated by coordinated integration of single-purpose components, like actuators, sensors, body segments, and limbs. We posit that certain future robots could self-propel using systems in which a delineation of components and their interactions is not so clear, becoming robust and flexible entities composed of functional components that are redundant and generic and can interact stochastically. Control of such a collective becomes a challenge because synthesis techniques typically assume known input-output relationships. To discover principles by which such future robots can be built and controlled, we study a model robophysical system: planar ensembles of periodically deforming smart, active particles—smarticles. When enclosed, these individually immotile robots could collectively diffuse via stochastic mechanical interactions. We show experimentally and theoretically that directed drift of such a supersmarticle could be achieved via inactivation of individual smarticles and used this phenomenon to generate endogenous phototaxis. By numerically modeling the relationship between smarticle activity and transport, we elucidated the role of smarticle deactivation on supersmarticle dynamics from little data—a single experimental trial. From this mapping, we demonstrate that the supersmarticle could be exogenously steered anywhere in the plane, expanding supersmarticle capabilities while simultaneously enabling decentralized closed-loop control. We suggest that the smarticle model system may aid discovery of principles by which a class of future “stochastic” robots can rely on collective internal mechanical interactions to perform tasks.

Optimizing anaerobic co-digestion plants: MIR online instrumentation and dynamic real-time substrate feed optimization

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Gaida ◽  
Christian Wolf ◽  
Robin Eccleston ◽  
Michael Bongards
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Control ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Closed Loop Control ◽  
Control Loop ◽  
Loop Control ◽  
Plant Operation ◽  
Novel Approaches ◽  
The One ◽  
Middle Infrared ◽  
And Control

AbstractClosed-loop control of the substrate feed as well as the application of online instrumentation are important to achieve optimal biogas plant operation. Therefore, this paper presents two novel approaches for online instrumentation and control to achieve optimal AD plant operation based on middle-infrared spectroscopy on the one hand and nonlinear model predictive control on the other hand. At present, research into both techniques is being performed separately, with the intention that in the future the spectroscopic measurements will be integrated into the control loop.

scholarly journals Design and Control of a Piezoelectric-Driven Microgripper Perceiving Displacement and Gripping Force

Micromachines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanru Zhao ◽  
Xiaojie Huang ◽  
Yong Liu ◽  
Geng Wang ◽  
Kunpeng Hong
Keyword(s):  
Pid Controller ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Tracking Error ◽  
Closed Loop Control ◽  
Structure Parameters ◽  
Loop Control ◽  
Amplification Ratio ◽  
Gripping Force ◽  
And Control ◽  
Tip Displacement

A piezoelectric-driven microgripper with three-stage amplification was designed, which is able to perceive the tip displacement and gripping force. The key structure parameters of the microgripper were determined by finite element optimization and its theoretical amplification ratio was derived. The tracking experiments of the tip displacement and gripping force were conducted with a PID controller. It is shown that the standard deviation of tracking error of the tip displacement is less than 0.2 μm and the gripping force is 0.35 mN under a closed-loop control. It would provide some references for realizing high-precision microassembly tasks with the designed microgripper which can control the displacement and gripping force accurately.

The Effect of Local Force Control on Punch Forces During Panel Forming

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
William J. Emblom
Keyword(s):  
Closed Loop ◽  
Force Transducer ◽  
Open Loop ◽  
Control Panel ◽  
Closed Loop Control ◽  
Punch Force ◽  
Blank Holder ◽  
Loop Control ◽  
Operational Envelope ◽  
And Control

Methods for improving the robustness of panel forming including the introduction of process sensing and feedback and control has resulted in significant gains in the quality of parts and reduced failures. Initial efforts in implementing closed-loop control during panel forming used active tool elements to ensure that the total punch force followed prescribed trajectories. However, more recently local forces within the tooling have been demonstrated to not only follow desired force trajectories but have been shown to increase the operational envelope of the tooling compared to open-loop tests and even closed-loop test where the total punch force had been controlled. However, what has not been examined is the effect of local force, especially during closed-loop control panel forming operations on the total punch force measured during forming. This paper addresses this by comparing the results of both open-loop tests and closed-loop tests and examining the effects on both local and total punch forces. It was found that while open-loop forming with various constant draw bead depths resulted in varying total punch forces, once closed-loop control was implemented the total punch forces followed virtually identical trajectories. The tooling for this project included local force transducers and a total punch force transducer. In addition, active draw beads could be controlled during forming and a flexible blank holder with variable blank holder forces were part of the setup.

High Speed Weld Control System of Dual-Bypass MIG Based on LabVIEW

2010 ◽  
Vol 139-141 ◽  
pp. 1852-1855
Author(s):  
Cheng Xue ◽  
Yu Shi ◽  
Ding Fan ◽  
Hao Zhong ◽  
Ming Xiao Shi
Keyword(s):  
Control System ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Closed Loop Control ◽  
Mig Welding ◽  
Loop Control ◽  
Weld Formation ◽  
And Control ◽  
Control Output ◽  
Test Result

Dual-bypass MIG welding (DB-GMAW) is a new kind of high speed MIG welding with three arcs. In order to monitor the weld process and control it, a high speed weld system of DB-GMAW was built. The system was run by LabVIEW programs, including getting data of system and control output signals. The test result of system showed that all equipments could be used in the same time. Beside images of weld pool and arc, the weld voltages and currents of every part had been acquired. The signals of bypass current and weld speed also had been input TIG welding sources and worktable motor successfully. Meanwhile, the high speed weld formation had a good quality, and all of these established the closed-loop control of high speed DB-GMAW.

scholarly journals Closed-Loop Control between Two GTPase Switches makes the Secretory Functions of the Golgi Responsive to Growth Factors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingxia Qiao ◽  
I-Chung Lo ◽  
Krishna Midde ◽  
Nicolas Aznar ◽  
Amer Ali Abd El-Hafeez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factors ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Experimental Approach ◽  
Closed Loop Control ◽  
Loop Control ◽  
Negative Feedback Loops ◽  
Golgi Membranes ◽  
Linear Behavior ◽  
Cellular Secretion

Intercellular (between-cells) signals must be converted into an intracellular (within-cell) signal before it can trigger a proportionate response. How cells mount such proportionate responses within their interior remains unknown. Here we unravel the role of a coupled GTPase circuit on the Golgi membranes which enables the intracellular secretory machinery to respond proportionately to the growth factors in the extracellular space. The circuit, comprised of two species of biological switches, the Ras-superfamily monomeric GTPase Arf1, and the heterotrimeric GTPase, Giαβγ, and their corresponding GAPs and GEFs, is coupled via at least one a forward and two key negative feedback loops. Interrogation of the circuit featuring such closed-loop control (CLC) using an integrated systems-based and experimental approach showed that CLC allows the two GTPases to mutually control each other and convert the expected switch-like behavior of Arf1 into an unexpected dose-response aligned (DoRA) linear behavior. Such behavior translates into growth factor-stimulated Giαβγ activity on Golgi membranes, temporal finiteness of Arf1 activity, and cellular secretion that is proportional to the stimuli. Findings reveal the importance of the coupled GTPase circuit in rendering concordant cellular responses via the faithful transmission of growth signals to the secretory machinery.

Strain Control in an Intelligent Die Based Upon Local Force Control and Blank Holder Forces

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
William J. Emblom ◽  
Klaus J. Weinmann ◽  
John E. Beard
Keyword(s):  
Closed Loop ◽  
Open Loop ◽  
Die Design ◽  
Closed Loop Control ◽  
Blank Holder Force ◽  
Punch Force ◽  
Blank Holder ◽  
Loop Control ◽  
And Control ◽  
Bead Penetration

An experimental evaluation of the strains in an oval stamp forming die is presented. The die design included a flexible blank holder and active draw beads. The die was instrumented with local punch force and wrinkle sensors and control systems were developed in order to follow local punch force and wrinkle trajectories. Strains were measured after pan forming for both open and closed-loop tests. The relation between blank holder force, draw bead penetration, and strains were explored in the critical strain region of the formed pan. Closed-loop control of the local punch forces at the die ends was established using blank holder forces. The strains for tests with various lubrication conditions and draw bead penetrations were compared. It was observed that there is a tendency for the strains in critical locations to converge or remain constant for the closed-loop control tests while the strains tended to increase with blank holder force for open-loop tests. It was concluded that by controlling local punch forces, strain is indirectly controlled.

Dynamics and Control of Global Instabilities in Open-Flows: A Linearized Approach

2010 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Denis Sipp ◽  
Olivier Marquet ◽  
Philippe Meliga ◽  
Alexandre Barbagallo
Keyword(s):  
Closed Loop ◽  
Selection Process ◽  
Open Loop ◽  
Base Flow ◽  
Closed Loop Control ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Loop Control ◽  
Dynamics And Control ◽  
Global Modes ◽  
And Control

This review article addresses the dynamics and control of low-frequency unsteadiness, as observed in some aerodynamic applications. It presents a coherent and rigorous linearized approach, which enables both to describe the dynamics of commonly encountered open-flows and to design open-loop and closed-loop control strategies, in view of suppressing or delaying instabilities. The approach is global in the sense that both cross-stream and streamwise directions are discretized in the evolution operator. New light will therefore be shed on the streamwise properties of open-flows. In the case of oscillator flows, the unsteadiness is due to the existence of unstable global modes, i.e., unstable eigenfunctions of the linearized Navier–Stokes operator. The influence of nonlinearities on the dynamics is studied by deriving nonlinear amplitude equations, which accurately describe the dynamics of the flow in the vicinity of the bifurcation threshold. These equations also enable us to analyze the mean flow induced by the nonlinearities as well as the stability properties of this flow. The open-loop control of unsteadiness is then studied by a sensitivity analysis of the eigenvalues with respect to base-flow modifications. With this approach, we manage to a priori identify regions of the flow where a small control cylinder suppresses unsteadiness. Then, a closed-loop control approach was implemented for the case of an unstable open-cavity flow. We have combined model reduction techniques and optimal control theory to stabilize the unstable eigenvalues. Various reduced-order-models based on global modes, proper orthogonal decomposition modes, and balanced modes were tested and evaluated according to their ability to reproduce the input-output behavior between the actuator and the sensor. Finally, we consider the case of noise-amplifiers, such as boundary-layer flows and jets, which are stable when viewed in a global framework. The importance of the singular value decomposition of the global resolvent will be highlighted in order to understand the frequency selection process in such flows.

Modeling and Control of the In-Situ Thermoplastic Composite Tape-Laying Process

1998 ◽  
Vol 120 (4) ◽  
pp. 507-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei-Ching Sun ◽  
Susan C. Mantell ◽  
Kim A. Stelson
Keyword(s):  
Process Model ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Thermoplastic Composite ◽  
Closed Loop Control ◽  
Loop Control ◽  
Modeling And Control ◽  
Composite Tape ◽  
Temperature Feedback ◽  
And Control

In thermoplastic tape-laying with in-situ consolidation, a laminated composite is constructed by the local application of heat and pressure. A moving head, applying heat and pressure, lays down and bonds a new layer to the previously bonded layers (substrate). The temperature at the interface between the top ply and the substrate is critical to achieving interlaminar bonding. Recent research on the in-situ thermoplastic composite tape-laying process has focused on modeling, numerical analysis and experimental analysis, but little research has considered the control of this process. In this work, a method is proposed for modeling and control of in-situ thermoplastic composite tape-laying. The key to the control algorithm is predicting the temperature at the interface between the top ply and the substrate. Based on a process model, a state feedback controller and a state estimator for temperature are designed for closed-loop control using the linear quadratic method. Two different approaches are used to develop the process model for real-time closed-loop control through temperature feedback. In the first approach, a low-order lumped parameter model is constructed from a finite difference scheme. The second approach constructs an empirical model through system identification. The structures of the two models are identical, but the parameters differ. The experimental results have shown that the developed estimator and controller can accurately estimate and control the bonding temperature using temperature feedback indicating that the proposed modeling and control methodology can produce a high quality thermoplastic composite laminate.

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