Machine learning of electro-hydraulic motor dynamics

In this paper we propose an innovative machine learning approach to the hydraulic motor load balancing problem involving intelligent optimisation and neural networks. Two different nonlinear artificial neural network approaches are investigated, and their accuracy is compared to that of a linearised analytical model. The first neural network approach uses a multi-layer perceptron to reproduce the load simulator dynamics. The multi-layer perceptron is trained using the Rprop algorithm. The second approach uses a hybrid scheme featuring an analytical model to represent the main system behaviour, and a multi-layer perceptron to reproduce unmodelled nonlinear terms. Four techniques are tested for the optimisation of the parameters of the analytical model: random search, an evolutionary algorithm, particle swarm optimisation, and the Bees Algorithm. Experimental tests on 4500 real data samples from an electro-hydraulic load simulator rig reveal that the accuracy of the hybrid and the neural network models is comparable, and significantly superior to the accuracy of the analytical model. The results of the optimisation procedures suggest also that the inferior performance of the analytical model is likely due to the non-negligible magnitude of the unmodelled nonlinearities, rather than suboptimal setting of the parameters. Despite its limitations, the analytical linear model performs comparably to the state-of-the-art in the literature, whilst the neural and hybrid approaches compare favourably.

An Improved Pigeon-Inspired Optimisation Algorithm and Its Application in Parameter Inversion

Pre-stack amplitude variation with offset (AVO) elastic parameter inversion is a nonlinear, multi-solution optimisation problem. The techniques that combine intelligent optimisation algorithms and AVO inversion provide an effective identification method for oil and gas exploration. However, these techniques also have shortcomings in solving nonlinear geophysical inversion problems. The evolutionary optimisation algorithms have recognised disadvantages, such as the tendency of convergence to a local optimum resulting in poor local optimisation performance when dealing with multimodal search problems, decreasing diversity and leading to the prematurity of the population as the number of evolutionary iterations increases. The pre-stack AVO elastic parameter inversion is nonlinear with slow convergence, while the pigeon-inspired optimisation (PIO) algorithm has the advantage of fast convergence and better optimisation characteristics. In this study, based on the characteristics of the pre-stack AVO elastic parameter inversion problem, an improved PIO algorithm (IPIO) is proposed by introducing the particle swarm optimisation (PSO) algorithm, an inverse factor, and a Gaussian factor into the PIO algorithm. The experimental comparisons indicate that the proposed IPIO algorithm can achieve better inversion results.