Eray A. Baran

Motion control systems with network delay

In this paper motion control systems with delay in measurement and control channels are discussed and a new structure of the observer-predictor is proposed. The feature of the proposed system is enforcement of the convergence in both the estimation and prediction of the plant output in the presence of the variable, unknown delay in both measurement and in control channels. The estimation is based on the available data—undelayed control input, the delayed measurement of position or velocity and the nominal parameters of the plant—and does not require apriori knowledge of the delay. The stability and convergence is proven and selection of observer and the controller parameters are discussed. Experimental results are shown to illustrate the theoretical predictions.

Configuration space control of a parallel Delta robot with a neural network based inverse kinematics

This paper describes configuration space control of a Delta robot with a neural network based kinematics. Mathematical model of the kinematics for parallel Delta robot used for manipulation purposes in microfactory was validated, and experiments showed that this model is not describing “real” kinematics properly. Therefore a new solution for kinematics mapping had to be investigated. Solution was found in neural network utilization, and it was used to model robots inverse kinematics. It showed significantly better mapping between task space coordinates and configuration (joint) space coordinates than the mathematical model, for the workspace of interest. Consequently positioning accuracy improvement is expected. Neural network is then used as a part of the control system. Applied control strategy was configuration space acceleration control with disturbance observer.

Model following control with discrete time SMC for time-delayed bilateral control systems

This paper proposes a new algorithm based on model following control to recover the uncompensated slave disturbance on time delayed motion control systems having contact with environment. In the previous works, a modified Communication Disturbance Observer (CDOB) was shown to be successful in ensuring position tracking in free motion under varying time delay [11], [12]. However, experiments show that due to the imperfections in slave plant Disturbance Observer (DOB) when there is rapid change of external force on the slave side, as in the case of environment contact, position tracking is degraded. This paper first analyzes the effect of environment contact for motion control systems with disturbance observers. Following this analysis, a model following controller scheme is proposed to restore the ideal motion on the slave system. A virtual plant is introduced which accepts the current from the master side and determines what the position output would be if there was no environment. Based on the error bet ween actual system and model system, a discrete time sliding mode controller is designed which enforces the real slave system to track the virtual slave output. In other words, convergence of slave position to the master position is achieved even though there is contact with environment. Experimental verification of the proposed control scheme also shows the improvement in slave position tracking under contact forces.

Novel parameter estimation schemes in microsystems

This paper presents two novel estimation methods that are designed to enhance our ability of observing, positioning, and physically transforming the objects and/or biological structures in micromanipulation tasks. In order to effectively monitor and position the microobjects, an online calibration method with submicron precision via a recursive least square solution is presented. To provide the adequate information to manipulate the biological structures without damaging the cell or tissue during an injection, a nonlinear spring-mass-damper model is introduced and mechanical properties of a zebrafish embryo are obtained. These two methods are validated on a microassembly workstation and the results are evaluated quantitatively.

Contouring Controller for Precise Motion Control Systems

This paper discusses the trajectory generation algorithm, contour error construction method and finally the contour controller design. In the trajectory generation algorithm combination of elliptical Fourier descriptors (EFD) and time based spline approximation (TBSA) is used to generate position, velocity and acceleration references. Contour error is constructed using transformation of trajectory tracking errors. Transformation is computationally efficient and requires only reference velocity information. Contour controller is designed using sliding mode control. Experiments are performed on planar linear motion stage and significant contour error reduction is observed.

Functional Observers for Motion Control Systems

This paper presents a novel functional observer for motion control systems to provide higher accuracy and less noise in comparison to existing observers. The observer uses the input current and position information along with the nominal parameters of the plant and can observe the velocity, acceleration and disturbance information of the system. The novelty of the observer is based on its functional structure that can intrinsically estimate and compensate the un-measured inputs (like disturbance acting on the system) using the measured input current. The experimental results of the proposed estimator verifies its success in estimating the velocity, acceleration and disturbance with better precision than other second order observers.

A new functional observer to estimate velocity, acceleration and disturbance for motion control systems

This paper presents a novel functional observer which can observe the velocity, acceleration and disturbance information of a motion control system with higher accuracy and less noise in comparison to classical observers. The observer uses the input current and position information and the nominal parameters of the plant. The novelty of the observer is based on its functional structure that can intrinsically estimate and compensate the un-measured inputs (like disturbance acting on the system) using the measured input current. The experimental results of the proposed estimator verifies its success in estimating the velocity, acceleration and disturbance with better precision than classical observers.

Design and control of laser micromachining workstation

The production process of miniature devices and microsystems requires the utilization of non-conventional micromachining techniques. In the past few decades laser micromachining has became micro-manufacturing technique of choice for many industrial and research applications. This paper discusses the design of motion control system for a laser micromachining workstation with particulars about automatic focusing and control of work platform used in the workstation. The automatic focusing is solved in a sliding mode optimization framework and preview controller is used to control the motion platform. Experimental results of both motion control and actual laser micromachining are presented.

Constant velocity control of a miniature pantograph with image based trajectory generation

This paper presents a methodological approach for the practical realization of high precision laser micromachining over shapes of arbitrary geometry. The scheme presented throughout the paper includes an easy-to-use way of reference generation via image processing for shapes that is mathematically difficult to represent. The necessary constraint of tracking the constant reference tangential velocity for high precision laser production is enabled via the so called spline polynomial interpolation method. The description of algorithmic steps for the acquisition of reference cartesian trajectory from an image is followed by the presentation of spline method and the controller used for the realization. The proposed approach is tested in experiments and the validity of the methodology is verified for practical implementation.

Three-dimensional contour tracking control of a parallel manipulator: Comparison of two control techniques

In this paper a novel design for three-dimensional (3-D) contour controller is proposed. This design relies on dynamics projection to the moving Frenet-Serret frame defined for each point on reference trajectory. Contour controller consists of independent joint controller and additional sliding mode controller, added as corrective term. Control task is defined as contour tracking with constant tangential velocity. Contour controller was compared with independent joint controller designed as acceleration controller with first order disturbance observer. Reference trajectory is generated using time based spline approximation to provide smooth reference trajectory. Experimental results showed significant improvement that contour controller provides over independent joint control with relatively high velocity references.