Advanced Model Predictive Control For Autonomous Marine Vehicles

This book provides a comprehensive overview of marine control system design related to underwater robotics applications. In particular, it presents novel optimization-based model predictive control strategies to solve control problems appearing in autonomous underwater vehicle applications. These novel approaches bring unique features, such as constraint handling, prioritization between multiple design objectives, optimal control performance, and robustness against disturbances and uncertainties, into the control system design. They therefore form a more general framework to design marine control systems and can be widely applied. Advanced Model Predictive Control for Autonomous Marine Vehicles balances theoretical rigor – providing thorough analysis and developing provably-correct design conditions – and application perspectives – addressing practical system constraints and implementation issues. Starting with a fixed-point positioning problem for a single vehicle and progressing to the trajectory-tracking and path-following problem of the vehicle, and then to the coordination control of a large-scale multi-robot team, this book addresses the motion control problems, increasing their level of challenge step-by-step. At each step, related subproblems such as path planning, thrust allocation, collision avoidance, and time constraints for real-time implementation are also discussed with solutions. In each chapter of this book, compact and illustrative examples are provided to demonstrate the design and implementation procedures. As a result, this book is useful for both theoretical study and practical engineering design, and the tools provided in the book are readily applicable for real-world implementation.

Unmanned marine vehicles (UMVs) include autonomous underwater vehicles, remotely operated vehicles, semi-submersibles and unmanned surface craft. Considerable importance is being placed on the design and development of such vehicles, as they provide cost-effective solutions to a number of littoral, coastal and offshore problems. This book highlights the advanced technology that is evolving to meet the challenges being posed in this exciting and growing area of research.

Robotic marine vessels can be used for a wide range of purposes, including defence, marine science, offshore energy and hydrographic surveys, and environmental surveys and protection. Such vessels need to meet a variety of criteria: they must be able to operate in salt water, and to communicate and be controlled over large distances, even when submerged or in inclement weather. Further challenges include 3D navigation of individual vehicles, groups or squadrons. This book covers the current state of research in navigation, modelling and control of marine autonomous vehicles, and deals with various related topics, including collision avoidance, communication, and a range of applications. It provides valuable insights for an audience of researchers, academics and postgraduate students interested in autonomous marine vessels, robotics, and electrical and automobile engineering.

Most modern systems involve various engineering disciplines. Mechatronic systems are designed to be dependable and efficient; however, mechatronics engineering faces multiple challenges at the design and exploitation stages. It is essential for engineers to be aware of these challenges and remain up to date with the emerging research in the mechatronics engineering field. Trends, Paradigms, and Advances in Mechatronics Engineering presents the latest advances and applications of mechatronics. It highlights the recent challenges in the field and facilitates understanding of the subject. Covering topics such as the construction industry, design optimization, and low-cost fabrication, this premier reference source is a crucial resource for engineers, computer scientists, construction managers, students and educators of higher education, librarians, researchers, and academicians.

This book introduces the reader to the hottest topics in current control sciences and robotics, as seen by scientists from Poland and other European countries. Volume 2 comprises 42 chapters, which specifically address topics connected to statistical and stochastic methods in control engineering applications, to optimization and quantum computing, to biological, medical, and ecological systems, to new applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning in automated and connected vehicles, to design and control of autonomous marine, robotics, and vehicles systems, and to other modern topics. The contributions were presented during XXI Polish Control Conference, held in Gliwice, Poland, from June 26 to 29, 2023. This book is extremely useful to all persons who want to know the latest trends in automation and robotics.

This book presents the conference proceedings of the 23rd IFToMM China International Conference on Mechanism and Machine Science & Engineering (IFToMM CCMMS 2022). CCMMS was initiated in 1982, and it is the most important forum held in China for the exchange of research ideas, presentation of technical and scientific achievements, and discussion of future directions in the field of mechanism and machine science. The topics include parallel/hybrid mechanism synthesis and analysis, theoretical & computational kinematics, compliant mechanisms and micro/nano-mechanisms, reconfigurable and metamorphic mechanisms, space structures, mechanisms and materials, structure adaptation in space environment and ground testing, large-scale membrane deployable structures, construction and application of super-scale space systems, cams, gears and combining mechanisms, fluid power mechatronics drivetrain, mechanical design theory and methods, dynamics and vibration control, mechatronics, biologically inspired mechanisms and robotics, medical & rehabilitation robotics, mobile robotics, soft robotics, heavy non-road mobile machine, robot applications, engineering education on mechanisms, machines, and robotics. This book provides a state-of-the-art overview of current advances in mechanism and machine science in China. The inspiring ideas presented in the papers enlighten academic research and industrial application. The potential readers include academic researchers and industrial professionals in mechanism and machine science.

This book is intended to meet the needs of those who seek to develop control systems for ROVs when there is no model available during the initial design stage. The modeling, simulation and application of marine vehicles like underwater robotic vehicles (URVs) are multidisciplinary, and combine mathematical aspects from various engineering disciplines. URVs such as remotely operated vehicle (ROVs) are used for a wide range of applications such as exploring the extreme depths of our ocean, where a hard-wired link is still required. Most ROVs operate in extreme environments with uncertainties in the model prior to control system design. However, the method involved extensive testing before the system model could be used for any control actions. It has been found that the range of error can be extensive and uncertain in actual, continuously varying conditions. Hence, it is important to address the problem of reliance on model testing using different modeling approaches. In this book, approaches such as WAMIT, ANSYS-CFX, STAR CCM+, MATLAB and Simulink are used to model parameters for ROVs. A few benchmark models are provided, allowing researchers and students to explore and test different control schemes. Given its scope, the book offers a valuable reference guide for postgraduate and undergraduate students engaged in modeling and simulation for ROV control.