Controls and Control Theory Commons^™

Electromechanics Of An Ocean Current Turbine, Vasileios Tzelepis

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The development of a numeric simulation for predicting the performance of an Ocean Current Energy Conversion System is presented in this thesis along with a control system development using a PID controller for the achievement of specified rotational velocity set-points. In the beginning, this numeric model is implemented in MATLAB/Simulink® and it is used to predict the performance of a three phase squirrel single-cage type induction motor/generator in two different cases. The first case is a small 3 meter rotor diameter, 20 kW ocean current turbine with fixed pitch blades, and the second case a 20 …

Developing And Testing An Anguilliform Robot Swimming With Theoretically High Hydrodynamic Efficiency, John B. Potts Iii

University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

An anguilliform swimming robot replicating an idealized motion is a complex marine vehicle necessitating both a theoretical and experimental analysis to completely understand its propulsion characteristics. The ideal anguilliform motion within is theorized to produce ``wakeless'' swimming (Vorus, 2011), a reactive swimming technique that produces thrust by accelerations of the added mass in the vicinity of the body. The net circulation for the unsteady motion is theorized to be eliminated.

The robot was designed to replicate the desired, theoretical motion by applying control theory methods. Independent joint control was used due to hardware limitations. The fluid velocity vectors in the …

Characterization Of Optimal Cyber Attacks On Control Systems, Anis Drira

Doctoral Dissertations

Securing control systems which manage the nation's critical physical infrastructures and key resources is becoming one of the highest priorities and can no longer be ignored. Several researches and incidents have confirmed the real vulnerability of these systems. Due to the vital role of control systems, the study and the development of advanced strategies to overcome these cyber-security breaches are very important. Control systems are mainly composed of sensors and actuators, which cyber-security is vital for the security of the whole control system.

Characterizing and guarding against worst case attack scenarios is important to secure control systems. This dissertation proposes …

Neuron Clustering For Mitigating Catastrophic Forgetting In Supervised And Reinforcement Learning, Benjamin Frederick Goodrich

Doctoral Dissertations

Neural networks have had many great successes in recent years, particularly with the advent of deep learning and many novel training techniques. One issue that has affected neural networks and prevented them from performing well in more realistic online environments is that of catastrophic forgetting. Catastrophic forgetting affects supervised learning systems when input samples are temporally correlated or are non-stationary. However, most real-world problems are non-stationary in nature, resulting in prolonged periods of time separating inputs drawn from different regions of the input space.

Reinforcement learning represents a worst-case scenario when it comes to precipitating catastrophic forgetting in neural networks. …

Step-By-Step Check Response Of Pv Module Modeling Tested By Two Selected Power Reference Modules, A. M. Soliman,, K. Abdel-Aty

Innovative Research Publications IRP India

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are becoming nowadays an attractive solution to overcome energy demands and pollution reduction. Several issues under research such as PV MPPT, PV Distributed generation, PV On-Grid systems, and PV off Grid systems need a modeling of PV module as an important initial step in these researches. This paper presents a mathematical model of a PV module using Matlab which this model was checked in response step by step to be guidance for researchers understanding in these areas. In the mean time, the modeling final results are compared by two different commercial reference models for verification purpose which …

A Lidar Based Semi-Autonomous Collision Avoidance System And The Development Of A Hardware-In-The-Loop Simulator To Aid In Algorithm Development And Human Studies, Thomas F. Stevens

Master's Theses

In this paper, the architecture and implementation of an embedded controller for a steering based semi-autonomous collision avoidance system on a 1/10^th scale model is presented. In addition, the development of a 2D hardware-in-the-loop simulator with vehicle dynamics based on the bicycle model is described. The semi-autonomous collision avoidance software is fully contained onboard a single-board computer running embedded GNU/Linux. To eliminate any wired tethers that limit the system’s abilities, the driver operates the vehicle at a user-control-station through a wireless Bluetooth interface. The user-control-station is outfitted with a game-controller that provides standard steering wheel and pedal controls along …

Design And Control Of A Bidirectional Dual Active Bridge Dc-Dc Converter To Interface Solar, Battery Storage, And Grid-Tied Inverters, Kenny George

Electrical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

In order to further reduce the size of today’s power converters, wide bandgap semiconductor technologies are being explored. These devices, such as silicon carbide (SiC), have been shown to outperform their silicon counterparts when used in high frequency switching, high temperature, and high voltage applications. These properties make them highly desirable in the bidirectional dual active bridge power converter. Being an isolated converter topology, the dual active bridge employs a transformer to provide step-up/step-down functionality and galvanic isolation for the converter. Transformers, as well as other passive components such as inductors and capacitors may be reduced in size when higher …

Contouring Control For A Cnc Milling Machine Driven By Direct Thrust Controlled Linear Induction Motors, Khaled N. Faris, Hala S. Khalil, Khaled S. Sakkoury

Innovative Research Publications IRP India

According to various advantages of linear induction motor (LIM), such as high starting thrust force, high speed operation and reduction of mechanical losses, more applications have utilized this type of motors. Direct Thrust Control (DTC) technique is considered as one of the most efficient techniques that can be used for LIM. DTC is preferable to give a fast and good dynamic thrust response. So, to improve the accuracy and robustness of contouring control for CNC machine tools, linear induction motors with a direct thrust control technique are introduced for driving these machines. An industry standard motion control system is applied …

Investigation Of Real-Time Optical Scanning Holography, Bradley D. Duncan

Bradley D. Duncan

Real-time holographic recording using an optical heterodyne scanning technique was proposed by Poon in 1985. The first part of this dissertation provides a detailed theoretical treatment of the technique, based on a Gaussian beam analysis. Topics to be addressed include the derivations of the optical transfer function (OTF) and impulse response of the scanning holographic recording system, reconstructed image resolution and magnification, methods of carrier frequency hologram generation and experimental verification of the recording technique based on careful measurements of a hologram corresponding to a simple transmissive slit. Furthermore, computer simulations are presented pertaining to the incoherent nature of the …

Review: 'Optical Fiber Communications' (2nd Edition), By Gerd Keiser, Bradley D. Duncan

Bradley D. Duncan

If first impressions are worth anything (and they usually are), I would have to admit that my first impression of the second edition of Gerd Keiser's now popular text Optical Fiber Communications was quite good. My compliments are hereby extended to the publisher for choosing a rather handsome cover and dust jacket. It stands in strong contrast to the text's first edition, which still ranks as probably the ugliest book I own, with color choices ranging from dull cream and "baby" blue to pale pink! I am now happy to say that this older version has been discretely·retired to the …

Review: 'Theory Of Dielectric Optical Waveguides,' 2nd Edition, By Dietrich Marcuse, Bradley D. Duncan

Bradley D. Duncan

I suppose I ought to say up front that while preparing this review I often found myself feeling very much like a student evaluating his teacher. After all, it was, in part, the first edition of Dietrich Marcuse's Theory of Dielectric Optical Waveguides (among a handful of other similar texts) from which I first studied the principles of optical waveguide theory under the demanding, yet patient and graceful guidance of Dr. Ahmad Safaai-Jazi. Thus with the utmost respect for a teacher whom I have never met, I shall try to faithfully share my thoughts and feelings regarding the second edition …

Modal Interference Techniques For Strain Detection In Few-Mode Optical Fibers, Bradley D. Duncan

Bradley D. Duncan

Interference between the modes of an optical fiber results in specific intensity patterns which can be modulated as a function of disturbances in the optical fiber system. These modulation effects are a direct result of the difference in propagation constants of the constituent modes. In this presentation it is shown how the modulated intensity patterns created by the interference of specific mode groups in few-mode optical fibers (V < 5.0) can be used to detect strain. A detailed discussion of the modal phenomena responsible for the observed strain induced pattern modulation is given and it is shown that strain detection sensitivities …

Review: 'Integrated Optics: Design And Modeling,' By Reinhard Marz, Bradley D. Duncan

Bradley D. Duncan

My overall impression is that Integrated Optics: Design and Modeling will make a fine addition to almost anyone's collection of books on integrated optics. It will, however, serve its readers better as a reference book than as a text from which to first learn the basic concepts of integrated optics. I say this because the book is written at a fairly sophisticated technical level, though the author often moves rather quickly to the "bottom line" without providing material much beyond what is first necessary to introduce a problem or concept, and then a statement of the results and/or implications. It …

Implementation Of A Modified Perturb And Observe Maximum Power Point Tracking Algorithm For Photovoltaic System Using An Embedded Microcontroller, Dr. Adel A. Elbaset

Dr. Adel A. Elbaset

The conventional algorithm of perturb and observe (P&O) is widely applied due to its simplicity, low cost and easy implementation. However, it suffers from instabilities during rapid changes of weather and/or oscillation around maximum power point (MPP) at steady state. Instabilities occur due to the incorrect decision taken by the conventional P&O algorithm at the first step change in duty cycle during the rapid change in radiation. The reason for the steadystate oscillation is the continuous perturbation and tradeoff between step sizes and the convergence time. This study presents a modified P&O algorithm to overcome such drawbacks. It uses a …

Wide Angle Achromatic Prism Beam Steering For Infrared Countermeasures Applications, Bradley D. Duncan, Philip J. Bos, Vassili Sergan

Bradley D. Duncan

The design and analysis of achromatic doublet prisms for use in laser beam steering is presented. The geometric relationships describing the maximum steering angle are given, as are discussions of first- and second-order dispersion reduction. Infrared (IR) material alternatives and optimum IR material characteristics for wide-angle achromatic prism beam steering are also investigated. Sixteen materials in 120 different combinations have been examined to date. For midwave IR applications it is shown that the minimum dispersion currently achievable across the full 2 to 5 μm spectrum is 1.7816 mrad at an average maximum steering angle of 45 deg. This is accomplished …

Wide Angle Decentered Lens Beam Steering For Infrared Countermeasures Applications, Jennifer L. Gibson, Bradley D. Duncan, Edward A. Watson, John S. Loomis

Bradley D. Duncan

A beam-steering system consisting of three cemented achromatic doublets is presented. Intended for use in IR countermeasure applications, our system is designed to operate over the 2- to 5-μm spectrum with minimum angular dispersion. We show that dispersion can be minimized by using doublet lenses fashioned from AMTIR-1 and germanium. Our system is designed to be compact and lightweight, with no internal foci, while allowing steering to ±22.5 deg. We also maintain a minimum 2-in. clear aperture for all steering angles, and a nominal divergence of 1 mrad. Plane wave and Gaussian beam analyses of our system are presented.

Interferometric And Holographic Imaging Of Surface-Breaking Cracks, James Lawrence Blackshire, Bradley D. Duncan

Bradley D. Duncan

Two advanced nondestructive evaluation systems are developed for imaging surface-breaking cracks in aerospace materials. The systems use scanning heterodyne interferometry and frequency-translated holography principles to image ultrasonic displacement fields on material surfaces with high resolution and sensitivity. Surface-breaking cracks are detected and characterized by visualizing near-field ultrasonic scattering processes, which in turn results in local intensification of ultrasonic displacement fields in the immediate vicinity of a crack. The local intensification permits cracks to be easily distinguished from background levels, and creates unique displacement field images that follow the contours and morphology of the cracks with microscopic precision. The interferometric and …

Control Method For Dc-Dc Boost Converter Based On Inductor Current, Van Bao Chau

Innovative Research Publications IRP India

This paper introduces a new control method for DC-DC Boost converter that is the control method based on inductor current on the basis of balance of power. The simulation results have proven to be that: proposed control method ensured the accuracy and output voltage ripple is within the required limit.

Umass Amherst Green Building Guidelines 2013, Ludmilla Pavlova-Gillham, Ted Mendoza, Ezra Small, Patricia O'Flaherty, Nariman Mostafavi, Mohamed Farzinmoghadam, Somayeh Tabatabaee Pozveh

Ludmilla D Pavlova

Facilities & Campus Services, Sustainable UMass and Campus Planning support sustainability and energy conservation initiatives by providing in-house resources to campus staff as well as designers and contractors working with the University. The UMass Amherst Green Building Guidelines provide a framework for approaching new construction and major renovation projects at UMass Amherst that are undergoing LEED certification by focusing the conversation on green building aspects that are most important to the campus. They are intended to be the beginning of a dynamic conversation between designers, environmental consultants and constructors, university stakeholders, and users of new high performance buildings.

Umass Amherst Building Measurement, Verification, Coordination And Template Plan, Nariman Mostafavi, Ted Mendoza, Jeffrey G. Quackenbush, Sandy J. Beauregard, Jason J. Burbank, Mohamad Farzinmoghadam, Ludmilla Pavlova-Gillham, Kylie A. Landrey, Patricia O'Flaherty

Ludmilla D Pavlova

Facilities & Campus Services, Sustainable UMass and Campus Planning support sustainability and energy conservation initiatives by providing in-house resources to campus staff as well as designers and contractors working with the University. The UMass Amherst Building Measurement, Verification, Coordination and Template Plan was begun in 2013 and finalized in 2015 as a resource to project teams that undertake the measurement and verification of building systems during the first year of occupancy of a new building and renovation project, particularly projects undergoing LEED certification.

Endoscopic Targeting Tasks Simulator: An Approach Using Game Engines, Shaun W. Carnegie

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The pervasiveness of simulators used in professions requiring the skilled control of expensive machinery such as is the case in the aviation, mining, construction, and naval industries raises an intriguing question about the relatively poor adoption within the field of medicine. Certain surgical procedures such as neuro-endoscopic and laparoscopic lend themselves well to the application of virtual reality based simulators. This is due to the innate ability to decom- pose these complex macro level procedures into a hierarchy of subtasks that can be modelled in a software simulator to augment existing teaching and training techniques.

The research in this thesis …

Fast Sequence Component Analysis For Attack Detection In Synchrophasor Networks, Jordan Landford, Rich Meier, Richard Barella, Xinghui Zhao, Robert B. Bass, Scott Wallace

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Modern power systems have begun integrating synchrophasor technologies into part of daily operations. Given the amount of solutions offered and the maturity rate of application development it is not a matter of "if" but a matter of "when" in regards to these technologies becoming ubiquitous in control centers around the world. While the benefits are numerous, the functionality of operator-level applications can easily be nullified by injection of deceptive data signals disguised as genuine measurements. Such deceptive action is a common precursor to nefarious, often malicious activity. A correlation coefficient characterization and machine learning methodology are proposed to detect and …

Simulation, Control And Testing Of Advanced Hydraulic Hybrid Transmissions, Italo M. Ramos, Monika Ivantysynova, Michael Sprengel

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Hydraulic hybrids transmissions have the potentially to substantially improve the fuel efficiency of on road vehicles. In fact recent studies have demonstrated that this technology can improve fuel economy by upwards of 30% over competing electric hybrids. To further improve the fuel economy and performance of this technology a novel blended hydraulic hybrid transmission has been constructed at the Maha Fluid Power Research Center. While this novel hybrid architecture created by the Maha lab has many benefits over conventional systems, there are a number of control challenges present due to several discrete modes of operation. And though improving fuel economy …

Supercapacitors Energy Storage Based Dstatcom Modeling And Simulation For Distribution System (Smart Grid), M. Abbas Khan, Haider Ali, Nouman Shah, Dr.M Tariq

Innovative Research Publications IRP India

DSTATCOM is a custom power device that is used to regulate the voltage sags/swells in the distribution system for maintaining the rated voltage level at the terminal of load/sensitive loads. The DSTATCOM can inject three-phase voltages at point of common coupling whose magnitude and phase angle can be regulated with PI controller, while the super capacitors are used to meet the instantaneous power demand since they can store and quickly release significant amounts of energy. This paper explores the use of Super capacitors in DSTATCOM in place of battery for control of load terminal voltage

Design And Analysis Of Automatic Car Park System With Capacity Control, Musa Mohammed Gujja, Umar Abubakar Wakta

Innovative Research Publications IRP India

The need for an automatic car park gate system has been in increase in recent times following the economic situation in present days. The circuit is aimed at eliminating manual operation of a car park. It incorporate the use of LM741 op-amp and CD4017 decade counter for controlling the number of vehicle that can have access to the parking premises and the circuit is fixed close to the gate with the sensor tragically located where it can sense the presence of a car. The light dependent resistor (LDR) senses both entrance and exit of the cars and this followed the …

A Continous Rotary Actuation Mechanism For A Powered Hip Exoskeleton, Matthew C. Ryder

Masters Theses

This thesis presents a new mechanical design for an exoskeleton actuator to power the sagittal plane motion in the human hip. The device uses a DC motor to drive a Scotch yoke mechanism and series elasticity to take advantage of the cyclic nature of human gait and to reduce the maximum power and control requirements of the exoskeleton. The Scotch yoke actuator creates a position-dependent transmission that varies between 4:1 and infinity, with the peak transmission ratio aligned to the peak torque periods of the human gait cycle. Simulation results show that both the peak and average motor torque can …

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Compatible Remote Catheter Navigation System, Mohammad Ali Tavallaei

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Many vascular and cardiac diseases are diagnosed and treated using a medical technique known as percutaneous transluminal catheter intervention (PTC). In PTC, the interventionalist inserts a catheter into the vasculature, and using the vessel as the guiding passageway, the catheter is navigated to desired anatomical targets where it would be used for various purposes such as catheter ablation for the treatment/management of cardiac arrhythmias. The catheterization procedure is conventionally guided with x-ray fluoroscopic imaging and more recently, but rarely, with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). X-ray imaging irradiates the patient directly during the procedure, and the staff and interventionalists indirectly through …

Cooperative 3-D Map Generation Using Multiple Uavs, Andrew Erik Lawson

University Scholar Projects

This report aims to demonstrate the feasibility of building a global 3-D map from multiple UAV robots in a GPS-denied, indoor environment. Presented are the design of each robot and the reasoning behind choosing its hardware and software components, the process in which a single robot obtains a individual 3-D map entirely onboard, and lastly how the mapping concept is extended to multiple robotic agents to form a global 3-D map using a centralized server. In the latter section, this report focuses on two algorithms, Online Mapping and Map Fusion, developed to facilitate the cooperative approach. A limited selection …

Smart Thermostat, Matt Allen, Sam Billett, Kevin Read

Electrical and Computer Engineering Senior Theses

The current thermostat marketplace is dominated by programmable thermostats that are engineered to give the user as much control as possible. However, not all users program these thermostats optimally. Some prefer comfort over energy efficiency and will heat an empty house. Others do not care to program their thermostat and leave it at a set temperature. The Smart Thermostat that we have created is engineered to optimize the temperature for the user, using the common sense of the engineer to lower energy consumption. It uses a Raspberry Pi as a platform to implement a fuzzy logic control System. By removing …

Forest Sign Maker, Victor Espinosa Iii, Kevin Ly, Lisa Yip

Mechanical Engineering

Executive Summary:

The Inyo National Forest is arguably one of the most beautiful locations in California, containing natural masterpieces such as Mount Whitney and the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. Despite its magnificence, the Inyo National Forest can be a treacherous region. The Friends of the Inyo take pride in being able to facilitate the viewing experience for all outdoorsmen by maintaining the mountain trails, which includes providing adequate trail signage.

Unfortunately, there is a fundamental issue with the recent state of trail signage in the Inyo National Forest: the rate at which signs are being vandalized or naturally destroyed is …