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At least 865 records · Page 48

Strategies for adding adaptive learning mechanisms to rule-based diagnostic expert systems

Rule-based diagnostic expert systems can be used to perform many of the diagnostic chores necessary in today's complex space systems. These expert systems typically take a set of symptoms as input and produce diagnostic advice as output. The primary objective of such expert systems is to provide accurate and comprehensive advice which can be used to help return the space system in question to nominal operation. The development and maintenance of diagnostic expert systems is time and labor intensive since the services of both knowledge engineer(s) and domain expert(s) are required. The use of adaptive learning mechanisms to increment evaluate and refine rules promises to reduce both time and labor costs associated with such systems. This paper describes the basic adaptive learning mechanisms of strengthening, weakening, generalization, discrimination, and discovery. Next basic strategies are discussed for adding these learning mechanisms to rule-based diagnostic expert systems. These strategies support the incremental evaluation and refinement of rules in the knowledge base by comparing the set of advice given by the expert system (A) with the correct diagnosis (C). Techniques are described for selecting those rules in the in the knowledge base which should participate in adaptive learning. The strategies presented may be used with a wide variety of learning algorithms. Further, these strategies are applicable to a large number of rule-based diagnostic expert systems. They may be used to provide either immediate or deferred updating of the knowledge base.

Stclair, D. C.↗

Hardware and operating features of the adaptive wall test section for the 0.3-meter transonic cryogenic tunnel

A 13- by 13-inch adaptive wall test section was installed in the Langley 0.3-Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel circuit. This test section has four solid walls and is configured for two-dimensional airfoil testing. The top and bottom walls are flexible and movable, whereas the sidwalls are rigid and fixed. The test section has a turntable to support airfoil models, a survey mechanism to probe the model wake, and provisions for a sidewall boundary-layer-control system. Details of the adaptive wall test section, the tunnel circuit modifications, the supporting instrumentation, the monitoring and control hardware, and the wall adaptation strategy are discussed. Sample results of shakedown tests with the test section empty and with an airfoil installed are also included.

Mineck, Raymond E.↗

A survey of adaptive control technology in robotics

Previous work on the adaptive control of robotic systems is reviewed. Although the field is relatively new and does not yet represent a mature discipline, considerable attention has been given to the design of sophisticated robot controllers. Here, adaptive control methods are divided into model reference adaptive systems and self-tuning regulators with further definition of various approaches given in each class. The similarity and distinct features of the designed controllers are delineated and tabulated to enhance comparative review.

Tosunoglu, S.↗

Algorithms for adaptive control of two-arm flexible manipulators under uncertainty

A nonlinear extension of model reference adaptive control (MRAC) technique is used to guide a double arm nonlinearizable robot manipulator with flexible links, driven by actuators collocated with joints subject to uncertain payload and inertia. The objective is to track a given simple linear and rigid but compatible dynamical model in real, possible stipulated time and within stipulated degree of accuracy of convergence while avoiding collision of the arms. The objective is attained by a specified signal adaptive feedback controller and by adaptive laws, both given in closed form. A case of 4 DOF manipulator illustrates the technique.

Skowronski, J. M.↗

Adaptive control techniques for the SCOLE configuration

Two adaptive controllers designed for the Spacecraft Control Laboratory Experiment (SCOLE) at NASA Langley Research Center are discussed. The first controller is an adaptive model following variable structure controller and the second is an indirect LQ adaptive controller. For each technique, the design of the controller is outlined and simulation results are presented. Plans for future studies are also discussed.

Ossman, K.↗

Adaptive independent joint control of manipulators - Theory and experiment

The author presents a simple decentralized adaptive control scheme for multijoint robot manipulators based on the independent joint control concept. The proposed control scheme for each joint consists of a PID (proportional integral and differential) feedback controller and a position-velocity-acceleration feedforward controller, both with adjustable gains. The static and dynamic couplings that exist between the joint motions are compensated by the adaptive independent joint controllers while ensuring trajectory tracking. The proposed scheme is implemented on a MicroVAX II computer for motion control of the first three joints of a PUMA 560 arm. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate that trajectory tracking is achieved despite strongly coupled, highly nonlinear joint dynamics. The results confirm that the proposed decentralized adaptive control of manipulators is feasible, in spite of strong interactions between joint motions. The control scheme presented is computationally very fast and is amenable to parallel processing implementation within a distributed computing architecture, where each joint is controlled independently by a simple algorithm on a dedicated microprocessor.

Seraji, H.↗

State of the art in adaptive control of robotic systems

An up-to-date assessment of adaptive control technology as applied to robotics is presented. Although the field is relatively new and does not yet represent a mature discipline, considerable attention for the design of sophisticated robot controllers has occured. In this presentation, adaptive control methods are divided into model reference adaptive systems and self-tuning regulators, with further definition of various approaches given in each class. The similarity and distinct features of the designed controllers are delineated and tabulated to enhance comparative review.

Tosunoglu, Sabri↗

An adaptive embedded mesh procedure for leading-edge vortex flows

A procedure for solving the conical Euler equations on an adaptively refined mesh is presented, along with a method for determining which cells to refine. The solution procedure is a central-difference cell-vertex scheme. The adaptation procedure is made up of a parameter on which the refinement decision is based, and a method for choosing a threshold value of the parameter. The refinement parameter is a measure of mesh-convergence, constructed by comparison of locally coarse- and fine-grid solutions. The threshold for the refinement parameter is based on the curvature of the curve relating the number of cells flagged for refinement to the value of the refinement threshold. Results for three test cases are presented. The test problem is that of a delta wing at angle of attack in a supersonic free-stream. The resulting vortices and shocks are captured efficiently by the adaptive code.

Powell, Kenneth G.↗

An adaptive implicit/explicit finite element scheme for compressible viscous high speed flow

An adaptive implicit/explicit finite element procedure for the solution of three-dimensional problems of steady compressible viscous high-speed flows is presented. In the vicinity of solid walls, a grid-exhibiting structure in the normal direction is employed, while away from this region the grid is totally unstructured. The implicit form of the algorithm is used near solid walls, with the grid structure being utilized in an equation solution approach based upon line relaxation. The explicit form of the algorithm is used elsewhere. Grid adaptation is achieved by means of adaptive remeshing. To illustrate the performance of the proposed method, solutions are obtained for the problems of shock-boundary layer interaction and shock-shock interaction on a swept cylindrical leading edge. Comparisons are made with experimental observations.

Hassan, O.↗

LARP - An adaptive LDV signal processor

Recent attempts at realization of a frequency domain signal processor exhibit practical drawbacks such as manual gain, filter and sampling adjustments, and simplistic adaptations of frequency domain techniques. This paper introduces an adaptive LDV signal processor, one which requires no operator intervention under any circumstances by adapting dynamically to burst characteristics, while surpassing all previous techniques in range and accuracy.

Baker, Glenn D.↗

Vortex-dominated conical-flow computations using unstructured adaptively-refined meshes

A conical Euler/Navier-Stokes algorithm is presented for the computation of vortex-dominated flows. The flow solver involves a multistage Runge-Kutta time stepping scheme which uses a finite-volume spatial discretization on an unstructured grid made up of triangles. The algorithm also employs an adaptive mesh refinement procedure which enriches the mesh locally to more accurately resolve the vortical flow features. Results are presented for several highly-swept delta wing and circular cone cases at high angles of attack and at supersonic freestream flow conditions. Accurate solutions were obtained more efficiently when adaptive mesh refinement was used in contrast with refining the grid globally. The paper presents descriptions of the conical Euler/Navier-Stokes flow solver and adaptive mesh refinement procedures along with results which demonstrate the capability.

Batina, John T.↗

An adaptive guidance law for single stage to low earth orbit

An adaptive guidance algorithm based on a cubic spline representation of the ascent profile and imposition of a dynamic pressure constraint is studied for a single stage to low earth orbit. The flight path is divided into initial and terminal phases. In the initial phase, fully adaptive, and in the terminal phase, semi-adaptive, guidance schemes are used. The cubic spline paqrameters are determined by gradient optimization for maximum payload to orbit. In the terminal phase, a linear quadratic regulator is used to derive the optimal feedback gains to keep the vehicle close to the nominal path. The computational aspects of the guidance algorithm are examined and criteria are developed to ensure stability and convergence.

Pamadi, Bandu N.↗

Experiments in multivariable adaptive control of a large flexible structure

A six-input/six-output multivariable adaptive controller is used to control a large 3-dimensional flexible structure experiment. For this purpose, the JPL/AFAL antenna-like experiment structure is used, with instrumentation distributed on both the hub and the ribs. This represents a significant increase in complexity relative to earlier adaptive control experiments performed on the same structure, utilizing a two-input/two-output set-up with instrumentation on the hub alone. The increase in instrumentation significantly increases spatial controllability, and excitation and control of a much larger set of modes. This paper documents multivariable adaptive control experiments on this structural configuration, and discusses many of the associated design and implementation issues required for successful operation.

Ih, C.-H. C.↗

Method For Model-Reference Adaptive Control

Relatively simple method of model-reference adaptive control (MRAC) developed from two prior classes of MRAC techniques: signal-synthesis method and parameter-adaption method. Incorporated into unified theory, which yields more general adaptation scheme.

Seraji, Homayoun↗

Study Of Adaptive-Array Signal Processing

Report describes study of adaptive signal-processing techniques for suppression of mutual satellite interference in mobile (on ground)/satellite communication system. Presents analyses and numerical simulations of performances of two approaches to signal processing for suppression of interference. One approach, known as "adaptive side lobe canceling", second called "adaptive temporal processing".

Satorius, Edgar H.↗

Application of a self-adaptive grid method to complex flows

A directional-split, modular, user-friendly grid point distribution code is applied to several test problems. The code is self-adaptive in the sense that grid point spacing is determined by user-specified constants denoting maximum and minimum grid spacings and constants relating the relative influence of smoothness and orthogonality. Estimates of truncation error, in terms of flow-field gradients and/or geometric features, are used to determine the point distribution. Points are redistributed along grid lines in a specified direction in an elliptic manner over a user-specified subdomain, while orthogonality and smoothness are controlled in a parabolic (marching) manner in the remaining directions. Multidirectional adaption is achieved by sequential application of the method in each coordinate direction. The flow-field solution is redistributed onto the newly distributed grid points after each unidirectional adaption by a simple one-dimensional interpolation scheme. For time-accurate schemes such interpolation is not necessary and time-dependent metrics are carried in the fluid dynamic equations to account for grid movement.

Deiwert, G. S.↗

Adaptive Strategies for Controls of Flexible Arms

An adaptive controller for a modern manipulator has been designed based on asymptotical stability via the Lyapunov criterion with the output error between the system and a reference model used as the actuating control signal. Computer simulations were carried out to test the design. The combination of the adaptive controller and a system vibration and mode shape estimator show that the flexible arm should move along a pre-defined trajectory with high-speed motion and fast vibration setting time. An existing computer-controlled prototype two link manipulator, RALF (Robotic Arm, Large Flexible), with a parallel mechanism driven by hydraulic actuators was used to verify the mathematical analysis. The experimental results illustrate that assumed modes found from finite element techniques can be used to derive the equations of motion with acceptable accuracy. The robust adaptive (modal) control is implemented to compensate for unmodelled modes and nonlinearities and is compared with the joint feedback control in additional experiments. Preliminary results show promise for the experimental control algorithm.

Yuan, Bau-San↗

Comparison of conventional and adaptive wall wind tunnel results with regard to Reynolds number effects

A comparison of results from conventional and adaptive wall wind tunnels with regard to Reynolds number effects was carried out. The special objective of this comparison was to confirm or reject earlier conclusions, soley based on conventional wind tunnel results, concerning the influence of viscous effects on the characteristics of partially open wind tunnel walls, hence wall interference. The following postulations could be confirmed: (1) certain classes of supercritical airfoils exhibit a non-linear increase in lift which is, at least in part, related to viscous-inviscid interactions on the airfoil. This non-linear lift characteristic can erroneously be suppressed by sidewall interference effects in addition to being affected by changes in Reynolds number. Adaptive walls seem to relieve the influence of sidewall interference; (2) the degree of (horizontal) wall interference effects can be significantly affected by changes in Reynolds number, thus appearing as true Reynolds number effects; (3) perforated wall characteristics seem much more susceptible to viscous changes than the characteristics of slotted walls; here, blockage interference may be most severely influenced by viscous changes; and (4) real Reynolds number effects are present on the CAST 10-2/DOA 2 airfoil; they were shown to be appreciable also by the adaptive wall wind tunnel tests.

Stanewsky, E.↗