Runfeng Chen, Jie Li and Lincheng Shen
Multi-robots simultaneously coverage and tracking (SCAT) is the problem of simultaneously covering area and tracking targets, which is essential for many applications, such as…
Abstract
Purpose
Multi-robots simultaneously coverage and tracking (SCAT) is the problem of simultaneously covering area and tracking targets, which is essential for many applications, such as delivery service, environment monitor, traffic surveillance, crime monitor, anti-terrorist mission and so on. The purpose of this paper is to improve the performance of detected target quantity, coverage rate and less deadweight loss by designing a self-organized method for multi-robots SCAT.
Design/methodology/approach
A self-organized reciprocal control method is proposed, coupling task assignment, tracking and covering, equipped with collision-avoiding ability naturally. First, SCAT problem is directly modeled as optimal reciprocal coverage velocity (ORCV) in velocity space. Second, the preferred velocity is generated by calculating the best velocity to the center of some robot detected targets. ORCV is given by adjusting the velocity relative to neighbor robots’ toward in optimal coverage velocity (OCV); it is proven that OCV is collision-free assembly. Third, some corresponding algorithms are designed for finding optimal velocity under two situations, such as no detected targets and empty ORCV.
Findings
The simulation results of two cases for security robots show that the proposed method has detected more targets with less deadweight loss and decision time and no collisions anytime.
Originality/value
In this paper, a self-organized reciprocal control method is proposed for multi-robots SCAT problem, which is modeled in velocity space directly, different to the traditional method modeling in configuration space. What is more, this method considers the reciprocal of robots that contributes to the better accomplishment of SCAT cooperatively.
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Shaofei Chen, Hongfu Liu, Jing Chen and Lincheng Shen
The purpose of this paper is to plan the penetration trajectory for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the presence of radar‐guided surface to air missiles (SAMs).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to plan the penetration trajectory for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in the presence of radar‐guided surface to air missiles (SAMs).
Design/methodology/approach
The penetration trajectory planning problem is modelled based on four aspects of radar tracking features. As penetration just utilizes the low observability of radar cross section (RCS) to satisfy temporal constraints of tracking, the problem is formulated as multi‐phase trajectory planning with detected probability (MTP‐DP). While utilizing both the low observability of RCS and the radial velocity blind area of radar, the problem is formulated as multi‐phase trajectory planning with detected probability and radial velocity (MTP‐DP&RV). The pseudospectral multi‐phase optimal control based trajectory planning algorithm is proposed.
Findings
The results of the examples illustrate that the multi‐phase trajectory planning method can finely utilize the radar tracking features to optimize the comprehensive efficiency of penetration. The pseudospectral multi‐phase optimal control based trajectory planning algorithm could effectively solve the trajectory planning problem.
Originality/value
This paper provides new structured method to plan UAV penetration trajectory for military application and academic study.
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Boxin Zhao, Olaf Hellwich, Tianjiang Hu, Dianle Zhou, Yifeng Niu and Lincheng Shen
This study aims to investigate if smartphone sensors can be used in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) localization system. With the development of technology, smartphones have been…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate if smartphone sensors can be used in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) localization system. With the development of technology, smartphones have been tentatively used in micro-UAVs due to their lightweight, inexpensiveness and flexibility. In this study, a Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone is selected as an on-board sensor platform for UAV localization in Global Positioning System (GPS)-denied environments and two main issues are investigated: Are the phone sensors appropriate for UAV localization? If yes, what are the boundary conditions of employing them?
Design/methodology/approach
Efficient accuracy estimation methodologies for the phone sensors are proposed without using any expensive instruments. Using these methods, one can estimate his phone sensors accuracy at any time without special instruments. Then, a visual-inertial odometry scheme is introduced to evaluate the phone sensors-based path estimation performance.
Findings
Boundary conditions of using smartphone in a UAV navigation system are found. Both indoor and outdoor localization experiments are carried out and experimental results validate the effectiveness of the boundary conditions and the corresponding implemented scheme.
Originality/value
With the phone as a payload, UAVs can be further realized in smaller scale at lower cost, which will be used widely in the field of industrial robots.
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Nestor L. Osorio and Gabriel E. Osorio
Mechatronics is a very important area of research in industrial applications. The purpose of this study is to find some of the most important components of the literature on this…
Abstract
Purpose
Mechatronics is a very important area of research in industrial applications. The purpose of this study is to find some of the most important components of the literature on this subject.
Design/methodology/approach
The analysis is based on the use of the database Compendex; it was searched in the broadest way for documents related to mechatronics. In addition, subject guides from libraries of universities with mechatronics programs were studied to find resources available in those areas.
Findings
The literature of mechatronics is extensive and multidisciplinary. Based on the results from Compendex, the following data were found: most productive authors, list of leading journals and conference proceedings, publishers and grant organizations, authors’ affiliations and other minor details. Based on the analysis of subject guides, the following types of resources were found: research databases, reference books and ebook collections.
Research limitations/implications
Part of the analysis is based on a search performed in one technical database, Compendex; it was the database that generated the largest number of citations as compared to Inspec and the Web of Science. The results have a strong English language focus. It is possible that by using the results from multiple data bases, some additional sources could be obtained.
Practical implications
Mechatronics is a relatively new technological field comprising a number of scientific and engineering areas. The results obtained summarized a significant amount of bibliographic information.
Originality/value
The work is original; to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no other study has analyzed the literature on this subject.
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The purpose of this paper is to establish an appraisal system for evaluating and choosing traction battery for electric vehicle (EV) quantitatively and effectively.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to establish an appraisal system for evaluating and choosing traction battery for electric vehicle (EV) quantitatively and effectively.
Design/methodology/approach
Traction battery always bottlenecks the development of EV. It is difficult to evaluate and choose traction battery for EV because there are many kinds of battery and each kind has many performance parameters. An estimating system for traction battery was proposed with every factor considered. Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy comprehensive theory are both used to evaluate program with many aims and influencing factors. It is relatively easy and exact using AHP to determine the weighting value vector of every criterion but not so exact when marking the appraisal objects. Objections can be marked more reasonably with fuzzy comprehensive theory. Both the advantages of these two theories were integrated in this paper in order to evaluate battery more effectively. It was proved effective by the application example.
Findings
An estimating system and appraisal method for traction battery.
Research limitations/implications
Weighing factors of different criteria should be determined based on the EV type and application condition.
Practical implications
Very useful method and system for EV designers to choose and evaluate traction battery.
Originality/value
The appraisal system eliminates the blindness when choosing and evaluating traction battery for EV. Both the merits of AHP and fuzzy comprehensive theory were combined for the evaluating process.
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Maryam Gholami, Amir Hossein Mahvi, Fahimeh Teimouri, Mohammad Hassan Ehrampoush, Abbasali Jafari Nodoushan, Sara Jambarsang and Mohammad Taghi Ghaneian
This paper aims to study the application of high-tolerance and flexible indigenous bacteria and fungi, along with the co-metabolism in recycled paper and cardboard mill (RPCM…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to study the application of high-tolerance and flexible indigenous bacteria and fungi, along with the co-metabolism in recycled paper and cardboard mill (RPCM) wastewater treatment (WWT).
Design/methodology/approach
The molecular characterization of isolated indigenous bacteria and fungi was performed by 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA gene sequencing, respectively. Glucose was used as a cometabolic substrate to enhance the bioremediation process.
Findings
The highest removal efficiency was achieved for both chemical oxygen demand (COD) and color [78% COD and 45% color removal by Pseudomonas aeruginosa RW-2 (MZ603673), as well as approximately 70% COD and 48% color removal by Geotrichum candidum RW-4 (ON024394)]. The corresponding percentages were higher in comparison with the efficiency obtained from the oxidation ditch unit in the full-scale RPCM WWT plant.
Originality/value
Indigenous P. aeruginosa RW-2 and G. candidum RW-4 demonstrated effective capability in RPCM WWT despite the highly toxic and low biodegradable nature, especially with the assistance of glucose.