Design of a control system using linear matrix inequalities for the active vibration control of a plate

The study of algorithms for active vibration control in smart structures is an area of interest, mainly due to the demand for better performance of mechanical systems, such as aircraft and aerospace structures. Smart structures, formed using actuators and sensors, can improve the dynamic performance with the application of several kinds of controllers. This article describes the application of a technique based on linear matrix inequalities (LMI) to design an active control system. The positioning of the actuators, the design of a robust state feedback controller and the design of an observer are all achieved using LMI. The following are considered in the controller design: limited actuator input, bounded output (energy) and robustness to parametric uncertainties. Active vibration control of a flat plate is chosen as an application example. The model is identified using experimental data by an eigensystem realization algorithm (ERA) and the placement of the two piezoelectric actuators and single sensor is determined using a finite element model (FEM) and an optimization procedure. A robust controller for active damping is designed using an LMI framework, and a reduced model with observation and control spillover effects is implemented using a computer. The simulation results demonstrate the efficacy of the approach, and show that the control system increases the damping in some of the modes.

Control aspects in nonlinear Hill's equation

The Hill's equations-even in the linear original version are a describer of phenomenon having chaotic flavor, giving sometimes very unusual situations. The theory of the so called intervals of instability in the equation provides the precise description for most of these phenomena. Considerations on nonlinearities into the Hill's equation is a quite recent task. The linearized version for almost of these systems it reduces to the Hill's classical linear one. In this paper, some indicative facts are pointed out on the possibility of having the linear system stabilizable and/or exactly controllable. As consequence of such an approach we get results having strong classical aspects, like the one talking about location of parameters in intervals of stability. A result for nonlinear proper periodic controls, is considered too. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Control Design Applied to a Micro Electro Mechanical System: MEMS Comb drive

This paper presents the linear optimal control technique for reducing the chaotic movement of the micro-electro-mechanical Comb Drive system to a small periodic orbit. We analyze the non-linear dynamics in a micro-electro-mechanical Comb Drive and demonstrated that this model has a chaotic behavior. Chaos control problems consist of attempts to stabilize a chaotic system to an equilibrium point, a periodic orbit, or more general, about a given reference trajectory. This technique is applied in analyzes the nonlinear dynamics in an MEMS Comb drive. The simulation results show the identification by linear optimal control is very effective.

Switching control of sympathetic activity from forebrain to hindbrain in chronic dehydration

We investigated the mechanisms responsible for increased blood pressure and sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) caused by 2-3 days dehydration (DH) both in vivo and in situ preparations. In euhydrated (EH) rats, systemic application of the AT(1) receptor antagonist Losartan and subsequent pre-collicular transection (to remove the hypothalamus) significantly reduced thoracic (t) SNA. In contrast, in DH rats, Losartan, followed by pre-collicular and pontine transections, failed to reduce tSNA, whereas transection at the medulla-spinal cord junction massively reduced tSNA. In DH but not EH rats, selective inhibition of the commissural nucleus tractus solitarii (cNTS) significantly reduced tSNA. Comparable data were obtained in both in situ and in vivo (anaesthetized/conscious) rats and suggest that following chronic dehydration, the control of tSNA transfers from supra-brainstem structures (e. g. hypothalamus) to the medulla oblongata, particularly the cNTS. As microarray analysis revealed up-regulation of AP1 transcription factor JunD in the dehydrated cNTS, we tested the hypothesis that AP1 transcription factor activity is responsible for dehydration-induced functional plasticity. When AP1 activity was blocked in the cNTS using a viral vector expressing a dominant negative FosB, cNTS inactivation was ineffective. However, tSNA was decreased after pre-collicular transection, a response similar to that seen in EHrats. Thus, the dehydration-induced switch in control of tSNA from hypothalamus to cNTS seems to be mediated via activation of AP1 transcription factors in the cNTS. If AP1 activity is blocked in the cNTS during dehydration, sympathetic activity control reverts back to forebrain regions. This unique reciprocating neural structure-switching plasticity between brain centres emphasizes the multiple mechanisms available for the adaptive response to dehydration.

Vascular adaptive responses to physical exercise and to stress are affected differently by nandrolone administration

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Perception-action and adaptation in postural control of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy

The aim of this study was to examine the coupling between visual information and body sway and the adaptation in this coupling of individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). Fifteen children with and 15 without CP. 6-15 years old, were required to stand upright inside of a moving room. All children first performed two trials with no movement of the room and eyes open or closed, then four trials in which the room oscillated at 0.2 or 0.5 Hz (peak velocity of 0.6 cm/s), one trial in which the room oscillated at 0.2 Hz (peak velocity of 3.5 cm/s), and finally two other trials in which the room oscillated again at 0.2 Hz (peak velocity of 0.6 cm/s). Participants with CP coupled body sway to visual information provided by the moving room, comparable to the coupling of participants without CP. However, participants with CP exhibited larger body sway in maintaining upright position and more variable sway when body sway was induced by visual manipulation. They showed adaptive sensory motor coupling, e.g. down-weighting visual influence when a larger stimulus was provided, but not with the same magnitude as typically developing participants. This indicates that participants with CP have less capability of adaptation. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Adaptive Locomotion for Crossing a Moving Obstacle

Crossing moving obstacles requires different space-time adjustments compared with stationary obstacles. Our aim was to investigate gait spatial and temporal parameters in the approach and crossing phases of a moving obstacle. We hypothesized that obstacle speed affects gait parameters, which allow us to distinguish locomotor strategies. Ten young adults walked and stepped over an obstacle that crossed their way perpendicularly, under three obstacle conditions: control-stationary obstacle, slow (1.07 m/s) and fast speed (1.71 m/s) moving obstacles. Gait parameters were different between obstacle conditions, especially on the slow speed. In the fast condition, the participants adopted predictive strategies during the approach and crossing phases. In the slow condition, they used an anticipatory strategy in both phases. We conclude that obstacle speed affects the locomotor behavior and strategies were distinct in the obstacle avoidance phases.

Strain Gauge Analysis of the Effect of Porcelain Firing Simulation on the Prosthetic Misfit of Implant-Supported Frameworks

Objectives: This study investigated the effect of porcelain firing on the misfit of implant-supported frameworks and analyzed the influence of preheat treatment on the dimensional alterations.Materials and Methods: Four external-hex cylindrical implants were placed in polyurethane block. Ten frameworks of screw-retained implant-supported prostheses were cast in Pd-Ag using 2 procedures: (1) control group (CG, n = 5): cast in segments and laser welded; and test group (TG, n = 5): cast in segments, preheated, and laser welded. All samples were subjected to firing to simulate porcelain veneering firing. Strain gauges were bonded around the implants, and microstrain values (mu epsilon = 10(-6)epsilon) were recorded after welding (M1), oxidation cycle (M2), and glaze firing (M3). Data were statistically analyzed (2-way analysis of variance, Bonferroni, alpha = 0.05).Results: The microstrain value in the CG at M3 (475.2 mu epsilon) was significantly different from the values observed at M1 (355.6 mu epsilon) and M2 (413.9 mu epsilon). The values at M2 and M3 in the CG were not statistically different. Microstrain values recorded at different moments (M1: 361.6 mu epsilon/M2: 335.3 mu epsilon/M3: 307.2 mu epsilon) did not show significant difference.Conclusions: The framework misfit deteriorates during firing cycles of porcelain veneering. Metal distortion after porcelain veneering could be controlled by preheat treatment. (Implant Dent 2012;21:225-229)

On saturation control of a non-ideal vibrating portal frame foundation type shear-building

In this paper, we examine the nonlinear control method based on the saturation phenomenon and of systems coupled with quadratic nonlinear ties applied to a shear-building portal plane frame foundation that supports an unbalanced direct cut-rent with limited power supply (non-ideal system). We analyze the equations of motion by using the method of averaging and numerical simulation. The interaction of the non-ideal structure with the saturation controller may lead to the occurrence of interesting phenomena during the forward passage through the several resonance states of the systems. Special attention is focused on passage through resonance when the non-ideal excitation frequency is near the portal frame natural frequency and when the non-ideal system frequency is approximately twice the controller frequency (two-to-one internal resonance).

On non-linear dynamics and control designs applied to the ideal and non-ideal variants of the Fitzhugh-Nagumo (FN) mathematical model

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

A reducing of a chaotic movement to a periodic orbit, of a micro-electro-mechanical system, by using an optimal linear control design

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The rigid-flexible nonlinear robotic manipulator: Modeling and control

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Phase-Locked loops lock-in range in Frequency Modulated-Atomic Force Microscope nonlinear control system

Since the mid 1980s the Atomic Force Microscope is one the most powerful tools to perform surface investigation, and since 1995 Non-Contact AFM achieved true atomic resolution. The Frequency-Modulated Atomic Force Microscope (FM-AFM) operates in the dynamic mode, which means that the control system of the FM-AFM must force the micro-cantilever to oscillate with constant amplitude and frequency. However, tip-sample interaction forces cause modulations in the microcantilever motion. A Phase-Locked loop (PLL) is used to demodulate the tip-sample interaction forces from the microcantilever motion. The demodulated signal is used as the feedback signal to the control system, and to generate both topographic and dissipation images. As a consequence, a proper design of the PLL is vital to the FM-AFM performance. In this work, using bifurcation analysis, the lock-in range of the PLL is determined as a function of the frequency shift (Q) of the microcantilever and of the other design parameters, providing a technique to properly design the PLL in the FM-AFM system. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Swarm Control Designs applied to a Mechanical Oscillator

This paper presented the particle swarm optimization approach for nonlinear system identification and for reducing the oscillatory movement of the nonlinear systems to periodic orbits. We analyzes the non-linear dynamics in an oscillator mechanical and demonstrated that this model has a chaotic behavior. Chaos control problems consist of attempts to stabilize a chaotic system to an equilibrium point, a periodic orbit, or more general, about a given reference trajectory. This approaches is applied in analyzes the nonlinear dynamics in an oscillator mechanical. The simulation results show the identification by particle swarm optimization is very effective.

On control and synchronization in chaotic and hyperchaotic systems via linear feedback control

This paper presents the control and synchronization of chaos by designing linear feedback controllers. The linear feedback control problem for nonlinear systems has been formulated under optimal control theory viewpoint. Asymptotic stability of the closed-loop nonlinear system is guaranteed by means of a Lyapunov function which can clearly be seen to be the solution of the Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation thus guaranteeing both stability and optimality. The formulated theorem expresses explicitly the form of minimized functional and gives the sufficient conditions that allow using the linear feedback control for nonlinear system. The numerical simulations were provided in order to show the effectiveness of this method for the control of the chaotic Rossler system and synchronization of the hyperchaotic Rossler system. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.