• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.206-220
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• 2010

This paper proposes optimal control techniques for determining translational and rotational maneuvers that facilitate proximity operations and docking. Two candidate controllers that provide translational motion are compared. A state-dependent Riccati equation controller is formulated from nonlinear relative motion dynamics, and a linear quadratic tracking controller is formulated from linearized relative motion. A linear quadratic Gaussian controller using star trackers to provide quaternion measurements is designed for precision attitude maneuvering. The attitude maneuvers are evaluated for different final axis alignment geometries that depend on the approach distance. A six degrees-of-freedom simulation demonstrates that the controllers successfully perform proximity operations that meet the conditions for docking.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2003

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are unmanned, underwater vessels that are used to investigate sea environments in the study of oceanography. Docking systems are required to increase the capability of the AUVs, to recharge the batteries, and to transmit data in real time for specific underwater works, such as repented jobs at sea bed. This paper presents a visual :em control system used to dock an AUV into an underwater station. A camera mounted at the now center of the AUV is used to guide the AUV into dock. To create the visual servo control system, this paper derives an optical flow model of a camera, where the projected motions of the image plane are described with the rotational and translational velocities of the AUV. This paper combines the optical flow equation of the camera with the AUVs equation of motion, and deriver a state equation for the visual servo AUV. Further, this paper proposes a discrete-time MIMO controller, minimizing a cost function. The control inputs of the AUV are automatically generated with the projected target position on the CCD plane of the camera and with the AUVs motion. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the modeling and the control law of the visual servo AUV simulations on docking the AUV to a target station are performed with the 6-dof nonlinear equations of REMUS AUV and a CCD camera.

• Journal of Advanced Navigation Technology
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.352-360
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• 2019

This paper proposes a docking assessment algorithm for an autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) with sensor uncertainties. The proposed algorithm consists of two assessments, state assessment and probability assessment. The state assessment verifies the reachability by comparing forward distance to the docking station with expected distance to reach same depth as the docking station and necessity for correcting its route by comparing calculated inaccessible areas based on turning radius of the AUV to position of the docking station. When the AUV and the docking station is close enough and the state assessment is satisfied, the probability assessment is conducted by computing success probability of docking based on the direction angle, relative position to the docking station, and sensor uncertainties of the AUV. The final output of the algorithm is decided by comparing the success probability to threshold whether to try docking or to correct its route. To verify the validation of the suggested algorithm, the scenario that the AUV approaches to the docking station is implemented through Matlab simulation.

• Proceedings of the Korea Committee for Ocean Resources and Engineering Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.335-338
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• 2006

The more deeply the researches make progress in ocean researches including the seabed resource investigation or the oceanic ecosystem investigation, the more important the role of UUV gets. In case of study on the deep sea, there are difficulties in telecommunications between AUV and ships, and in data communication and recharging. Therefore, docking is required. In AUV docking system, the AUV should identify the position of docking and make contact with a certain point of docking device. MOERI (Maritime & Ocean Engineering Research Institute), KORDI has conducted the docking testing on AUV ISIMI in KORDI Ocean Engineering Water Tank. As AUV ISIMI approachs the docking device, it is presented that attitude is unstable, because the lights Which is on Image Frame are disappeared. So we fix the rudder and stem, if the lights on Image Frame are reaching the specific area in the Image Frame. In this paper, we intend to solve the problems that were found in the testing, which, first, will be identified via simulation.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.311-317
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• 2010

In the paper, we propose an improved mobility method of modular robots by physical docking in the uneven environments. The modular robot system consists of autonomous docking device, 3 DOF robotic arm, motion controller, and main controller. Real-time location and direction of the robot are estimated using inner GPS and they are used to control direction and path of each robot for physical docking between modular robots. We design a navigation algorithm of modular robot using physical docking and cooperative navigation in the environment with broken road and low stair. The proposed method is verified by navigation experiments of three developed modular robots in the uneven environments.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.959-962
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• 2008

We have performed FlexX docking experiments to predict the best docking poses of 5-androst-16-en-3-ol or 5-androst-16-en-3-one to Boar salivary lipocalin (SAL). Since no steroids were found inside of the binding pocket of the X-ray structure of 1GM6, we tried to find docking structures after opening the pocket using the random tweak option implemented in SYBYL. This operation allowed the ligand to enter the pocket. The best poses generated from FlexX were different from the structures reported earlier, which calculated docking poses by manual docking followed by minimization. Analysis of docking poses allowed us to identify pharmacophores. From this information, virtual screening experiments using UNITY were performed. Among six candidates, 3-(3,7-dimethyloct-6-enylamino)propane-1,2-diol (Leadquest code name: 5755) was chosen for further development. Future work will involve synthesis of some derivatives of 5755 and biological experiments if any derivatives can control the biostimulation and improve reproductive efficiency in pigs.

• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.43-56
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• 2011

An integrated system composed of guidance, navigation and control (GNC) system for autonomous proximity operations and the docking of two spacecraft was developed. The position maneuvers were determined through the integration of the state-dependent Riccati equation formulated from nonlinear relative motion dynamics and relative navigation using rendezvous laser vision (Lidar) and a vision sensor system. In the vision sensor system, a switch between sensors was made along the approach phase in order to provide continuously effective navigation. As an extension of the rendezvous laser vision system, an automated terminal guidance scheme based on the Clohessy-Wiltshire state transition matrix was used to formulate a "V-bar hopping approach" reference trajectory. A proximity operations strategy was then adapted from the approach strategy used with the automated transfer vehicle. The attitude maneuvers, determined from a linear quadratic Gaussian-type control including quaternion based attitude estimation using star trackers or a vision sensor system, provided precise attitude control and robustness under uncertainties in the moments of inertia and external disturbances. These functions were then integrated into an autonomous GNC system that can perform proximity operations and meet all conditions for successful docking. A six-degree of freedom simulation was used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the integrated system.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.1072-1078
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• 2008

An adaptive control algorithm for spacecraft rendezvous and docking in a Keplerian orbit is presented. The equations of relative motion of two spacecrafts expressed in a local-vertical-local-horizontal rectangular frame are converted to a general Hamiltonian form, then an adaptive control method developed for the uncertain Hamiltonian system is applied to the rendezvous and docking problem. A smooth projection algorithm is applied to keep the parameter estimates inside a singularity-free region, and a numerical example shows that the developed controller successfully deals with the unknown mass of the chaser spacecraft.

• 제어로봇시스템학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.109.5-109
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• 2002

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are unmanned underwater vessels to investigate sea environments, oceanography and deep-sea resources autonomously. Docking systems are required to increase the capability of the AUVs to recharge the batteries and to transmit data in real time in underwater. This paper presents a visual servo control system for an AUV to dock into an underwater station with a camera. To make the visual servo control system , this paper derives an optical flow model of a camera mounted on an AUV, where a CCD camera is installed at the nose center of the AUV to monitor the docking condition. This paper combines the optical flow equation of the camera with the AUV's equation o...

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.305-312
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• 2021

There is a gradual increase in the need for energy charging in marine environments because of energy limitations experienced by electric ships and marine robots. Buoys are considered potential energy charging systems, but there are several challenges, which include the need to maintain a fixed position and avoid hazards, dock with ships and robots in order to charge them, be robust to actions by birds, ships, and robots. To solve these problems, this study proposes a smart buoy robot that has multiple thrusters, multiple docking and charging parts, a bird spike, a radar reflector, a light, a camera, and an anchor, and its mechanism is developed. To verify the performance of the smart buoy robot, the position control under disturbance due to wave currents and functional tests such as docking, charging, lighting, and anchoring are performed. Experimental results show that the smart buoy robot can operate under disturbances and is functionally effective. Therefore, the smart buoy robot is suitable as an energy charging system and has potential in realistic applications.