Leader-following Synchronization Control of Multiple Electrohydraulic Actuators Under Switching Network Topologies

A leader-following quasi-synchronization control is proposed in multiple electrohydraulic actuators (MEHAs) under different switching network topologies to guarantee the follower electrohydraulic actuators (EHAs) tracking the leader motion. Firstly, each electro-hydraulic actuator (EHA) has a 3-order nonlinear dynamics with unknown external load. Then by using Lie derivative technique, the MEHAs nonlinear models with $n+1$ nodes are feedback linearized for convenient control design. Furthermore, the leader node is constructed as a virtual simulation model to be stabilized by PI controller. Meanwhile, a quasi-synchronized controller together with a disturbance observer is designed by LMI and Lyapunov techniques to guarantee that the synchronization errors between the n follower nodes and the leader node 0 are uniformly ultimate boundaries. Finally, the effectiveness of the leader-following quasi-synchronized controller is verified by a MEHAs experimental bench with 3 EHAs under switching network topologies.

Collaborative Tracking Control Strategy for Autonomous Excavation of a Hydraulic Excavator

A hydraulic excavator consists of multiple electrohydraulic actuators (EHA). Due to uncertainties and nonlinearities in EHAs, it is challenging to devise a proper control strategy. To tackle this issue, a major goal of our study is to provide an efficient control strategy to minimize tracking errors of the bucket tip position for autonomous excavation. To accomplish the goal, the study offers a collaboration of PID and fuzzy controllers that are used to compensate for contour errors and achieve accurate actuator position control, respectively. Co-simulation models including control algorithms and hydraulic components were created using Matlab and Amesim to validate the performance of the designed controllers. Simulations indicate that the proposed method enables achieving accurate tracking control for autonomous excavation with small tracking errors despite the nonlinear characteristics of the hydraulic excavator system.

Dynamics of electrohydraulic soft actuators

Nature has inspired the design of robots in which soft actuators enable tasks such as handling of fragile objects and adapting to unstructured environments. Those tasks are difficult for traditional robots, which predominantly consist of hard components. Electrohydraulic soft actuators are liquid-filled shells that deform upon the application of electric fields; they excel among soft actuators with muscle-like force outputs and actuation strains, and with actuation frequencies above 100 Hz. However, the fundamental physics that governs the dynamics of electrohydraulic soft actuators is unexplored. Here, we study the dynamics of electrohydraulic soft actuators using the Peano-HASEL (hydraulically amplified self-healing electrostatic) actuator as a model system. Using experiments and a scaling analysis, we discover two dynamic regimes: a regime in which viscous dissipation reduces the actuation speed and a regime governed by inertial effects in which high-speed actuation is possible. For each regime, we derive a timescale that describes the influence of geometry, materials system, and applied external loads on the actuation speed. We also derive a model to study the dynamic behavior of Peano-HASEL actuators in both regimes. Although this analysis focuses on the Peano-HASEL actuator, the presented results may readily be generalized to other electrohydraulic actuators. When designed to operate in the inertial regime, electrohydraulic actuators will enable bio-inspired robots with unprecedented speeds of motion.