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• An adaptive impedance-VDC is proposed with robustness and prediction capabilities. • Robustness is ensured by designing an ancillary control law. • The proposed method is extended to coordinated dissimilar ULE arms. • Experimental tests on two coordinated ULE arms indicate efficiency and precision. Upper-limb exoskeleton (ULE) arms have emerged as promising wearable robotic devices for assisting humans in accomplishing tasks by distributing heavy loads. However, the complex structures, actuators, and power transmissions inherent in ULE arms introduce challenges in their control system. Additionally, the coordination of dissimilar ULE arm systems, stemming from differences in vendor structures and biomechanical variations among users, further complicates the control approach. In response to these challenges, this paper presents a new distributed framework for adaptive impedance-based Virtual Decomposition Control (VDC) tailored to ULE arms. It attains enhanced performance, robustness, and coordination by integrating prediction capabilities and ancillary control laws, which are significant for dissimilar ULE arms when manipulating a common object. Stability analysis is conducted using the input-to-state stability approach. We validate our approach through simulations with six coordinated ULE arms and extensive experiments with two commercial ULE arms, each with seven degrees of freedom, in four scenarios, including obstacle interaction. Comparative analysis against a state-of-the-art adaptive VDC method demonstrates the superiority of our approach. The proposed method enhances performance, robustness, and coordinated control, enabling safe and efficient manipulation across various scenarios. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote handling (RH) systems are used to inspect, make changes to, and maintain components in the ITER machine and as such are an example of mission-critical system. Failure in a critical system may cause damage, significant financial losses and loss of experiment runtime, making dependability one of their most important properties. However, even if the software for RH control systems has been developed using best practices, the system might still fail due to undetected faults (bugs), hardware failures, etc. Critical systems therefore need capability to tolerate faults and resume operation after their occurrence. However, design of effective fault detection and recovery mechanisms poses a challenge due to timeliness requirements, growth in scale, and complex interactions. In this paper we evaluate effectiveness of service-oriented architectural approach to fault tolerance in mission-critical real-time systems. We use a prototype implementation for service management with an experimental RH control system and industrial manipulator. The fault tolerance is based on using the high level of decoupling between services to recover from transient faults by service restarts. In case the recovery process is not successful, the system can still be used if the fault was not in a critical software module. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel modelling approach for a heavy-duty manipulator with parallel–serial structures connected in series. Each considered parallel–serial structure contains a revolute segment with rigid links connected by a passive revolute joint and actuated by a linear hydraulic actuator, thus forming a closed kinematic loop. In addition, prismatic segments, consisting of prismatic joints driven by hydraulic linear actuators, also are considered. Expressions for actuator forces are derived using the Newton–Euler (N–E) dynamics formulation. The derivation process does not assume massless actuators decoupled from manipulator links, which is common in the Lagrange dynamics formulation. Actuator pressure dynamics are included in the analysis, leading in total to a third-order system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). With fewer parameters than its predecessors, the proposed model in the N–E framework inspires revision of the virtual decomposition control (VDC) systematic process to formulate a control law based on the new model. The virtual stability of each generic manipulator revolute and prismatic segment is obtained, leading to the Lyapunov stability of the entire robot. • General Newton–Euler dynamics equations for a hydraulic manipulator configuration. • Closed kinematic loops are considered using no approximations. • A straightforward analytic solution for a linear hydraulic actuator force is derived. • The results are compared to the ones obtained using the SimScape Multibody™. • A systematic subsystem-based process to formulate control is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Software requirements have an important role in achieving reliability for operational systems like remote handling: requirements are the basis for architectural design decisions and also the main cause of defects in high quality software. We analyze related recommendations and requirements given in software safety standards, handbooks etc. and apply them to remote handling control systems, which typically have safety-critical functionality, but are not actual safety-systems⿿for example the safety-systems in ITER will be hardware-based. Based on the analysis, we develop a set of generic recommendations for control system software requirements, including quality attributes, software fault tolerance, and safety and as an example we analyze ITER remote handling system software requirements to identify and present dependability requirements in a useful manner. Based on the analysis, we divide a high-level control system into safety-critical and non-safety-critical subsystems, and give examples of requirements that support building a dependable system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract In addition to high-precision closed-loop control performance, energy efficiency is another vital characteristic in field-robotic hydraulic systems as energy source(s) must be carried on board in limited space. This study proposes an energy-efficient and high-precision closed-loop controller for the highly nonlinear hydraulic robotic manipulators. The proposed method is twofold: 1) A possibility for energy consumption reduction is realized by using a separate meter-in separate meter-out (SMISMO) control set-up, enabling an independent metering (pressure control) of each chamber in hydraulic actuators. 2) A novel subsystem-dynamics-based and modular controller is designed for the system actuators, and it is integrated to the previously designed state-of-the-art controller for multiple degrees-of-freedom (n -DOF) manipulators. Stability of the overall controller is rigorously proven. The comparative experiments with a three-DOF redundant hydraulic robotic manipulator (with a payload of 475 kg) demonstrate that: 1) It is possible to design the triple objective of high-precision piston position , piston force and chamber pressure trackings for the hydraulic actuators. 2) In relation to the previous SMISMO-control methods, unprecedented motion and chamber pressure tracking performances are reported. 3) In comparison to the state-of-the-art motion tracking controller with a conventional energy-inefficient servovalve control, the actuators' energy consumption is reduced by 45% without noticeable motion control (position-tracking) deterioration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variable displacement axial piston pumps (VDAPPs) are wildly used in mobile working machines and they play a key role in machine's energy-saving load sensing (LS) systems. Typically, electric load sensing (ELS) systems utilize traditional linear control methods, which only can realize limited control flexibility and performance. This study proposes and experimentally verifies an adaptive robust pressure control strategy for a VDAPP system. To facilitate the model-based controller design, a modified reduced-order dynamic modeling of VDAPPs is proposed. Furthermore, an adaptive robust backstepping control strategy is designed to deal with the dynamic nonlinearities and parametric uncertainties of the VDAPP system for achieving accurate pressure tracking. The controller design consists of two steps, processing the pump pressure tracking and the axial angle control, respectively. Comparative experiments and simulations with different working conditions were performed to validate the advantages of the proposed control strategy. The proposed controller achieved higher pressure tracking accuracy and it showed great capability in dealing with dynamic nonlinearities, uncertainties, and time-varying disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper focuses on the inter-subsystem communication channels in a prototype distributed remote handling control system at Divertor Test Platform 2 (DTP2). The subsystems are responsible for specific tasks and, over the years, their development has been carried out using various platforms and programming languages. The communication channels between subsystems have different priorities, e.g. very high messaging rate and deterministic timing or high reliability in terms of individual messages. Generally, a control system's communication infrastructure should provide interoperability, scalability, performance and maintainability. An attractive approach to accomplish this is to use a standardized and proven middleware implementation. The selection of a middleware can have a major cost impact in future integration efforts. In this paper we present development done at DTP2 using the Object Management Group's (OMG) standard specification for Data Distribution Service (DDS) for ensuring communications interoperability. DDS has gained a stable foothold especially in the military field. It lacks a centralized broker, thereby avoiding a single-point-of-failure. It also includes an extensive set of Quality of Service (QoS) policies. The standard defines a platform- and programming language independent model and an interoperability wire protocol that enables DDS vendor interoperability, allowing software developers to avoid vendor lock-in situations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Integration of heterogeneous and distributed systems is a challenging task, because they might be running on different platforms and written with different implementation languages by multiple organizations. Data-centricity and event-driven architecture (EDA) are concepts that help to implement versatile and well-scaling distributed systems. This paper focuses on the implementation of inter-subsystem communication in a prototype distributed remote handling control system developed at Divertor Test Platform 2 (DTP2). The control system consists of a variety of heterogeneous subsystems, including a client–server web application and hard real-time controllers. A standardized middleware solution (Data Distribution Services (DDS)) that supports a data-centric EDA approach is used to integrate the system. One of the greatest challenges in integrating a system with a data-centric EDA approach is in defining the global data space model. The selected middleware is currently only used for non-deterministic communication. For future application, we evaluated the performance of point-to-point communication with and without the presence of additional network load to ensure applicability to real-time systems. We found that, under certain limitations, the middleware can be used for soft real-time communication. Hard real-time use will require more validation with a more suitable environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work behind this paper takes place in the EFDA's European Goal Oriented Training programme on Remote Handling (RH) “GOT-RH”. The programme aims to train engineers for activities supporting the ITER project and the long-term fusion programme. One of the projects of this programme focuses on the verification and validation (V&V) of ITER RH system requirements using digital mock-ups (DMU). The purpose of this project is to study and develop efficient approach of using DMUs in the V&V process of ITER RH system design utilizing a System Engineering (SE) framework. Complex engineering systems such as ITER facilities lead to substantial rise of cost while manufacturing the full-scale prototype. In the V&V process for ITER RH equipment, physical tests are a requirement to ensure the compliance of the system according to the required operation. Therefore it is essential to virtually verify the developed system before starting the prototype manufacturing phase. This paper gives an overview of the current trends in using digital mock-up within product design processes. It suggests a simulation-based process design centralized around a simulation lifecycle management system. The purpose of this paper is to describe possible improvements in the formalization of the ITER RH design process and V&V processes, in order to increase their cost efficiency and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The remote maintenance of the ITER divertor is largely dependent on the usage of haptically teleoperated manipulators and man-in-the-loop operations. These maintenance operations are very demanding for the manipulator operators, yet vital for the success of the whole ITER experiment. Haptic shared control of the maintenance manipulators offers a promising solution for assisting the teleoperators in the maintenance tasks. A shared control system assists the operator by generating artificial guiding force effects and overlaying them on top of the haptic feedback from the teleoperation environment. An experimental haptic shared control system, called the Computer Assisted Teleoperation (CAT) has been developed at the Divertor Test Platform 2 (DTP2). In this paper, we investigate the design of the system and how the system integrates with the ITER compliant DTP2 prototype Remote Handling Control System (RHCS). We also experimentally assess the effect of the guidance to the operator performance in an ITER-relevant maintenance scenario using the Water Hydraulic MANipulator (WHMAN), which is specially designed for the divertor maintenance. The result of the experiment gives suggestive indication that the CAT system improves the performance of the operators of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A key ITER maintenance activity is the exchange of the divertor cassettes. The current major step in this programme involves the full scale physical test facility, namely divertor test platform 2 (DTP2), in Tampere, Finland. The objective of the DTP2 is the design and proof of concept studies of various remote handling (RH) device prototypes and their RH control systems, but is also important to define principles for standardizing control systems and methods around the ITER maintenance equipment. The development process of divertor cassette locking system (CLS) RH Tool prototypes is presented in this paper. The validation of the developed CLS Tool prototypes is accomplished in RH trials at DTP2. For this RH Trial, a CLS task description (TD) and tool prototypes were developed, manufactured and, finally, tested under remote operations. These tools, designed to be operated by water hydraulic manipulator (WHMAN), are water hydraulic jack (WHJ), pin tool (PT) and wrench tool (WT). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]