Optimised Configuration of Sensing Elements for Control and Fault Tolerance

Lead Research Organisation: Loughborough University
Department Name: Electronic, Electrical & Systems Enginee

Abstract

This research addresses the important but as yet unresolved problem of providing a design methodology for sensor configuration for control and fault tolerance based on specific system reliability requirements. The primary focus is that of optimised sensor selection for efficient robustness properties of the system, assuming a consistent controller design, with relation to faults prior to system reconfiguration (i.e. a form of passive fault tolerance attempting to reduce complexity at the basic level). The proposed framework will be evaluated within a reconfigurable scheme for further system robustification. In particular the proposed research concentrates upon practical engineering applications that are dynamically complex, electro-mechanical in nature typified by the kinds of systems in aerospace, automotive and railway. Demonstration of the developed methodologies is envisaged via an experimental test rig.
 
Description An important but as yet unresolved problem is providing a design methodology for sensor configuration for control and fault tolerance based on specific system reliability requirements, particularly important to appreciate for the practising engineers. The project focused upon optimised sensor configuration for efficient system robustness properties (assuming a consistent controller design in the context of closed-loop control structures), with relation to faults prior to system reconfiguration. In fact, this is regarded a form of passive fault tolerance attempting to reduce complexity at the basic level. In particular, the proposed research concentrated upon practical engineering applications that are dynamically complex, electro-mechanical in nature typified by the kinds of systems in aerospace, automotive and railway.

The proposed framework (and its variants) incorporate optimization-based approaches for the important task of controller design subject to the sensor information utilised. Later stages of the project involved evaluation of the frameworks in a reconfigurable scheme (via controller switching) for further system robustification, while investigated the issue of neuro-fuzzy modelling in sensor selection.

An important part of the work was the design and construction of a MagLev suspension test rig used for experimental verification of the proposed sensor selection frameworks.
Exploitation Route Undoubtedly the particular interest on this research comes from academic context. Potential use in non-academic context is still under investigation with the aim of seeing how it could be exploited in areas where customers or humans-in-the-loop are involved. Elements of this research, although in particular of interest to the scientific community, can be regarded as potential tools in practical engineering system design most possibly in sectors dealing with safety-critical systems i.e. Energy, Aerospace, Railway. The outcomes of the project have excited potential work in the area of further system reliability, security and economical impact and further academic collaborations.
Sectors Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Energy,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Transport,Other
 
Description The impact of findings is on the research academic side. A number of relevant research papers in the area of sensors optimization and control applications do refer to paper that stemmed from the EPSRC work (and more recent of our papers through enhanced collaboration and partnerships).
First Year Of Impact 2011
Sector Other
 
Description BAE Systems Advanced Technology Centre 
Organisation BAE Systems
Department Advanced Technology Centre
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution The input from BAE Systems was very important, in particular the expertise from the Senior Research Engineer in the meetings from what is expected in real engineering applications was very valuable for the project.
Start Year 2006
 
Description Collaboration with Cyprus Univ. of Technology 
Organisation Cyprus University of Technology
Country Cyprus 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This is a new venture, via the former PhD researcher of the project Dr K. Michail. He is a researcher at CUT, Cyprus currently and collaboration has started between Dr A. Zolotas, Dr K. Michail, Dr K. Deliparaschos on aspects that stemmed from the sensor configuration project and new additions from intelligent control. In particular, two conference papers have already been submitted based on this collaboration.
Start Year 2013
 
Description University of Exeter 
Organisation University of Exeter
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Research publications
Collaborator Contribution Research publications
Impact Sliding mode control design of an electrostatic microactuator using LPV schemes H Alwi, A Zolotas, C Edwards, K Grigoriadis American Control Conference (ACC), 2012, 875-880
Start Year 2009
 
Description University of Houston 
Organisation University of Houston
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Collboration on research papers.
Collaborator Contribution Collboration on research papers.
Impact Sliding mode control design of an electrostatic microactuator using LPV schemes H Alwi, A Zolotas, C Edwards, K Grigoriadis, American Control Conference (ACC), 2012, 875-880 Integrated design of dynamic controller with fault diagnosis and tolerance Z Li, A Zolotas, I Jaimoukha, K Grigoriadis Control and Automation, 2009. MED'09. 17th Mediterranean Conference on, 694-699 Output selection with fault tolerance via dynamic controller design Z Li, AC Zolotas, IM Jaimoukha, KM Grigoriadis Proceedings of the 17th Inernational Federation of Automatic Control World Congress, p 2570-2575 (2008) Zhenhai Li, Argyrios C Zolotas, IM Jaimoukha, KM Grigoriadis, Konstantinos Michail, John T Pearson Control & Automation, 2007. MED'07. Mediterranean Conference on, Pages 1-6
Start Year 2010