Design, modelling and control of a brachiating power line inspection robot

dc.contributor.advisorBoje, Edwarden_ZA
dc.contributor.authorPatel, Javaaden_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2016-07-20T06:47:55Z
dc.date.available2016-07-20T06:47:55Z
dc.date.issued2016en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe inspection of power lines and associated hardware is vital to ensuring the reliability of the transmission and distribution network. The repetitive nature of the inspection tasks present a unique opportunity for the introduction of robotic platforms, which offer the ability to perform more systematic and detailed inspection than traditional methods. This lends itself to improved asset management automation, cost-effectiveness and safety for the operating crew. This dissertation presents the development of a prototype industrial brachiating robot. The robot is mechanically simple and capable of dynamically negotiating obstacles by brachiating. This is an improvement over current robotic platforms, which employ slow, high power static schemes for obstacle negotiation. Mathematical models of the robot were derived to understand the underlying dynamics of the system. These models were then used in the generation of optimal trajectories, using nonlinear optimisation techniques, for brachiating past line hardware. A physical robot was designed and manufactured to validate the brachiation manoeuvre. The robot was designed following classic mechanical design principles, with emphasis on functional design and robustness. System identification was used to capture the plant uncertainty and a feedback controller was designed to track the reference trajectory allowing for energy optimal brachiation swings. Finally, the robot was tested, starting with sub-system testing and ending with testing of a brachiation manoeuvre proving the prospective viability of the robot in an industrial environment.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationPatel, J. (2016). <i>Design, modelling and control of a brachiating power line inspection robot</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Electrical Engineering. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20464en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationPatel, Javaad. <i>"Design, modelling and control of a brachiating power line inspection robot."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Electrical Engineering, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20464en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationPatel, J. 2016. Design, modelling and control of a brachiating power line inspection robot. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Patel, Javaad AB - The inspection of power lines and associated hardware is vital to ensuring the reliability of the transmission and distribution network. The repetitive nature of the inspection tasks present a unique opportunity for the introduction of robotic platforms, which offer the ability to perform more systematic and detailed inspection than traditional methods. This lends itself to improved asset management automation, cost-effectiveness and safety for the operating crew. This dissertation presents the development of a prototype industrial brachiating robot. The robot is mechanically simple and capable of dynamically negotiating obstacles by brachiating. This is an improvement over current robotic platforms, which employ slow, high power static schemes for obstacle negotiation. Mathematical models of the robot were derived to understand the underlying dynamics of the system. These models were then used in the generation of optimal trajectories, using nonlinear optimisation techniques, for brachiating past line hardware. A physical robot was designed and manufactured to validate the brachiation manoeuvre. The robot was designed following classic mechanical design principles, with emphasis on functional design and robustness. System identification was used to capture the plant uncertainty and a feedback controller was designed to track the reference trajectory allowing for energy optimal brachiation swings. Finally, the robot was tested, starting with sub-system testing and ending with testing of a brachiation manoeuvre proving the prospective viability of the robot in an industrial environment. DA - 2016 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2016 T1 - Design, modelling and control of a brachiating power line inspection robot TI - Design, modelling and control of a brachiating power line inspection robot UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20464 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/20464
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationPatel J. Design, modelling and control of a brachiating power line inspection robot. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment ,Department of Electrical Engineering, 2016 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20464en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Electrical Engineeringen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherElectrical Engineeringen_ZA
dc.subject.otherPower line inspectionen_ZA
dc.subject.otherBrachiating roboten_ZA
dc.subject.otherFeedback controlen_ZA
dc.subject.otherTrajectory generationen_ZA
dc.titleDesign, modelling and control of a brachiating power line inspection roboten_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMSc (Eng)en_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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