A Real-Time Bilateral Teleoperation Control System over Imperfect Network

Abstract

Functionality and performance of modern machines are directly affected by the implementation of real-time control systems. Especially in networked teleoperation applications, force feedback control and networked control are two of the most important factors, which determine the performance of the whole system. In force feedback control, generally it is necessary but difficult and expensive to attach sensors (force/torque/pressure sensors) to detect the environment information in order to drive properly the feedback force. In networked control, there always exist inevitable random time-varying delays and packet dropouts, which may degrade the system performance and, even worse, cause the system instability. Therefore in this chapter, a study on a real-time bilateral teleoperation control system (BTCS) over an imperfect network is discussed. First, current technologies for teleoperation as well as BTCSs are briefly reviewed. Second, an advanced concept for designing a bilateral teleoperation networked control (BTNCS) system is proposed, and the working principle is clearly explained. Third, an approach to develop a force-sensorless feedback control (FSFC) is proposed to simplify the sensor requirement in designing the BTNCS, while the correct sense of interaction between the slave and the environment can be ensured. Fourth, a robust-adaptive networked control (RANC)-based master controller is introduced to deal with control of the slave over the network containing both time delays and information loss. Case studies are carried out to evaluate the applicability of the suggested methodology.