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Virginia Tech

Robust Model-Based Control of Nonlinear Systems for Bio-Inspired Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The growing need for ocean surveillance and exploration has pushed the development of novel autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) technology. A current trend is to make use of bio-inspired propulsor to increase the overall system efficiency and performance, an improvement that has deep implications in the dynamics of the system. The goal of this dissertation is to propose a generic robust control framework specific for bio-inspired autonomous underwater vehicles (BIAUV). These vehicles utilize periodic oscillation of a flexible structural component to generate thrust, a propulsion mechanism that can be tuned to operate under resonance and consequently improve the overall system efficiency. The control parameter should then be selected to keep the system operating in such a condition. Another important aspect is to have a controller design technique that can address the time-varying behaviors, structured uncertainties and system nonlinearities. To address these needs a robust, model-based, nonlinear controller design technique is presented, called digital sliding mode controller (DSMC), which also takes into account the discrete implementation of these laws using microcontrollers. The control law is implemented in the control of a jellyfish-inspired autonomous underwater vehicle.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ph. D.
Level thesis:degree_level
doctoral
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Mechanical Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Mechanical Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2013

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Thome De Faria, Cassio
Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Inman, Daniel J.
  • Priya, Shashank
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Philen, Michael K.
  • Kurdila, Andrew J.
  • Kasarda, Mary E.
  • Tarazaga, Pablo Alberto

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:1656
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/23792

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Thome De Faria, Cassio. Robust Model-Based Control of Nonlinear Systems for Bio-Inspired Autonomous Underwater Vehicles. doctoral thesis, Virginia Tech, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/23792