Skip to main content
Log in

Seam tracking control for mobile welding robot based on vision sensor

  • Published:
Journal of Central South University of Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To solve the seam tracking problem of mobile welding robot, a new controller based on the dynamics of mobile welding robot was designed using the method of backstepping kinematics into dynamics. A self-turning fuzzy controller and a fuzzy-Gaussian neural network (FGNN) controller were designed to complete coordinately controlling of cross-slider and wheels. The fuzzy-neural control algorithm was described by applying the Gaussian function and back propagation (BP) learning rule was used to tune the membership function in real time by applying the FGNN controller. To make the tracking more quickly and smoothly, the neural network controller based on dynamic model was designed, which utilized self-learning and self-adaptive ability of the neural network to deal with the partial uncertainty and the disturbances of the parameters of the robot dynamic model and real-time compensate the dynamics coupling. The results show that the selected control input torques make the system globally and asymptotically stable based on the Lyapunov function selected out; the accuracy of the proposed controller tracing is within ±0.4 mm and can satisfy the requirements of practical welding project.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. MA Zhi-wei, ZHANG Hua, ZHENG Guo-yun. Structure design of mobile welding robot based on rotating arc sensor for bending weld [J]. Transactions of China Welding Institution, 2005, 26(11): 51–54. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  2. KAM B O, JEON Y B, KIM S B. Motion control of two wheeled welding Mobile Robot with seam tracking sensor [C]// Proceedings of EEE International Symposium on Industrial Electronics. Pusan: IEEE, 2001: 851–856.

    Google Scholar 

  3. JIANG Li-ping, JIAO Xiang-dong, LÜ Xue-qing. Key points of high efficient automatic welding technique for large scale spherical steel tank [J]. Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2003, 39(8): 146–150. (in Chinese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. ZHANG Ke, LÜ Xue-qin, WU Yi-xiong. Algorithm for the entrance angle calculation of a welding mobile robot during auto-searching weld line [J]. Journal of Shanghai Jiaotong University, 2006, 39(6): 941–944. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  5. ZHANG Ke, WU Yi-xiong, JIN Xing, LÜ Xu-qing. Study on welding mobile robot with the function of auto-searching welding line [J]. China Welding, 2006, 15(1): 68–69.

    Google Scholar 

  6. REN W, SUN J S, BEARD R W. Nonlinear tracking control for nonholonomic mobile robots with input constraints: An experimental study [C]// Proceedings of the 2005 American Control Conference. Piscataway: IEEE, 2005: 4923–492.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  7. SEONG J M, SUN J S, BEARD R W. Nonlinear tracking control of a welding robot based on adaptive backstepping method [C]// Proceedings of International Symposium on Electronics & Electronics Engineering. Vietnam: IEEE, 2005: 43–51.

    Google Scholar 

  8. GAO Yan-feng, ZHANG Hua, MAO Zhi-wei. Curved seam tracking control of a wheeled welding mobile robot [J]. Robot, 2007: 439–451. (in Chinese)

  9. GAO Yan-feng, ZHANG Hua, MAO Zhi-wei. Coordinate control of broken-line welding seam tracking for wheeled robot [J]. Transactions of the China Welding Institution, 2008, 29(5): 33–37. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  10. WANG Hai-dong, ZHANG Hua, XU Jian-ning. Compromise control tactic for wheeled welding robot [J]. Transactions of the China Welding Institution, 2004, 25(3): 4–6. (in Chinese)

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  11. CHENG Shan-ben, LOU Ya-jun, ZHAO Song-bing. Fuzzy-neural network modeling and control of pool dynamic process in pulsed GTAW [J]. Acta Automatica Sinica, 2002, 28(1): 74–82.

    Google Scholar 

  12. ZHANG Ke, WU Yi-xiong, JIN Xing. Real-time seam tracking based on fuzzy-Gaussian neural network for welding mobile robot [J]. Transactions of China Welding Institution, 2004, 28(9): 17–22. (in Chinese)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  13. CHWA D. Sliding mode tracking control of nonholonomic wheeled mobile robots in polar coordinates [J]. IEEE Transaction on Control System Technology, 2004, 12(4): 637–644.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  14. XIAO Beng-xian, ZHANG Song-can. Tracking control of nonholonomic mobile robots based on dynamics model [J]. Journal of System Simulation, 2006, 18(5): 1263–1266. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  15. ZHANG Shuo-sheng, YU Da-tai. Robust following controller design of wheeled mobile manipulator [J]. Journal of University of Science and Technology Beijing, 2003, 25(1): 69–73.

    Google Scholar 

  16. TAN L C, TRONG H B. Sliding mode control of two-wheeled mobile robot for tracking smooth curved welding path [J]. KSME International Journal, 2004, 7(18): 1094–1106.

    Google Scholar 

  17. DUNG N M, DUY V H, PHUONG N T, KIM S B, OH M S. Two-wheeled welding mobile robot for tracking a smooth curved welding path using adaptive sliding-mode control technique [J]. International Journal of Control, Automation and Systems, 2007, 3(5): 283–294.

    Google Scholar 

  18. ZHANG Ke. Dynamic modeling and simulation for nonholonomic welding mobile robot [J]. Journal of Central South University of Technology, 2007, 14(5): 679–684.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. LI Kai, ZHANG Ting. Seam tracking control of welding mobile robot based on dynamics model [C]// Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Modeling and Simulation. Manchester, 2009: 1403–1409.

  20. ZHANG Ting, LI Kai, YANG Jing. Compromise control tactic for intelligent mobile welding robot [C]// Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Electronic Measurement & Instruments. Beijing: IEEE, 2009: 836–839.

    Google Scholar 

  21. ZHANG Ting, LI Kai, DAI Shi-jie, XIAO Shu-mei. Research on seam tracking controller of mobile welding robot [C]// Proceedings of International Conference on Automation and Logistics. Shenyang: IEEE, 2009: 1042–1045.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kai Li  (李慨).

Additional information

Foundation item: Project(2007309) supported by the Scientific Research Project of Hebei Provincial Education Office, China; Project(2007AA04Z209) supported by the National High-Tech Research and Development Program of China

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zhang, T., Li, K. & Yang, J. Seam tracking control for mobile welding robot based on vision sensor. J. Cent. South Univ. Technol. 17, 1320–1326 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-010-0637-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-010-0637-7

Key words

Navigation