Fluidic Actuator Position Control With Self-Verified Parameters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in achieving optimal position control of fluidic actuators due to challenges in determining and entering correct system and requirement parameters, which can lead to inaccurate and slow positioning, and may result in incorrect parameter settings or overlooking system wear and defects.
Innovation Solution
The pressurized fluid provision device is adapted with an assistance procedure that determines and verifies system and requirement parameters based on the actuator's movement and physical limits, providing supporting functions to ensure correct parameter settings and offering predictive maintenance by monitoring wear and defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual parameter entry is used for position control, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision and positioning accuracy deteriorate due to incorrect parameter settings
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines system parameters (friction, mass, dynamic behavior) and requirement parameters (path requirements, velocity, acceleration, positioning time) through an assistance procedure without requiring manual user input. The pressurized fluid provision device performs self-characterization by executing test movements and evaluating sensor data to autonomously configure optimal control parameters, eliminating manual entry errors while maintaining simple device architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The assistance procedure performs preliminary determination and verification of all control parameters before actual position control operations begin. The system executes learning runs during commissioning to pre-determine friction, mass, and dynamic characteristics, and pre-verify path requirements and physical limits, ensuring accurate positioning from the start without requiring complex manual configuration during operation
2Ease of operation
If simple manual parameter entry is used, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to incorrect parameters and undetected system wear
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors actual position control performance and compares it against the determined parameters and physical limits. The assistance procedure uses feedback from sensor data during learning runs to verify parameters and detect deviations caused by wear or defects. This closed-loop verification ensures reliable operation while maintaining ease of use, as the system self-corrects and alerts users to issues without requiring manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The pressurized fluid provision device automatically performs self-verification of entered parameters against physical limits and system capabilities. The system monitors its own performance characteristics over time, detects wear and defects autonomously, and adjusts or alerts on parameters without user involvement, maintaining both ease of operation and high reliability through self-diagnosis and self-correction
3Manufacturing precision
If automatic parameter determination is implemented, then manufacturing precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases due to assistance procedures and sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The pressurized fluid provision device integrates multiple functions into a single unified system: it serves as both the actuator controller and the parameter determination system. The control unit executes both the assistance procedure for parameter determination and the normal position control functions, eliminating the need for separate dedicated characterization equipment. Standard sensors already present in the system are used for both monitoring and parameter determination, reducing overall complexity while achieving high precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing sensors and actuator mechanisms to determine its parameters, rather than requiring external characterization equipment. The assistance procedure leverages the system's built-in position sensors and pressurized fluid supply to perform self-testing and self-characterization, achieving high precision parameter determination without adding significant external complexity to the device
4Manufacturing precision
If learning runs are performed for parameter determination, then positioning accuracy is improved, but productivity decreases due to additional setup time
Solution Approach 1:
The assistance procedure with learning runs is executed during the commissioning phase before production begins, performing the time-consuming parameter determination and verification in advance. Once parameters are determined and stored, they are reused for all subsequent position control operations without requiring repeated learning runs, thus sacrificing minimal initial setup time for long-term high precision and efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system determines key parameters (friction, mass, dynamic behavior) once during commissioning and maintains them as fixed values for ongoing operation. Rather than continuously adapting parameters during production, the system optimizes the initial parameter determination through the assistance procedure, achieving high positioning accuracy while minimizing the time cost to a single initial characterization event
Data Source
AI summary
A system (100), including: a fluidic actuator (2) which can be acted upon by a pressurized fluid and has an actuator member (3), a pressurized fluid provision device (4) which is adapted to carry out a position control of the actuator member (3) and, within the position control, to apply the pressurized fluid to the fluidic actuator (2) in order to move the actuator (3) into a prescribed position, the pressurized fluid provision device (4) being adapted to carry out the position control taking into account at least one system parameter, which describes a physical property of the system and/or a requirement parameter which defines a requirement for the positioning of the actuator (3), wherein the pressurized fluid provision device (4) is further adapted to perform an assistance procedure and to determine and/or verify, within the assistance procedure, the system parameter and/or the requirement parameter on the basis of a movement of the actuator (3) and/or a consideration of physical limits.