IT-tool for intelligent motion control

A Danish mechatronic research program focused on intelligent motion control for rapid prototyping of fluid-power components and systems.

Customers continually increase their needs for improved products and more efficient machinery, whether they are buying a 360-t (400-ton) mining truck or a wristwatch. The demands of the customer often focus on extensions of functionality, faster response, operation capability, man-machine interface (MMI), robustness, reliability, and safety-in-use. Information technology (IT) consists of both the software and hardware for engineering-design and industrial applications necessary to meet increased quality demands. Progress in IT has made the integration of an overall design and manufacturing IT-concept feasible, including IT-tools for controller design and for intelligent motion control (IMC) that could satisfy customers' needs, requirements, and regulations.

Researchers from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) have proposed algorithms for IMC of hydraulic systems. They used transputers and digital signal processors (DSP) to successfully implement fast controllers for IMC of hydraulic machines and robots. A mechatronic test facility with digital controllers for a hydraulic robot and a CNC XY-machine table were implemented. The facility is suitable for real-time experimentation, evaluation, and validation of control laws and algorithms.