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A two-wheel load balance control strategy for an HVTL inspection robot based on second-order sliding-mode

Zhihang He (Hubei Key Laboratory of Waterjet Theory and New Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China)
Wei Wang (Hubei Key Laboratory of Waterjet Theory and New Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China)
Huaping Ruan (Hubei Key Laboratory of Waterjet Theory and New Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China)
Yanzhang Yao (Hubei Key Laboratory of Waterjet Theory and New Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China)
Xuelong Li (Hubei Key Laboratory of Waterjet Theory and New Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China)
Dehua Zou (Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Intelligent Live Working Technology and Equipment, Changsha, Hunan, China)
Yu Yan (Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Intelligent Live Working Technology and Equipment, Changsha, Hunan, China)
Shaochun Jia (Guangdong Keystar Intelligence Robot Co., Ltd., Shunde, Guangdong, China)

Industrial Robot

ISSN: 0143-991x

Article publication date: 29 March 2019

Issue publication date: 12 April 2019

195

Abstract

Purpose

Overhead high-voltage transmission line (HVTL) inspection robots are used to inspect the transmission lines and/or maintain the infrastructures of a power transmission grid. One of the most serious problems is that the load on the front wheel is much larger than that on the back one when the robot travels along a sloping earth wire. Thus, ongoing operation of the inspection robot mainly depends on the front wheel motor’s ability. This paper aims to extend continuous operation time of the HVTL inspection robots.

Design/methodology/approach

By introducing a traction force model, the authors have established a dynamic model of the robot with slip. The total load is evenly distributed to both wheels. According to the traction force model, the desired wheel slip is calculated to achieve the goal of load balance. A wheel slip controller was designed based on second-order sliding-mode control methodology.

Findings

This controller accomplishes the control objective, such that the actual wheel slip tracks the desired wheel slip. A simulation and experiment verify the feasibility of the load balance control system. These results indicate that the loads on both wheels are generally equal.

Originality/value

By balancing the loads on both wheels, the inspection robot can travel along the earth wire longer, improving its efficiency.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the Foshan Technical Innovation Team Project (number 2015IT100143), Guangdong Robot Special Project (number 2015B09092207), Intelligent Live Operation Technology and Equipment (Robotics) Hunan Key Laboratory Open Research Project Funding (number 2017KZD2001) and South Wisdom Valley Innovative Research Team Program.

Citation

He, Z., Wang, W., Ruan, H., Yao, Y., Li, X., Zou, D., Yan, Y. and Jia, S. (2019), "A two-wheel load balance control strategy for an HVTL inspection robot based on second-order sliding-mode", Industrial Robot, Vol. 46 No. 1, pp. 83-92. https://doi.org/10.1108/IR-10-2018-0212

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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