Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.3
2.5
Journals
Applied Sciences
Special Issues
Automation and Intelligent Control Systems
applsci-logo
Submit to Applied Sciences Review for Applied Sciences Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Automation and Intelligent Control Systems

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Robotics and Automation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 January 2024) | Viewed by 7412

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Wenfeng Hu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Automation, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
Interests: complex system intelligent control; multi-agent reinforcement learning; artificial intelligence; coordinated control of multi-mobile robot; distributed control of multi-agent system; networked control system; control and scheduling of high-speed rail
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The distributed control problems of multiagent systems have been studied for many years. The transient performance is one key factor in the application of multiagent systems. As tasks become more complex, traditional distributed control methods cannot meet the demands of performance of multiagent systems. A good control law is expected to have the following good performance factors: high accuracy, fast convergence, and low energy consumption. The objective of this Research Topic is to solicit research results on novel distributed control methods for multiagent systems by considering the transient performance. Our aim is to develop new approaches for the control of multiagent systems such that both the steady-state performance and transient performance can be improved. The topic will facilitate the development of control theory for networked systems and the application of multiagent systems.

Dr. Wenfeng Hu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • distributed control
  • multiagent system
  • transient performance
  • hybrid systems
  • event-triggered control

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

22 pages, 6605 KiB  
Article
Multiagent Reinforcement Learning for Active Guidance Control of Railway Vehicles with Independently Rotating Wheels
by Juyao Wei, Zhenggang Lu, Zheng Yin and Zhipeng Jing
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 1677; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14041677 - 19 Feb 2024
Viewed by 938
Abstract
This paper presents a novel data-driven multiagent reinforcement learning (MARL) controller for enhancing the running stability of independently rotating wheels (IRW) and reducing wheel–rail wear. We base our active guidance controller on the multiagent deep deterministic policy gradient (MADDPG) algorithm. In this framework, [...] Read more.
This paper presents a novel data-driven multiagent reinforcement learning (MARL) controller for enhancing the running stability of independently rotating wheels (IRW) and reducing wheel–rail wear. We base our active guidance controller on the multiagent deep deterministic policy gradient (MADDPG) algorithm. In this framework, each IRW controller is treated as an independent agent, facilitating localized control of individual wheelsets and reducing the complexity of the required observations. Furthermore, we enhance the MADDPG algorithm with prioritized experience replay (PER), resulting in the PER-MADDPG algorithm, which optimizes training convergence and stability by prioritizing informative experience samples. In this paper, we compare the PER-MADDPG algorithm against existing controllers, demonstrating the superior simulation performance of the proposed algorithm, particularly in terms of self-centering capability and curve-negotiation behavior, effectively reducing the wear number. We also develop a scaled IRW vehicle for active guidance experiments. The experimental results validate the enhanced running performance of IRW vehicles using our proposed controller. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Automation and Intelligent Control Systems)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1353 KiB  
Article
Fuzzy Adaptive Asymptotic Control for a Class of Large-Scale High-Order Unknown Nonlinear Systems
by Peilun Ju, Yongfeng Ju and Jiacheng Song
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(15), 8968; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13158968 - 4 Aug 2023
Viewed by 848
Abstract
This paper studies the asymptotic control problem of a class of large-scale high-order nonlinear systems (LSHONSs), and an asymptotic fuzzy adaptive dynamic surface controller is developed. Unknown nonlinear terms are learned online by fuzzy logic systems (FLSs) such that the accurate nonlinear model [...] Read more.
This paper studies the asymptotic control problem of a class of large-scale high-order nonlinear systems (LSHONSs), and an asymptotic fuzzy adaptive dynamic surface controller is developed. Unknown nonlinear terms are learned online by fuzzy logic systems (FLSs) such that the accurate nonlinear model is released in the controller design procedure, where the parameters of FLSs are updated by developing adaptive laws. To compensate for the “boundary error” caused by the dynamic surface control method where a linear filter is added in the backstepping procedure to handle the “explosion of complexity” problem, a nonlinear filter is proposed to eliminate the boundary layer error. Some simulations are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Automation and Intelligent Control Systems)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

33 pages, 3794 KiB  
Article
Resilient Formation Reconfiguration for Leader–Follower Multi-UAVs
by Haoran Zhang, Guangling Zhang, Ruohan Yang, Zhichao Feng and Wei He
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(13), 7385; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13137385 - 21 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1383
Abstract
Among existing studies on formation reconfiguration for multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (multi-UAVs), the majority are conducted on the assumption that the swarm scale is stationary. In fact, because of emergencies, such as communication malfunctions, physical destruction, and mission alteration, the scale of the [...] Read more.
Among existing studies on formation reconfiguration for multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (multi-UAVs), the majority are conducted on the assumption that the swarm scale is stationary. In fact, because of emergencies, such as communication malfunctions, physical destruction, and mission alteration, the scale of the multi-UAVs can fluctuate. In these cases, the achievements of formation reconfiguration for fixed-scale multi-UAVs are no longer applicable. As such, in this article, the formation reconfiguration problem of leader–follower multi-UAVs is investigated with a variable swarm scale taken into consideration. First, a streamlined topological structure is designed on the basis of the parity of the vertex numbers. Then, three formation reconfiguration strategies corresponding to the scenarios covering leader disengagement, follower detachment, and new member additions are developed with the aim of reducing the frequency of connection changes. Moreover, in terms of the leader election link of the leader disengagement scenario, a knowledge-based performance assessment model for UAVs is constructed with the help of the hierarchical belief rule base (BRB). Finally, the proposed formation reconfiguration strategies for leader disengagement, new member addition, and follower disengagement are demonstrated through simulations. The connection retention rate (CRR) for swarm communication topology under the three formation reconfiguration strategies can reach 67%, 90%, and 100%, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Automation and Intelligent Control Systems)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 11016 KiB  
Article
Appointed-Time Leader-Following Consensus for Second-Order Multi-Agent Systems with Prescribed Performance Guarantees
by Hongfei Wang, Zichuang Li and Wenfeng Hu
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(10), 5937; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13105937 - 11 May 2023
Viewed by 1387
Abstract
The appointed-time leader-following consensus problem for second-order multi-agent systems with external disturbance on directed graphs is addressed. A distributed controller based on the cumulative position difference and cumulative velocity difference is proposed, which does not require prior knowledge of external disturbances. It is [...] Read more.
The appointed-time leader-following consensus problem for second-order multi-agent systems with external disturbance on directed graphs is addressed. A distributed controller based on the cumulative position difference and cumulative velocity difference is proposed, which does not require prior knowledge of external disturbances. It is shown that the proposed controller guarantees the prescribed performance of the controlled systems, namely, to keep the cumulative position difference within a predefined boundary envelope. Furthermore, by employing a novel performance function, it is ensured that the position tracking error converges to an arbitrarily small expected region within the appointed time. Different from most existing finite/fixed-time control methods, here the settling time and the convergence region can both be predefined, which are also independent of initial conditions and the system parameters. Finally, the theoretical results are verified by simulations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Automation and Intelligent Control Systems)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

29 pages, 1004 KiB  
Review
A General Overview of Overhead Multi-Station Multi-Shuttle Systems and the Innovative Applications Trend in Vietnam
by Thuy Duy Truong, Nguyen Huu Loc Khuu, Quoc Dien Le, Tran Thanh Cong Vu, Hoa Binh Tran and Tuong Quan Vo
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(19), 11036; https://doi.org/10.3390/app131911036 - 7 Oct 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1963
Abstract
Research and development on a global scale have been conducted on overhead hoist transportation systems (OHTSs) in recent years. The majority of these systems are utilized in manufacturing facilities that are either semiautomated or fully automated. By using stochastic models to evaluate medication [...] Read more.
Research and development on a global scale have been conducted on overhead hoist transportation systems (OHTSs) in recent years. The majority of these systems are utilized in manufacturing facilities that are either semiautomated or fully automated. By using stochastic models to evaluate medication distribution and product delivery processes in automated delivery systems, hospitals can reduce patient waiting times and drug response times. Warehouses are being transformed into fully automated fulfillment factories by using conveyors and shelf-lifting mobile robots, which reduce waiting times and improve efficiency. Modern warehouses are increasingly becoming fully automated fulfillment facilities as a response to the significant development of e-commerce. A significant number of organizations are using mobile robots or conveyor systems to transport shelves. The parts-to-picker model is used to transport stock-keeping units (SKUs) to stationary pickers at picking workstations. The aim of this study is to analyze and organize the relationship between transportation system families. They are utilized in various fields, such as warehouses, hospitals, airports, cross-dockings, etc. Furthermore, this study categorizes a range of synchronization issues that arise from minor variations in workstation configurations within different warehouse settings. Next, we identify a multistation ATS (automatic transportation system) that switches lines to different stations by using overhead conveyors and active line-switching devices. Vietnam’s automated freight problem can be solved with this potential solution. Our study’s findings suggest that enhancing the workstation layout can significantly enhance throughput performance. As a result, the benefits of synchronization can surpass those provided by other well-studied decision tasks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Automation and Intelligent Control Systems)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop