Performance Analysis of Universal Robot Control System Using Networked Predictive Control

Abstract: Networked control systems are feedback control systems with system components distributed at different locations connected through a communication network. Since the communication network is carried out through the internet and there are bandwidth and packet size limitations, network constraints appear. Some of these constraints are time delay and packet loss. These network limitations can degrade the performance and even destabilize the system. To overcome the adverse effect of these communication constraints, various approaches have been developed, among which a representative one is networked predictive control. This approach proposes a controller, which compensates for the network time delay and packet loss actively. This paper aims at implementing a networked predictive control system for controlling a robot arm through a computer network. The network delay is accounted for by a predictor, while the potential of packet loss is mitigated using redundant control packets. The results will show the stability of the system despite a high delay and a considerable packet loss. Additionally, improvements to previous networked predictive control systems will be suggested and an increase in performance can be shown. Lastly, the effects of different system and environment parameters on the control loop will be investigated.