Design sensor trajectory for control: Application to sheet-forming processes

The conventional scanning sensor generates a zig-zag pattern for the sheet- forming process, immediately leading to the problem of unequal measurement update intervals in state estimation. Instead of reconstructing the profile given a zig-zag pattern, the sensor trajectory was redesigned to better es timation and control. In this work, the characteristics of the conventional scanning sensor were explored as well as the implications in estimation an d control. The concept of elliptic sensor contour is presented deriving ana lytical expressions for the sensor trajectories. Alternatively, the improve d sensor trajectory can be obtained using a variable-speed scanning sensor under linear sweep. That implies that control performance can be improved b y reprogramming the motor of the existing sensor. Moreover several alternat ives for sensor arrangement ave also explored. The results for estimation a nd control can be used as guidelines for the development of future sensor t echnology.