Selected measurement and control techniques : experimental verification on a lab-scaled overhead crane

This article presents three independent concepts of use high-level technique with it adaptation and implementation concerning overhead travelling crane device type. The main objective of this statement applies a solution for device workspace mapping, payload anti-sway control techniques strategy use and possibility of reliable steel construction health monitoring. In the first chapter, the vision system technology for obstacle in workspace visualization was presented. The main idea depends on use stereovision system with sets of camera mounted under the crane’s trolley which movement with the crane shifts. The stereo pictures, after digital processing, were used for develop so-called dense disparity map. The described architecture allows achieving information about device surroundings and obstacle position in the workspace. As the final result was presented three-dimensional map of the device workspace with obtained result accuracy discussion. The second type of described problem developed in chapter two concern the crane control methodology of designing the anti-sway system for payload stabilizing during the crane movement. The oscillation of a payload adversely affects the accuracy of performed transportation tasks and may present a safety hazard to employees, transferred payload and surrounding objects. The invented and described method mainly base on so-called soft computing methods. The next part of the article-focused attention of problem concerning health monitoring cranes construction as other equipment’s as well. The problem concerns usually the large industrial cranes carry out transportation operations in the presence of a large impact load and mechanical stresses acting overall crane’s structure. The safety and efficiency of crane operations can be improved through providing the continuous structural health monitoring as well in on-line and off-line mode. The main idea allows using Metal Magnetic Memory technique for supervising and estimating steel construction actual condition. All tests and considerations were conducted on the scaled physical model of overhead travelling crane with hosting capability 150 kg