This book describes the modelling and optimisation of vibration reduction systems in an integrated fashion using nonlinear equations of motion. It proposes an effective optimisation method for determining the basic characteristics of the non-linear visco-elastic elements used in passive vibration reduction systems. In the case of semi-active and active vibration isolators, a design process of the advanced control systems is proposed that makes possible to optimise the controller settings relatively to the selected vibro-isolation criteria. The approach developed here is subsequently tested by means of experimental investigations conducted on various sample vibration reduction systems: passive, semi-active and active. The book presents a biomechanical modelling approach that allows users to select the properties of vibro-isolation systems for different types of oscillation and different optimisation criteria – and can significantly reduce the harmful vibrations that can affect the human body in the process. Further, the book equips readers to evaluate the viscoelastic characteristics of passive systems and design control systems for semi-active and active systems. Modelling and Control Design of Vibration Reduction Systems offers a valuable guide for researchers and practitioners alike. It also provides students and academics with systematic information on the procedures to be followed in the design process for semi-active or active vibration reduction systems.

This book presents a comprehensive introduction to the field of structural vibration reduction control, but may also be used as a reference source for more advanced topics. The content is divided into four main parts: the basic principles of structural vibration reduction control, structural vibration reduction devices, structural vibration reduction design methods, and structural vibration reduction engineering practices. As the book strikes a balance between theoretical and practical aspects, it will appeal to researchers and practicing engineers alike, as well as graduate students.

This book provides state-of-the-art scientific and engineering research findings and developments in the area of mobile robotics and associated support technologies. It contains peer-reviewed articles presented at the CLAWAR 2008 conference. Robots are no longer confined to industrial manufacturing environments; rather, a great deal of interest is invested in the use of robots outside the factory environment. The CLAWAR conference series, established as a high-profile international event, acts as a platform for dissemination of research and development findings to address the current interest in mobile robotics in meeting the needs of mankind in various sectors of the society. These include personal care, public health, and services in the domestic, public and industrial environments. The editors of the book have extensive research experience and publications in the area of robotics in general, and in mobile robotics specifically.

Vibration is a natural phenomenon that occurs in a variety of engineering systems. In many circumstances, vibration greatly affects the nature of engineering design as it often dictates limiting factors in the performance of the system. The conventional treatment is to redesign the system or to use passive damping. The former could be a costly exercise, while the latter is only effective at higher frequencies. Active control techniques have emerged as viable technologies to fill this low-frequency gap. This book is concerned with the study of feedback controllers for vibration control of flexible structures, with a view to minimizing vibration over the entire body of the structure.The book introduces a variety of flexible structures such as beams, strings, and plates with specific boundary conditions, and explains in detail how a spatially distributed model of such systems can be obtained. It addresses the problems of model reduction and model correction for spatially distributed systems of high orders, and goes on to extend robust control techniques such as H-infinity and H2 control design methodologies to spatially distributed systems arising in active vibration control problems. It also addresses other important topics, such as actuator and sensor placement for flexible systems, and system identification for flexible structures with irregular boundary conditions. The text contains numerous examples, and experimental results obtained from laboratory-level apparatus, with details of how similar test beds may be built.