Multisensor information-based adaptive control method for cutting head speed of roadheader

Abstract

An adaptive control method to improve the cutting head speed of roadheaders using multisensor information is proposed, so as to solve the problems of low cutting efficiency and low intelligence of roadheaders during underground tunnelling. The operation of a roadheader is analysed, and a control strategy for its cutting head speed is proposed. In addition, the cutting head speed is categorised into five gears according to the multisensor information of different cutting states. The controller for speed estimation is designed using a back propagation neural network optimised using an improved particle swarm optimisation algorithm. A control system is established in MATLAB to analyse the effectiveness of the method. The simulation results show that an IPSO-BP controller has the best control effect and can attain the target speed. The response time was lower than those of fuzzy logic controllers and traditional PI controllers by 46% and 68%, respectively, and the overshoot decreased by 4.69% and 12.19%, respectively. Furthermore, experimental research verified the effectiveness of this method. This method can adaptively adjust the cutting head speed of a roadheader using multisensor information and is important (both theoretical and practically) for extending the service life of roadheaders and improving tunnelling efficiency.