Implementation of artificial neural network to achieve speed control and power saving of a belt conveyor system

Abstract

According to the importance of the conveyor systems in various industrial and service lines, it is very desirable to make these systems as efficient as possible in their work. In this paper, the speed of a conveyor belt (which is in our study a part of an integrated training robotic system) is controlled using one of the artificial intelligence methods, which is the Artificial Neural Network (ANN). A visions sensor will be responsible for gathering information about the status of the conveyor belt and parts over it, where, according to this information, an intelligent decision about the belt speed will be taken by the ANN controller. ANN will control the alteration in speed in a way that gives the optimized energy efficiency through the conveyor belt motion. An optimal speed controlling mechanism of the conveyor belt is presented by detecting smartly the parts' number and weights using the vision sensor, where the latter will give sufficient visualization about the system. Then image processing will deliver the important data to ANN, which will optimally decide the best conveyor belt speed. This decided speed will achieve the aim of power saving in belt motion. The proposed controlling system will optimally switch the speed of the conveyor belt system to ON, OFF and idle status in order to minimize the consumption of energy in the conveyor belt. As the conveyor belt is fully loaded it moves at its maximum speed. But if the conveyor is partially loaded, the speed will be adjusted accordingly by the ANN. If no loading existed, the conveyor will be stopped. By this way, a very significant energy amount in addition to cost will be saved. The developed conveyor belt system will modernize industrial manufacturing lines, besides reducing energy consumption and cost and increasing the conveyor belts lifetime