Decentralized Motion Control for Omnidirectional Wheelchair Tracking Error Elimination Using PD-Fuzzy-P and GA-PID Controllers

Abstract

The last decade observed a significant research effort directed towards maneuverability and safety of mobile robots such as smart wheelchairs. The conventional electric wheelchair can be equipped with motorized omnidirectional wheels and several sensors serving as inputs for the controller to achieve smooth, safe, and reliable maneuverability. This work uses the decentralized algorithm to control the motion of omnidirectional wheelchairs. In the body frame of the omnidirectional wheeled wheelchair there are three separated independent components of motion including rotational motion, horizontal motion, and vertical motion, which can be controlled separately. So, each component can have its different sub-controller with a minimum tracking error. The present work aims to enhance the mobility of wheelchair users by utilizing an application to control the motion of their attained/unattained smart wheelchairs, especially in narrow places and at hard detours such as 90˚ corners and U-turns, which improves the quality of life of disabled users by facilitating their wheelchairs’ maneuverability. Two approaches of artificial intelligent-based controllers (PD-Fuzzy-P and GA-PID controllers) are designed to optimally enhance the maneuverability of the system. MATLAB software is used to simulate the system and calculate the Mean Error (ME) and Mean Square Error (MSE) for various scenarios in both approaches, the results showed that the PD-Fuzzy-P controller has a faster convergence in trajectory tracking than the GA-PID controller. Therefore, the proposed system can find its application in many areas including transporting locomotor-based disabled individuals and geriatric people as well as automated guided vehicles.