Visual servo system for controlling tension of non-linear-elastic web deformation

An intelligent visual servo system for web handling operation and manipulation is developed. This material handling system is used to facilitate the laser cutting process of lace web material. This system uses servo system coupled with machine vision system for controlling the web tension and adjusting the non-linear elastic web deformation. This paper presents the initial investigation of using image analysis for fine-tuning the PID controller parameters. The general concept of the material handling system is explained first. The features recognition technique in which the calibration features and the web deformation parameters are searched and calibrated will be explained. Based on these calibration features, the PID control parameters will bet set accordingly. The important aspects of the motion controller with the machine vision to co-ordinate precisely the sequence of web handling operations are highlighted. The logic behind the algorithms for the self-tuning PID controller is explained. The manner in which this whole concept of intelligent material handling system operates are discussed in this paper. This includes system configuration, motion control and feature recognition of web distortion control. The self-tuning PID motion controller based on the on-line image analysis is the key concept in the visual servo system for controlling the amount of tension in the nonlinear elastic web material