Robust forward\backward control of wheeled mobile robots

Obtaining a control algorithm capable of navigating the system both in forward and backward motions is one of the control objectives for tractor-trailer wheeled robots (TTWRs). In this paper, a relatively general structure is presented for both forward and backward control of an n-trailer wheeled mobile robot (NTWMR) in the presence of wheel slip effects. To keep better overall performance and track the reference trajectories in forward and backward motions, the NTWMR is intended to be controlled in the presence of slip effects. A control algorithm accompanied by a slip compensation procedure is proposed for the system simultaneously. First, the mathematical model of the system in the presence of slip effects is obtained. A novel physically motivated algorithm is proposed for the tracking control in the presence of unknown uncertainties (longitudinal and lateral slips) for both forward and backward motions. By estimating the slip effects at any instant, the control inputs are produced to compensate for their destructive effects on tracking control of the NTWMR. Then the stability of the closed-loop system is evaluated using the Lyapunov theory. The potential of the proposed controller was verified through several case studies, including comparative results and experimental validation in various motion control manoeuvers for a vehicle with trailers. The proposed method is the first algorithm that can cover a broad range of TTWR motion tasks (forward and backward trajectory tracking, slip attenuation, and global stability), which are required to be developed in NTWMRs.