Duy-Nam Bui

Duy-Nam Bui

🇻🇳 he/his

Ph.D. Student in Automatic Control

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publications

Adaptive fuzzy Lyapunov-based model predictive control for parallel platform driving simulator

Published in Transactions of the Institute of Measurement and Control, 2022

The paper proposes an adaptive Lyapunov-based nonlinear model predictive control (MPC) to cope with the problems in nonlinear systems subjecting to system constraints and unknown disturbances of the parallel car driving simulator. Commonly, standard nonlinear controllers could guarantee the overall system stability for the parallel structure. However, the constraints tend to impact the control performance and stability adversely. Therefore, MPC plays a vital role in the proposed technique to explicitly consider all the practical constraints and simultaneously enhance the system’s robustness. Nevertheless, the accuracy of the modeling process has a significant effect on the MPC performance, and thus, the convergence cannot be guaranteed in the presence of the model uncertainties. To overcome this problem, by the merit of the fuzzy adaptive law, the control system takes the disturbances and unmodelled parameters into account. Moreover, the feasibility and stability of the approach, which is the fundamental problem of MPC, are ensured according to the Lyapunov-based nonlinear controller, backstepping aggregated with sliding mode control (SMC), and hence inherit advantages of these controls. Simulation results show the efficiency and superior constituted controllers of the proposed method.

Deployment of UAVs for optimal multihop ad-hoc networks using particle swarm optimization and behavior-based control

Published in 2022 11th International Conference on Control, Automation and Information Sciences (ICCAIS), 2022

This study proposes an approach for establishing an optimal multihop ad-hoc network using multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to provide emergency communication in disaster areas. The approach includes two stages, one uses particle swarm optimization (PSO) to find optimal positions to deploy UAVs, and the other uses a behavior-based controller to navigate the UAVs to their assigned positions without colliding with obstacles in an unknown environment. Several constraints related to the UAVs’ sensing and communication ranges have been imposed to ensure the applicability of the proposed approach in real-world scenarios. A number of simulation experiments with data loaded from real environments have been conducted. The results show that our proposed approach is not only successful in establishing multihop ad-hoc routes but also meets the requirements for real-time deployment of UAVs.

Lyapunov-based nonlinear model predictive control for attitude trajectory tracking of unmanned aerial vehicles

Published in International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences, 2023

The paper proposes an adaptive Lyapunov-based nonlinear model predictive control (MPC) to cope with the problems in nonlinear systems This paper presents a new Lyapunov-based nonlinear model predictive controller (LNMPC) for the attitude control problem of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which is essential for their functioning operation. The controller is designed based on a quadratic cost function integrating UAV dynamics and system constraints. An additional contraction constraint is then introduced to ensure closed-loop system stability. That constraint is fulfilled via a Lyapunov function derived from a sliding mode controller (SMC). The feasibility and stability of the LNMPC are finally proved. Simulation and comparison results show that the proposed controller guarantees the system stability and outperforms other state-of-the-art nonlinear controllers, such as the backstepping controller and SMC. In addition, the proposed controller can be integrated into an existing UAV model in the Gazebo simulator to perform software-in-the-loop tests. The results show that the LNMPC is better than the built-in proportional–integral–derivative controller of the UAV, which confirms the validity and applicability of our proposed approach.

Ant colony optimization for cooperative inspection path planning using multiple unmanned aerial vehicles

Published in 2024 IEEE/SICE International Symposium on System Integration (SII), 2024

This paper presents a new swarm intelligence-based approach to deal with the cooperative path planning problem of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), which is essential for the automatic inspection of infrastructure. The approach uses a 3D model of the structure to generate viewpoints for the UAVs. The calculation of the viewpoints considers the constraints related to the UAV formation model, camera parameters, and requirements for data post-processing. The viewpoints are then used as input to formulate the path planning as an extended traveling salesman problem and the definition of a new cost function. Ant colony optimization is finally used to solve the problem to yield optimal inspection paths. Experiments with 3D models of real structures have been conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach. The results show that our system is not only capable of generating feasible inspection paths for UAVs but also reducing the path length by 29.47% for complex structures when compared with another heuristic approach. The source code of the algorithm can be found at https://github.com/duynamrcv/aco_3d_ipp.

Self-Reconfigurable V-shape Formation of Multiple UAVs in Narrow Space Environments

Published in 2024 IEEE/SICE International Symposium on System Integration (SII), 2024

This paper presents the design and implementation of a self-reconfigurable V-shape formation controller for multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) navigating through narrow spaces in a dense obstacle environment. The selection of the V-shape formation is motivated by its maneuverability and visibility advantages. The main objective is to develop an effective formation control strategy that allows UAVs to autonomously adjust their positions to form the desired formation while navigating through obstacles. To achieve this, we propose a distributed behavior-based control algorithm that combines the behaviors designed for individual UAVs so that they together navigate the UAVs to their desired positions. The reconfiguration process is automatic, utilizing individual UAV sensing within the formation, allowing for dynamic adaptations such as opening/closing wings or merging into a straight line. Simulation results show that the self-reconfigurable V-shape formation offers adaptability and effectiveness for UAV formations in complex operational scenarios.

Radial basis function neural networks for formation control of unmanned aerial vehicles

Published in Robotica, 2024

This paper addresses the problem of controlling multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) cooperating in a formation to carry out a complex task such as surface inspection. We first use the virtual leader-follower model to determine the topology and trajectory of the formation. A double-loop control system combining backstepping and sliding mode control techniques is then designed for the UAVs to track the trajectory. A radial basis function neural network capable of estimating external disturbances is developed to enhance the robustness of the controller. The stability of the controller is proven by using the Lyapunov theorem. A number of comparisons and software-in-the-loop tests have been conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed controller. The results show that our controller not only outperforms other state-of-the-art controllers but is also sufficient for complex tasks of UAVs such as collecting surface data for inspection. The source code of our controller can be found at https://github.com/duynamrcv/rbf_bsmc.

Model Predictive Control for Optimal Motion Planning of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Published in 2024 the 7th International Conference on Control, Robotics and Informatics (ICCRI), 2024

Motion planning is an essential process for the navigation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) where they need to adapt to obstacles and different structures of their operating environment to reach the goal. This paper presents an optimal motion planner for UAVs operating in unknown complex environments. The motion planner receives point cloud data from a local range sensor and then converts it into a voxel grid representing the surrounding environment. A local trajectory guiding the UAV to the goal is then generated based on the voxel grid. This trajectory is further optimized using model predictive control (MPC) to enhance the safety, speed, and smoothness of UAV operation. The optimization is carried out via the definition of several cost functions and constraints, taking into account the UAV’s dynamics and requirements. A number of simulations and comparisons with a state-of-the-art method have been conducted in a complex environment with many obstacles to evaluate the performance of our method. The results show that our method provides not only shorter and smoother trajectories but also faster and more stable speed profiles. It is also energy efficient making it suitable for various UAV applications.

Navigation variable-based multi-objective particle swarm optimization for UAV path planning with kinematic constraints

Published in Neural Computing and Applications, 2025

Path planning is essential for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as it determines the path that the UAV needs to follow to complete a task. This work addresses this problem by introducing a new algorithm called navigation variable-based multi-objective particle swarm optimization (NMOPSO). It first models path planning as an optimization problem via the definition of a set of objective functions that include optimality and safety requirements for UAV operation. The NMOPSO is then used to minimize those functions through Pareto optimal solutions. The algorithm features a new path representation based on navigation variables to include kinematic constraints and exploit the maneuverable characteristics of the UAV. It also includes an adaptive mutation mechanism to enhance the diversity of the swarm for better solutions. Comparisons with various algorithms have been carried out to benchmark the proposed approach. The results indicate that the NMOPSO performs better than not only other particle swarm optimization variants but also other state-of-the-art multi-objective and meta-heuristic optimization algorithms. Experiments have also been conducted with real UAVs to confirm the validity of the approach for practical flights. The source code of the algorithm is available at https://github.com/ngandng/NMOPSO.

Multi-goal Rapidly Exploring Random Tree with Safety and Dynamic Constraints for UAV Cooperative Path Planning

Published in IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, 2025

Cooperative path planning is gaining its importance due to the increasing demand on using multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for complex missions. This work addresses the problem by introducing a new algorithm named MultiRRT that extends the rapidly exploring random tree (RRT) to generate paths for a group of UAVs to reach multiple goal locations at the same time. We first derive the dynamics constraint of the UAV and include it in the problem formulation. MultiRRT is then developed, taking into account the cooperative requirements and safe constraints during its path-searching process. The algorithm features two new mechanisms, node reduction and Bezier interpolation, to ensure the feasibility and optimality of the paths generated. Importantly, the interpolated paths are proven to meet the safety and dynamics constraints imposed by obstacles and the UAVs. A number of simulations, comparisons, and experiments have been conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach. The results show that MultiRRT can generate collision-free paths for multiple UAVs to reach their goals with better scores in path length and smoothness metrics than state-of-the-art RRT variants including Theta-RRT, FN-RRT, RRT*, and RRT*-Smart. The generated paths are also tested in practical flights with real UAVs to evaluate their validity for cooperative tasks. The source code of the algorithm is available at https://github.com/duynamrcv/multi-target_RRT.

Event-based Reconfiguration Control for Time-varying Formation of Robot Swarms in Narrow Spaces

Published in Intelligent Service Robotics, 2025

This study proposes an event-based reconfiguration control to navigate a robot swarm through challenging environments with narrow passages such as valleys, tunnels, and corridors. The robot swarm is modeled as an undirected graph, where each node represents a robot capable of collecting real-time data on the environment and the states of other robots in the formation. This data serves as the input for the controller to provide dynamic adjustments between the desired and straight-line configurations. The controller incorporates a set of behaviors, designed using artificial potential fields, to meet the requirements of goal-oriented motion, formation maintenance, tailgating, and collision avoidance. The stability of the formation control is guaranteed via the Lyapunov theorem. Simulation and comparison results show that the proposed controller not only successfully navigates the robot swarm through narrow spaces but also outperforms other established methods in key metrics including the success rate, heading order, speed, travel time, and energy efficiency. Software-in-the-loop tests have also been conducted to validate the controller’s applicability in practical scenarios. The source code of the controller is available at https://github.com/duynamrcv/erc.

talks

teaching

Teaching experience 1

Undergraduate course, University 1, Department, 2014

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Teaching experience 2

Workshop, University 1, Department, 2015

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