Abstract
This paper presents an automatic alignment system for assembling optical fibre components. A gradient-based algorithm enhanced with momentum information is used to find the location where there is maximum transmitted light from a fibre. The system employs a fuzzy logic controller to optimize the search parameters during the alignment process. The control knowledge base is automatically generated via a new evolutionary algorithm, removing the need for lengthy manual optimization of the control policy. The algorithm evolves a population of fuzzy systems using generational replacement, a new selection operator and a set of crossover and mutation procedures manipulating different elements of the fuzzy knowledge base. The population is divided into three sub-groups to which the different operators are applied. Tested on a batch of fibre optic components, the system achieved 100% success rate with alignment times and accuracies comparing favourably against those obtained using a manually designed controller.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 3553-3571 |
Number of pages | 19 |
Journal | International Journal of Production Research |
Volume | 44 |
Issue number | 17 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2006 |
Keywords
- Automatic assembly
- Evolutionary algorithms
- Fibre optics
- Fuzzy logic
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
- Management Science and Operations Research