Date of Award
Summer 2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Mechanical Engineering
First Advisor
Voglewede, Phil
Second Advisor
Huang, Shuguang
Third Advisor
Fleischmann, Johnathan
Abstract
This thesis addresses the challenge of commissioning recreational boats with joystick control when the boat’s physical parameters are not known. The research was conducted by following a model-based, systems engineering approach which leveraged MATLAB simulations and scale-model physical testing. The outcome of the research is a working methodology using L1 Adaptive Control which provides fast adaption in a way that could reduce the cost of commissioning recreational boats with joystick control, improve the robustness of the final design, and potentially expand the accessible market to new boat types.