Prediction and congestion control algorithm for networked motion tracking

In this paper a novel prediction method and a communication protocol is proposed for distributed motion tracking systems, for example robot control system over the Internet based on on-line visual information. It is assumed that the trajectory generator part of the control system is connected to the low level controller through wide area network (WAN). In this case the variable network delay, packet losses, irregular packet arrival can severely influence the control characteristics (transient behavior and tracking performance) in a negative sense. The proposed prediction method is based on dynamic filters and it generates the trajectory on the control system side in the control periods when no new information on the time varying reference trajectory arrives through the network. The developed application level communication protocol is meant to keep the packet loss under a predefined limit even if the network bandwidth varies below the value required by the control application. Simulations and real-time experiments show that the prediction algorithm applied jointly with the proposed communication protocol can effectively compensate the effect of networked communication on control characteristics.