Handling and safety enhancement of race cars using active aerodynamic systems

A methodology is presented in this work that employs the active inverted wings to enhance the road holding by increasing the downward force on the tyres. In the proposed active system, the angles of attack of the vehicle's wings are adjusted by using a real-time controller to increase the road holding and hence improve the vehicle handling. The handling of the race car and safety of the driver are two important concerns in the design of race cars. The handling of a vehicle depends on the dynamic capabilities of the vehicle and also the pneumatic tyres’ limitations. The vehicle side-slip angle, as a measure of the vehicle dynamic safety, should be narrowed into an acceptable range. This paper demonstrates that active inverted wings can provide noteworthy dynamic capabilities and enhance the safety features of race cars. Detailed analytical study and formulations of the race car nonlinear model with the airfoils are presented. Computer simulations are carried out to evaluate the performance of the proposed active aerodynamic system.     

A Mathematical Model for Driver Steering Control,with Design,Tuning and Performance Results

A mathematical model for the steering control of an automobile is described. The structure of the model derives from linear optimal discrete time preview control theory but it is non-linear. Its parameter values are obtained by heuristic methods, using insight gained from the linear optimal control theory. The driver model is joined to a vehicle dynamics model and the path tracking performance is demonstrated, using moderate manoeuvring and racing speeds. The model is shown to be capable of excellent path following and to be robust against changes in the vehicle dynamics. Application to the simulation of manoeuvres specified by an ideal vehicle path and further development of the model to formalise the derivation of its parameter values and to put it to other uses are discussed.     

A Mathematical Model for Driver Steering Control, with Design, Tuning and Performance Results

A mathematical model for the steering control of an automobile is described. The structure of the model derives from linear optimal discrete time preview control theory but it is non-linear. Its parameter values are obtained by heuristic methods, using insight gained from the linear optimal control theory. The driver model is joined to a vehicle dynamics model and the path tracking performance is demonstrated, using moderate manoeuvring and racing speeds. The model is shown to be capable of excellent path following and to be robust against changes in the vehicle dynamics. Application to the simulation of manoeuvres specified by an ideal vehicle path and further development of the model to formalise the derivation of its parameter values and to put it to other uses are discussed.     

Optimisation of driver actions in RWD race car including tyre thermodynamics

ABSTRACT

The paper presents an innovative method for a lap time minimisation by using genetic algorithms for a multi objective optimisation of a race driver–vehicle model. The decision variables consist of 16 parameters responsible for actions of a professional driver (e.g. time traces for brake, accelerator and steering wheel) on a race track part with RH corner. Purpose-built, high fidelity, multibody vehicle model (called ‘miMa’) is described by 30 generalised coordinates and 440 parameters, crucial in motorsport. Focus is put on modelling of the tyre tread thermodynamics and its influence on race vehicle dynamics. Numerical example considers a Rear Wheel Drive BMW E36 prepared for track day events. In order to improve the section lap time (by 5%) and corner exit velocity (by 4%) a few different driving strategies are found depending on thermal conditions of semi-slick tyres. The process of the race driver adaptation to initially cold or hot tyres is explained.     

A Driver Model Based on the Cerebellar Model Articulation Controller

A model of driver behavior is described which is based on a current theory of neurophysiological processes occurring in the cerebellum. The model learns to control the vehicle through experience, provides discontinuous ramp steer inputs to the vehicle, accepts discontinuous input data, and is applicable to all control situations.

The model is implemented on a simple simulation model of a car and learning is accomplished by the use of an explicit driver model which drives the vehicle along a specified trajectory.     

汽车驾驶员视野校核方法

驾驶员的视野直接影响汽车的使用和安全,而视野与车身设计结构密切相关。对汽车进行车身设计及总布置时,不仅要考虑造型美观,而且还应保证驾驶员的视野符合法规要求。文章以一新型汽车的驾驶员视野为校核对象,结合车身设计与布置情况,依据相关法规和标准,介绍了汽车驾驶员前、后方视野的校核方法,从理论上验证了新设计车身与布置的合理性。     

Starting sliding mode variable structure that coordinates the control and real-time optimization of dry dual clutch transmissions

This paper researches the coordination of control between an engine and clutch at the system level to adequately reflect a driver’s intention and improve the starting performance of a vehicle equipped with a dry dual clutch transmission (DCT). Four-degree-of-freedom (DOF) starting dynamic equations are established for a dry DCT with a single intermediate shaft, and a two-DOF model of the sliding friction process and a single-DOF in-gear model of stable operation are obtained after simplifying these equations. Taking advantage of predictive control and a genetic algorithm, target tracing curves of the engine’s speed and the vehicle’s velocity are optimally specified online, and the starting sliding mode variable structure (SMVS) coordinating control strategy is designed to track these curves. The starting performance of a prototype car equipped with a dry DCT is simulated under different starting cases on the MATLAB/Simulink software platform. The simulation results show that the designed SMVS coordinating controller not only embodies driver intention and effectively improves the dry DCT car’s starting performance but is also highly robust when subjected to variations in the vehicle parameters.     

Insights into vehicle trajectories at the handling limits: analysing open data from race car drivers

Race car drivers can offer insights into vehicle control during extreme manoeuvres; however, little data from race teams is publicly available for analysis. The Revs Program at Stanford has built a collection of vehicle dynamics data acquired from vintage race cars during live racing events with the intent of making this database publicly available for future analysis. This paper discusses the data acquisition, post-processing, and storage methods used to generate the database. An analysis of available data quantifies the repeatability of professional race car driver performance by examining the statistical dispersion of their driven paths. Certain map features, such as sections with high path curvature, consistently corresponded to local minima in path dispersion, quantifying the qualitative concept that drivers anchor their racing lines at specific locations around the track. A case study explores how two professional drivers employ distinct driving styles to achieve similar lap times, supporting the idea that driving at the limits allows a family of solutions in terms of paths and speed that can be adapted based on specific spatial, temporal, or other constraints and objectives.     

Study on driver model for hybrid truck based on driving simulator experimental results

In this paper, a proposed car-following driver model taking into account some features of both the compensatory and anticipatory model representing the human pedal operation has been verified by driving simulator experiments with several real drivers. The comparison between computer simulations performed by determined model parameters with the experimental results confirm the correctness of this mathematical driver model and identified model parameters. Then the driver model is joined to a hybrid vehicle dynamics model and the moderate car following maneuver simulations with various driver parameters are conducted to investigate influences of driver parameters on vehicle dynamics response and fuel economy. Finally, major driver parameters involved in the longitudinal control of drivers are clarified.     

Application of Elementary Neural Networks and Preview Sensors for Representing Driver Steering Control Behaviour

This paper demonstrates the use of elementary neural networks for modelling and representing driver steering behaviour in path regulation control tasks. Areas of application include uses by vehicle simulation experts who need to model and represent specific instances of driver steering control behaviour, potential on-board vehicle technologies aimed at representing and tracking driver steering control behaviour over time, and use by human factors specialists interested in representing or classifying specific families of driver steering behaviour. Example applications are shown for data obtained from a driver/vehicle numerical simulation, a basic driving simulator, and an experimental on-road test vehicle equipped with a camera and sensor processing system.     

Time-optimal control of the race car: influence of a thermodynamic tyre model

The robustness of an existing numerical method for the time-optimal control of the race car is demonstrated through its application to a model of a Formula 1 car equipped with a simplified thermodynamic tyre model. The tyre model includes a temperature- and frequency-dependent model of road/tyre friction. A lumped parameter approach is used to model the thermodynamics of the various parts of the tyre such as the tread, carcass and inflation gas. The influence of tyre, track surface and ambient temperatures on time-optimal manoeuvring is presented.     

Real-time characterisation of driver steering behaviour

In recent years the application of driver steering models has extended from the off-line simulation environment to autonomous vehicles research and the support of driver assistance systems. For these new environments there is a need for the model to be adaptive in real time, so the supporting vehicle systems can react to changes in the driver, their driving style, mood and skill. This paper provides a novel means to meet these needs by combining a simple driver model with a single-track vehicle handling model in a parameter estimating filter – in this case, an unscented Kalman filter. Although the steering model is simple, a motion simulator study shows it is capable of characterising a range of driving styles and may also indicate the level of skill of the driver. The resulting filter is also efficient – comfortably operating faster than real time – and it requires only steer and speed measurements from the vehicle in addition to the reference path. Adaptation of the steer model parameters is demonstrated along with robustness of the filter to errors in initial conditions, using data from five test drivers in vehicle tests carried out on the open road.

Abbreviations: ADAS: advanced driver assistance systems; CG: centre of gravity; CAN: controller area network; EKF: extended Kalman filter; GPS: global positioning system; UKF: unscented Kalman filter     

A passenger car driver model for higher lateral accelerations

Due to increasing demands for time and cost efficient vehicle and driver assistant systems development, numerical simulation of closed-loop manoeuvres becomes increasingly important. Thus, the driver has to be considered in the modelling. On the basis of a two-layer approach to model a driver's steering behaviour, the field of application is extended to higher lateral accelerations in this study. An analytical method to determine the driver parameters is presented, which is based on the two-wheel vehicle model. The simulation results are determined using a full vehicle model including all essential nonlinearities. Standard manoeuvres in the nonlinear range of vehicle handling behaviour are performed. A cornering manoeuvre is chosen to show the characteristics of the proposed driver model.     

A passenger car driver model for higher lateral accelerations

Due to increasing demands for time and cost efficient vehicle and driver assistant systems development, numerical simulation of closed-loop manoeuvres becomes increasingly important. Thus, the driver has to be considered in the modelling. On the basis of a two-layer approach to model a driver's steering behaviour, the field of application is extended to higher lateral accelerations in this study. An analytical method to determine the driver parameters is presented, which is based on the two-wheel vehicle model. The simulation results are determined using a full vehicle model including all essential nonlinearities. Standard manoeuvres in the nonlinear range of vehicle handling behaviour are performed. A cornering manoeuvre is chosen to show the characteristics of the proposed driver model.     

Optimization of Vehicles Elasto-Damping Elements Characteristics from the Aspect of Ride Comfort

SUMMARY

Spatial random vibrations of a vehicle that arise during driving represent an important factor in functioning of a dynamic system: Driver - Vehicle - Environment. They carry certain information for driver and also cause fatigue of driver and passenger.

This is the reason why the tendency is towards the minimization of vibratory loads, what in practice can be achieved by optimization of characteristics of elasto - damping elements of a vehicle.

In this paper for optimization of elasto - damping elements of a vehicle we used a complex nonlinear model of a driver and a vehicle during the straight - line motion of the vehicle on a rough road. Optimization was performed by application of the Hooke - Jeeves method and by use of outside penalty functions as well as the objective function that enabled simultaneous optimization of vertical vibrations of the driver's seat, vibrations of the steering wheel, and normal reactions in the contact surface of the tyre and road. The optimization was performed with application of the computer HP 9000/800 SE on the example of a medium passenger car.     

车辆转向轻便性人-车-路闭环系统计算机仿真研究

对车辆转向轻便性建模仿真中的人-车-路闭环系统建模方法进行了阐述,提出了一种在地面坐标系统中求驾驶员预瞄轨迹误差的数值解法。该方法使用二分法求解直线与双纽线的交点,避免了使用一般解法出现增根且难以取舍以及使用复杂的非线性方程求根函数时计算量大的问题,能够方便地计算出驾驶员预瞄轨迹误差,使最优预瞄驾驶员模型能够适用于航向角大范围变化的转向轻便性试验仿真。     

汽车驾驶安全隐患预防与对策探索

司机是一个比较特殊的工作,通常在驾驶汽车时,司机要确保整个驾驶过程的安全,这就要求司机要具备较高的驾驶素质。如果驾驶员自身的安全意识不高,对车辆驾驶工作没有太深的安全意识,就会给行车工作带来很大的安全隐患。如果司机对驾驶工作安全性意识较高,则行车就会更加安全,司机也会提高自己的综合素质和驾驶技术来保证车辆行驶的安全,避免在行驶中出现一系列安全隐患。因此,在驾驶汽车时,要重点突出安全隐患的预防,并制定一系列的对策,才可能减少车辆的安全事故产生。     

Stability Analysis of the Human Controlled Vehicle Moving Along a Curved Path

A method to study handling characteristics of a vehicle moving along a curved path is presented. A simple bicycle model and a feedback controller with proportional gain are used to simulate the vehicle and the driver. The lateral stability of the vehicle/driver system is analyzed by using the root locus method and numerical integration in the time domain. The effect of the curvature on the system stability is discussed in detail. A new suggestion is made for the look ahead distance to calculate the preview lateral error of the vehicle with respect to the center of the road. Interesting results are shown for some important parameters such as the gain factor, the vehicle speed and the curvature of the path. Possible extensions of the method to more general cases and other applications are discussed.     

An analytical formula of driver RMS acceleration response for quarter-car considering cushion effects

In this paper, a 3-DOF (degree-of-freedom) model of quarter-car coupled with driver and cushion is used to derive an analytical formula, which can describe the driver RMS (root-mean-square) acceleration response with cars under random excitation generated by road irregularities. The study starts with the 3-DOF model. Based on the vehicle random vibration theory, using the residue theorem, the analytical formula of driver RMS acceleration considering cushion effects is obtained. Then, the driver RMS acceleration values calculated from the measured data and from the analytical formulae of the 3-DOF and the classical 2-DOF model are compared. The results show the analytical formula for the 3-DOF model provides a more reasonable approximation of the real response of the test car. Having obtained the analytical formula, the effects of vehicle parameters on driver RMS acceleration are studied. Finally, to provide critical foundations for the selection of the cushion damping, the optimal damping ratio of driver-cushion system is deciphered from the analytical formula. To uncover how each dynamic parameter effects the optimal damping ratio, the analysis of influencing factors is performed and some important conclusions are obtained. The derived analytical formula can be also conveniently used either during preliminary design or for other special purposes.