Braking Force Distribution Control for Improved Vehicle Dynamics and Brake Performance

This paper describes the feasibility of improving the braking performance of a commercial vehicle by using an electronic braking system. An electronic braking system enables the braking force at each wheel to be independently controlled. Braking force distribution control makes the braking force at each wheel proportional to each wheel's load. Results of computer simulation and vehicle test showed that the proposed control laws can eliminate the effects of a laden condition on the braking distance and can increase the degree of deceleration at which wheel lock occurs, resulting in improved vehicle attitude stability during a critical maneuver.     

Measurement of air–water CO2 transfer at four coastal sites using a chamber method

We measured the air–water CO₂ flux in four coastal regions (two coral reefs, one estuary, and one coastal brackish lake) using a chamber method, which has the highest spatial resolution of the methods available for measuring coastal air–water gas flux. Some of the measurements were considerably higher than expected from reported wind-dependent relationships. The average k₆₀₀ values for Shiraho Reef, Fukido Reef, Fukido River, and Lake Nakaumi were 1.5 ± 0.6, 3.2 ± 0.3, 0.69 ± 0.26, and 2.2 ± 0.9 (mean ± S.D.) times larger than the wind-dependent relationships. Results were compared with current-dependent relationships and vertical turbulence intensity (VTI). VTI is an index of water-surface stirring and is calculated from near-surface vertical velocity. Although some measurements from the reefs and river closely matched those expected from wind-dependent relationships, others were considerably higher. All data were correlated with VTI and were qualitatively explained by bottom macro-roughness enhancement. In Lake Nakaumi, results tended to differ from the wind-dependent relationships, and the difference between the measured and expected gas-transfer velocity was correlated with biological DO changes and/or the intensity of density stratification. We found these factors to have important effects on coastal gas flux. In addition, the chamber method was an effective tool for evaluating coastal gas flux.     

铁路信号系统安全性定量评估方法

文章提出了一种分析铁路信号系统的安全性的新方法,引入了元件故障出现概率向量,功能失效概率向量,功能失效与元件故障间的关联矩阵、减免矩阵及其他一些因素.使用这些因素,能够评估信号系统的风险,安全措施的有效性,危险的系统失效概率及其他相关的数值.此外也介绍了一种新的自动列车控制系统及多种安全技术,并计算减免矩阵中的元素,来评估这些技术的有效性.     

Fatigue strength improvement for ship structures by Ultrasonic Peening

Ultrasonic Peening has attracted recent attention as a fatigue strength improvement method. The main features of Ultrasonic Peening are generation of compressive residual stress and smoothing of weld toe radius. However, for ship structures, various loads act on the hull structure over a ship??s life, including the construction period, and the compressive stress field of structural members generated by Ultrasonic Peening may change. In order to verify the technique's benefits to ship structures, the influence of load history on the improvement effects on fatigue strength by Ultrasonic Peening needs to be clarified. In this paper, the improvement effects on fatigue strength by Ultrasonic Peening for welding joints were confirmed by experiments with several joint type specimens. In addition, fatigue tests modeling launching, when the stress conditions of a ship's structure changes significantly, were carried out in order to clarify the influence of load history in a ship??s life. Consequently, some cases that have the possibility of decreasing or increasing the improvement effects on fatigue strength by Ultrasonic Peening were clarified, and some efficient methods of Ultrasonic Peening for ship structures were suggested.     

Education of truck drivers using the assist driver support system ‐a pilot survey‐

We have developed a driver support system, ASSIST, to decrease automobile driving accidents. Most traffic accidents involve collisions of two objects. A collision occurs when a vehicle's headway is shorter than the stopping distance. Therefore, we plan to warn the driver when the vehicle's headway is shorter than the estimated stopping distance. This driver support system performs exactly that task. Results of experiments verify that this system increases that distance gap by warning the driver to increase the headway.     

机车车辆的主要发展方向

铁路运输拥有系统上的优势,尤其是能源和生态优势,但是,为了能获得社会的更好评价和吸引更多客运量和货运量,重要的就是要在机车车辆制造时保证不断采用新技术方案,以便提高旅客舒适度,降低噪声和振动,保证整个铁路系统电磁兼容性和功能的可靠性.     

Mechanical and Control Design of a Variable Geometry Active Suspension System

In this study, a variable geometry active suspension system is considered. Actuation is employed to vary the leverage ratio between spring/damper unit and road wheel assembly. Since actuation is substantially perpendicular to the main suspension unit forces, work is primarily done only against frictional resistances to motion and the systems have inherently low force and energy requirements. Mechanical design and control system design involving proportional/differential elements or neural networks are discussed. System performance in self-levelling, free vibrations and manoeuvring of a theoretical vehicle are calculated. Good control of roll angle and jacking responses are predicted and energy economy is confirmed by these trials, which include a detailed consideration and modelling of the electrical actuators. The results reinforce the notion that variable geometry schemes have practical applications potential and are worthy of further research effort.     

Reduction of preview distance in lane-keeping control

Lane marker detection is indispensable for a lane-keeping-control algorithm. However, it is impossible to detect lane markers when the curvature of the lane the vehicle is travelling on is large or when there is another car in front of the vehicle with short distance. For lane marker detection, it is desirable to set a preview point close to the vehicle. Therefore, by analyzing the block diagram of driver-vehicle system, we propose a method to reduce preview distance without lane tracking performance deterioration by increasing preview points from the conventional one point to two points. Furthermore, it is revealed that driving along a corner with constant curvature without steady-state deviation and arbitrary design of tracking dynamic characteristics become possible by increasing preview points.