Effects of Model Complexity on the Performance of Automated Vehicle Steering Controllers: Controller Development and Evaluation

SUMMARY

Due to increased traffic congestion and travel times, research in Advanced Vehicle Control Systems (AVCS) has focused on automated lateral and headway control. Automated vehicles are seen as a way to increase freeway capacity and vehicle speeds while reducing accidents due to human error. Recent research in automated lateral control has focused on vehicle control during low-g maneuvers. To increase safety, automated lateral controllers will need to recognize and react to emergency situations.

This paper investigates the effects of vehicle and tire model order on the response of automated vehicles to an emergency step lane change using a controller based on linear vehicle and tire models. From these studies it is concluded that control strategies based solely on linear vehicle and tire models are inadequate for emergency vehicle maneuvers.

A strategy is then proposed to automatically control vehicles through emergency maneuvers. Here the response of a nonlinear vehicle model is used with a linear state model to optimize controller gains for nonlinear maneuvers. An emergency step lane change is used as a preliminary test of the method.     

一种汽车ESP仿真模型的研究

基于Pacejka的"魔术公式"轮胎模型,建立了包括汽车纵向与横向移动、横摆、侧倾和4个车轮的转动的8自由度动力学模型.设计了由汽车仿真模型和驱动系统、四通道制动系统、制动踏板、转向盘与油门踏板等实物以及控制器(ESP)等部分组成的半实物仿真平台.以侧向加速度与横摆角速度为仿真控制变量对模型进行仿真测试.仿真与实车测试数据相当接近,为ESP的研究提供了有效的模型.     

Vehicle stability control system for enhancing steerabilty,lateral stability,and roll stability

The Vehicle stability control system is an active safety system designed to prevent accidents from occurring and to stabilize dynamic maneuvers of a vehicle by generating an artificial yaw moment using differential brakes. In this paper, in order to enhance vehicle steerability, lateral stability, and roll stability, each reference yaw rate is designed and combined into a target yaw rate depending on the driving situation. A yaw rate controller is designed to track the target yaw rate based on sliding mode control theory. To generate the total yaw moment required from the proposed yaw rate controller, each brake pressure is properly distributed with effective control wheel decision. Estimators are developed to identify the roll angle and body sideslip angle of a vehicle based on the simplified roll dynamics model and parameter adaptation approach. The performance of the proposed vehicle stability control system and estimation algorithms is verified with simulation results and experimental results.     

基于ITS技术的汽车驾驶安全辅助系统

基于ITS技术的汽车驾驶安全辅助系统是提高道路交通安全的有效手段,本文介绍了清华大学汽车安全与节能国家重点实验室在此领域的研究与开发工作。在研究行驶环境感知和信息融合、驾驶员特性和安全距离模型、车辆运动控制及系统集成等关键技术的基础上,研制了汽车驾驶安全辅助系统试验平台和试验样车,实现了行车前撞预警、安全车距保持、智能车道保持等功能,并完成了相关试验分析与评价,为进一步开展基于ITS的汽车主动安全辅助技术的研究以及汽车驾驶辅助系统的产业化奠定了基础。     

基于车辆动力学模型的换道轨迹规划研究

针对自动驾驶车辆换道轨迹规划时的操纵稳定性问题，基于CarSim/Simulink仿真平台建立了车辆动力学模型，构建了轨迹规划系统框架，通过轨迹信息后处理并提出了目标函数设计，进行了横向控制序列采样以保证车辆的稳定与极限性能，完成了算法对轨迹的综合评价选优。随后开展了仿真试验，对比分析了轨迹跟踪控制系统下的实际轨迹、最优规划方法所规划的换道轨迹。仿真结果表明，该轨迹规划系统框架及算法模型能有效提高车辆的操纵稳定性，可实现冰雪路面等极端工况下自动驾驶车辆换道轨迹规划。     

基于稳定性和宏观交通流模型的车辆路径规划

为了提升车辆的安全性和能量利用率,从路径规划的层面出发,针对避免车辆遇到极端工况及低效率工况的问题,提出将车辆稳定性判据模型和交通流模型相结合的方法来规划车辆路径,使得车辆在路面湿滑情况下实现快速、安全的行驶。使用交通流模型预测车辆未来将要面临的交通环境变化,再使用稳定性判据模型评估未来交通的安全性,以便为混合动力车辆规划出最快且最安全的路径。具体来讲,为了预测混合动力车辆未来将要面临的车速及车流密度的变化,使用通量矢量分裂格式求解广义Aw-Rascle-Zhang（GARZ）宏观交通流模型。此外,使用驾驶人在环仿真平台PreScan,收集了同一驾驶人在不同车速及不同相对前车距离时给出的前轮转向角响应。基于前轮驱动（FWD）前轮转向（FWS）车辆和全轮转向（AWS）分布式驱动车辆（DDV）的Simulink模型,给出了不同前轮转向角对应的轮胎力饱和因子（δ_TFSC）响应。使用人工神经网络训练不同车速和车流密度对应的δ_TFSC,建立了车辆的稳定性判据模型。使用新建立的稳定性判据模型对交通流模型预测的参数（车流速及车流密度）进行稳定性评估。然后,基于以上的方法优化了车辆行驶路径,以确保车辆在湿滑路面上的行驶安全。最后,使用US-101真实交通流数据来验证交通流模型的预测结果。经实例验证得出：交通流模型与车辆横向稳定性判据模型相结合可以从路径规划的层面保证车辆安全行驶并提升交通系统的通行效率。     

Wheel Slip Control in Traction Control System for Vehicle Stability

Traction control systems are used to prevent wheel slippage and to maximize traction forces. This paper proposes a new scheme to enhance vehicle lateral stability with a traction control system during cornering and lane changes. This scheme controls wheel slip during cornering by varying the slip ratio as a function of the slip angle. It assumes that a traction control system with the engine throttle angle is used. The scheme is dynamically simulated with a model of front-wheel-driven passenger vehicles. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme is robust and superior to a conventional one, which is based upon fixed slip ratios, during cornering and lane changes.     

Wheel Slip Control in Traction Control System for Vehicle Stability

Traction control systems are used to prevent wheel slippage and to maximize traction forces. This paper proposes a new scheme to enhance vehicle lateral stability with a traction control system during cornering and lane changes. This scheme controls wheel slip during cornering by varying the slip ratio as a function of the slip angle. It assumes that a traction control system with the engine throttle angle is used. The scheme is dynamically simulated with a model of front-wheel-driven passenger vehicles. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme is robust and superior to a conventional one, which is based upon fixed slip ratios, during cornering and lane changes.     

Real-Time Longitudinal Location Estimation of Vehicle Center of Gravity

The longitudinal location of a vehicle’s center of gravity (CG) is used as an important parameter for vehicle safety control systems, and can change considerably according to various driving conditions. Accordingly, for the better performance of vehicle safety control systems, it is essential to obtain the accurate CG location. However, it is generally difficult to acquire the value of this parameter directly through sensors due to cost reasons. In this study, a practical algorithm for estimating vehicle’s longitudinal CG location in real time is proposed. This algorithm is derived based only on longitudinal motion of the vehicle, excluding excessive lateral, yaw and roll movements of the vehicle. Moreover, the proposed algorithm has main differences from previous studies in that it does not require information such as vehicle mass, vehicle moments of inertia, road grade or tire-road surface friction, which are difficult to acquire. In the proposed algorithm, the relationship between the ratio of rear-to-front tire longitudinal force and the corresponding wheel slips are used to determine the CG location. To demonstrate a practical use of the proposed algorithm, the ideal brake force distribution is tested. The proposed CG estimation algorithm and its practical use are verified via simulations and experiments using a test vehicle equipped with electro-mechanical brakes in the rear wheels. It is shown that the estimated CG locations are close to the actual ones, and that the deceleration can be maximized by the ideal brake force distribution.     

基于非线性模型预测控制的车辆纵向队列协调控制

本文中针对基于分层控制结构的车辆队列上、下层控制缺少联系的问题,提出了车辆队列跟驰与个体车辆动力学稳定性协调控制的思路,其基本思想是在保证队列中个体车辆安全稳定行驶的同时,尽可能实现队列跟驰控制的目标。基于非线性模型预测控制(nonlinear model predictive control,NMPC)方法设计了车辆队列协调控制方案,设计了包括跟驰间距误差、跟驰速度误差以及车速与车轮圆周速度差3个子目标的优化目标函数,将队列跟驰与车辆动力学稳定性的协调控制转化为约束优化控制问题;基于序列二次规划(sequential quadratic programming,SQP)方法进行求解,得到车辆前、后轴的制动/驱动力矩来实现上层决策输出的期望跟驰加速度。基于由3车辆组成的非线性队列模型对控制方案进行了仿真分析,结果表明,所提出的基于NMPC的车辆队列协调控制策略可以在大范围操纵工况下,在保证车辆安全稳定行驶的基础上实现队列的跟驰控制。     

非满载液罐半挂汽车列车侧向耦合动力学模型

为方便液罐半挂汽车列车（Tractor Semi-trailer Tank Vehicle,TSTTV）罐-车整体的优化设计匹配,综合提高整车的侧倾稳定性、侧向动力学稳定性及操纵特性,基于Lagrange方法和椭圆规摆等效机械液体晃动模型建立TSTTV的整车侧向耦合动力学模型,其典型特征是实现罐内液体侧向晃动与车辆横摆运动、侧向运动、悬挂质量的侧倾运动及非线性侧向轮胎力的集成一体化建模,贯通液体晃动动力学与车辆侧向动力学稳定性之间的联系。通过开环正弦停滞转向输入操作响应对所建立的模型进行分析评价,考察车辆横摆角速度、质心侧偏角、侧倾角、侧向载荷转移率及液体晃动角等状态量在2种充液比（F_L=40%,80%）及2种罐体椭圆率（Δ=1.0,1.3）下的响应。研究结果表明：所建立的TSTTV模型可以实现液体侧向晃动作用下的车辆侧向耦合动力学仿真分析,能够反映充液比、罐体截面椭圆率等运输条件和罐体几何参数对整车侧倾稳定性、侧向动力学稳定性及操纵特性的影响;基于该模型可以针对液体介质、充液比及道路环境等运输条件因素的影响,研究以提高整车侧向动力学稳定性为目标的TSTTV灌-车整体的优化设计匹配问题,这对提升液罐车的设计性能、提高行驶的安全性和运输效率具有重要意义。     

Decoupling control in velocity-varying four-wheel steering vehicles with H∞ performance by longitudinal velocity and yaw rate feedback

In this paper, decoupling control with H_∞ performance for four-wheel steering (4WS) vehicles under varying longitudinal velocity is studied. A novel control scheme for a nonlinear model of three states, respectively, the longitudinal and lateral velocities, and yaw rate, is proposed to address this issue. The scheme is composed of two varying-parameter controllers designing problems for both longitudinal and lateral systems with coupling performance. Varying parameters of both these controllers depend only on longitudinal velocity. Controlled by these controllers, the longitudinal system is decoupled with lateral velocity and yaw rate, and the lateral system is input–output decoupling with H_∞ performance. In addition, feedback signals are the longitudinal velocity and yaw rate, hence observations or measurements of lateral velocity are not necessary. Simulations show that vehicles controlled by our scheme are input–output diagonal decoupling and execute very well while longitudinal velocity varies in a large range, coupling appears between longitudinal and lateral systems, and external disturbances do exist. In summary, this control scheme can improve handling characteristics, safety and comfort proved from theory to practice in this paper.     

基于横向安全距离模型的主动避障算法

现有的安全距离模型是基于纵向相对车速或减速度值建立的,没有考虑移动目标的横向运动特性。本文利用移动目标横穿马路的速度、相对位置,建立横向安全距离模型,并提出一种基于横向安全距离模型的主动避障算法。首先,根据横向移动目标横穿马路的速度、相对位置和自车的制动距离建立横向安全距离模型,设计主动避障算法。接着,为计及路面条件对制动效果的影响,引入当前行驶路面估算的附着系数峰值估算最大制动减速度,约束目标避障减速度,并调整制动强度,以适应不同路况的安全避障行驶。最后,以典型横向移动目标骑行者作为研究对象,通过PreScan/Simulink/CarSim联合仿真验证避障算法的有效性。结果表明:基于横向安全距离模型的主动避障算法能有效避免与骑行者碰撞,提高行车的主动安全性。     

车路集成环境下车辆防撞预警安全状态判别模型的研究

针对现有安全状态判别模型未能兼顾行车安全与道路空间资源利用率,且忽略了实际行驶环境下动态制动减速度信息的问题,提出了车路集成条件下车辆防撞预警安全状态判别模型。通过车-路通信协作实现对路面类型等实际行驶环境因素的动态识别,并确定车辆采取制动措施时所能获得的动态制动减速度;通过分析前车与自车的有效制动时间和车辆制动全过程,建立了新型临界跟车距离模型,并给出了模型关键参数的获取方法。仿真结果表明,该判别模型具有较强的自适应性,更贴近车辆实际行驶环境下的制动过程,有利于提高道路空间的利用率。     

Evaluation of automotive forward collision warning and collision avoidance algorithms

Collision warning/collision avoidance (CW/CA) systems target a major crash type and their development is a major thrust of the Intelligent Vehicle Initiative. They are a natural extension of adaptive cruise control systems already available on many car models. Many CW/CA algorithms have recently been proposed but the existing literature mainly focuses on algorithm development. Evaluations of these algorithms have been usually based on subjective ratings. The main contribution of this paper is the utilization of a naturalistic driving data set for the evaluation of CW/CA algorithms. We first collect manual driving data from the ICCFOT project, then process the data by Kalman smoothing, and finally identify 'threatening' and 'safe' data sets according to vehicle brake inputs and vehicle range behavior. Five CW/CA algorithms published in the literature are evaluated against the identified data sets. The performance of these algorithms is determined through a performance metric commonly used in signal detection and information retrieval under unbalanced data population.     

The characteristic velocity stability indicator for passenger cars

Driver assistance systems have received increased attention as market demands have pushed for improved automotive safety. These systems are designed to aid the driver by preventing any unstable or unpredictable vehicle behaviour. One global indicator for stability and driving conditions could help to manage the control algorithms and driver warning subroutines. Another problem which could be solved by a precise driving situation indicator is evaluating new vehicles during test drives. After a short introduction to a linear lateral vehicle model, an analytical approach for an online calculation of different driving conditions (i.e., stability, understeering, oversteering, and neutralsteering) is given. A characteristic velocity stability indicator is defined, which allows online computation of the present driving condition. Results are then checked against real measurements of a test vehicle.     

基于自适应模型预测的智能汽车横向轨迹跟踪控制

当路面附着情况和车辆行驶状态不断变化时,基于恒定侧偏刚度的模型预测控制(MPC)不能考虑轮胎非线性特性的影响,难以保证车辆轨迹跟踪的适应性。为此,提出一种考虑轮胎侧向力计算误差的自适应模型预测控制(AMPC),以提高智能汽车在不确定工况下的轨迹跟踪性能。分析了路面附着系数和垂向载荷对轮胎侧向力的影响,基于平方根容积卡尔曼滤波(SCKF)算法,设计了利用侧向加速度和横摆角速度作为测量变量的前后轮胎侧向力估计器。利用轮胎侧向力线性计算值与估计值的差值计算得到侧偏刚度修正因子,设计了前后轮胎侧偏刚度的自适应修正准则,进而提出了一种基于时变修正刚度的AMPC控制方法。基于CarSim与MATLAB/Simulink联合仿真和硬件在环测试平台,对AMPC控制的有效性和实时性进行了验证。研究结果表明：在不同的路面附着情况和车辆行驶状态下,AMPC控制都能够降低横向位置偏差和航向角偏差,有效提高车辆的轨迹跟踪精度,其控制效果明显优于基于恒定侧偏刚度的标准MPC控制。尤其在低附着工况下,标准MPC控制会因为线性轮胎力的计算误差过大而导致车辆在轨迹跟踪时严重失稳,而AMPC控制通过估计轮胎力修正侧偏刚度依然能够保证车辆稳定有效的跟踪参考轨迹。所提出的AMPC控制在保证控制精度的同时具有良好的实时性,对智能汽车控制系统的设计与优化具有重要参考价值。     

基于Origin的隧道入口运行车速计算模型的探讨

运行车速被广泛的应用于检验公路线形。该文对运行车速计算模型采用了一个新的思路:考虑了隧道对运行车速的影响。该研究以人为本,分析了影响隧道入口驾驶员行车速度的三个主要因素:隧道洞内外光线差值、路基宽度差值以及洞口位置,运用Origin软件统计得出高速公路隧道入口运行车速计算模型。该研究完善了运行车速模型,为高速公路交通安全的评价提供了很好的前提条件。     

融合预瞄与势场栅格法的紧急避撞驾驶人模型

紧急避障工况下的驾驶人操作具有响应快且动作幅值较大的特点，传统预瞄驾驶人模型已不能适应紧急避障工况的需求，故考虑实际避撞场景开发相应的驾驶人模型就显得尤为必要。针对此种状况，基于驾驶模拟器，结合紧急避撞工况实际驾驶人操纵数据，提出了一种融合预瞄与势场栅格法的紧急避撞驾驶人模型。首先针对紧急避撞工况下车辆运动特点，建立车辆横、纵向耦合非线性动力学模型，并给出其状态空间方程描述；其次，离线仿真分析紧急避撞系统特征，并结合线性二次型最优控制，建立最优曲率预瞄+跟踪误差反馈驾驶人模型；再者，基于紧急避撞工况下真实驾驶人经验转向行为数据，开发基于势场栅格法的驾驶人模型，为进一步提高驾驶人模型对避障行驶工况的适应性，将基于势场栅格法的驾驶人模型与最优曲率预瞄+跟踪误差反馈驾驶人模型进行融合，并基于Sigmoid函数实现两者输出的权重分配；最后，针对所提出的融合预瞄与势场栅格法的驾驶人模型，开展基于避撞台架的驾驶人在环仿真试验以及实车试验。研究结果表明：在紧急避撞工况下，对比最优曲率预瞄+跟踪误差反馈驾驶人模型，融合预瞄与势场栅格法的驾驶人模型输出的转向动作与实际驾驶人行为较为接近，可在保证避障安全性的前提下，兼顾避障路径跟踪精度与车辆行驶的稳定性。     

An adaptive lateral preview driver model

Successful modelling and simulation of driver behaviour is important for the current industrial thrust of computer-based vehicle development. The main contribution of this paper is the development of an adaptive lateral preview human driver model. This driver model template has a few parameters that can be adjusted to simulate steering actions of human drivers with different driving styles. In other words, this model template can be used in the design process of vehicles and active safety systems to assess their performance under average drivers as well as atypical drivers. We assume that the drivers, regardless of their style, have driven the vehicle long enough to establish an accurate internal model of the vehicle. The proposed driver model is developed using the adaptive predictive control (APC) framework. Three key features are included in the APC framework: use of preview information, internal model identification and weight adjustment to simulate different driving styles. The driver uses predicted vehicle information in a future window to determine the optimal steering action. A tunable parameter is defined to assign relative importance of lateral displacement and yaw error in the cost function to be optimized. The model is tuned to fit three representative drivers obtained from driving simulator data taken from 22 human drivers.