Literature review and fundamental approaches for vehicle and tire state estimation*

ABSTRACT

Most modern day automotive chassis control systems employ a feedback control structure. Therefore, real-time estimates of the vehicle dynamic states and tire-road contact parameters are invaluable for enhancing the performance of vehicle control systems, such as anti-lock brake system (ABS) and electronic stability program (ESP). Today's production vehicles are equipped with onboard sensors (e.g. a 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope, steering wheel angle sensor, and wheel speed sensors), which when used in conjunction with certain model-based or kinematics-based observers can be used to identify relevant tire and vehicle states for optimal control of comfort, stability and handling. Vehicle state estimation is becoming ever more relevant with the increased sophistication of chassis control systems. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art in the field of vehicle and tire state estimation. It is expected to serve as a resource for researchers interested in developing vehicle state estimation algorithms for usage in advanced vehicle control and safety systems.     

Development of an electric active rollcontrol (ARC) algorithm for a SUV

Cornering maneuvers with reduced body roll and without loss in comfort are leading requirements for car manufacturers. An electric active roll control (ARC) system controls body roll angle with motor-driven actuators installed in the centers of the front and rear stabilizer bars. A vehicle analysis model developed using a CarSim S/W was validated using vehicle test data. Two ARC algorithms for a sports utility vehicle (SUV) were designed using a sliding-mode control algorithm based on a nonlinear roll model and an estimated lateral acceleration based on a linearized roll model. Co-simulation with the Matlab simulink controller model and the CarSim vehicle model were conducted to evaluate the performance of two ARC control algorithms. To validate the ARC performance in a real vehicle, vehicle tests were conducted at KATECH proving ground using a small SUV equipped with two ARC actuators, upper and lower controllers and a few subsystems. From the simulation and vehicle validation test results, the proposed ARC control algorithm for the developed ARC actuator prototypes improves the vehicle’s dynamic performance.     

Extended-Kalman-filter-based regenerative and friction blended braking control for electric vehicle equipped with axle motor considering damping and elastic properties of electric powertrain

Because of the damping and elastic properties of an electrified powertrain, the regenerative brake of an electric vehicle (EV) is very different from a conventional friction brake with respect to the system dynamics. The flexibility of an electric drivetrain would have a negative effect on the blended brake control performance. In this study, models of the powertrain system of an electric car equipped with an axle motor are developed. Based on these models, the transfer characteristics of the motor torque in the driveline and its effect on blended braking control performance are analysed. To further enhance a vehicle's brake performance and energy efficiency, blended braking control algorithms with compensation for the powertrain flexibility are proposed using an extended Kalman filter. These algorithms are simulated under normal deceleration braking. The results show that the brake performance and blended braking control accuracy of the vehicle are significantly enhanced by the newly proposed algorithms.     

汽车碰撞试验台动力学模型建立与分析

汽车碰撞试验已经成为我国强制性法规试验检测项目,而汽车碰撞试验台的动力特性是进行试验台能力设计、弹射过程控制、速度控制等的基础。本文分析了基于橡皮绳储能介质的汽车碰撞弹射试验台,建立充分考虑橡皮绳质量、摩擦系数、车辆质量、旋转质量因素和空气阻力等影响因子的试验台动力学模型,并经试验得到很好的验证,并提出基于过程动力特性方程的控制算法,所得结论可为同类试验台架系统设计和提高过程控制提供理论参考。     

New level of vehicle comfort and vehicle stability via utilisation of the suspensions anti-dive and anti-squat geometry

In this article a novel vehicle dynamics control concept is designed for a vehicle equipped with wheel individual electric traction machines, electronically controlled brakes and semi-active suspensions. The suspension's cross-couplings between traction forces and vertical forces via anti-dive and anti-squat geometry is utilised in the control concept to improve driving comfort and driving stability. The control concept is divided into one main and two cascaded branches. The main controller consists of a multivariable vehicle dynamics controller and a control allocation scheme to improve the vehicle's driving comfort. The cascaded feedback loops maintain the vehicle's stability according to wheel slip and vehicle sideslip. The performance of the combined vehicle dynamics controller is compared to a standard approach in simulation. It can be stated that the controller piloting semi-active suspensions together with brake and traction devices enables a superior performance regarding comfort and stability.     

Decoupled 3D moment control using in-wheel motors

Vehicles equipped with in-wheel motors are being studied and developed as a type of electric vehicle. Since these motors are attached to the suspension, a large vertical suspension reaction force is generated during driving. Based on this mechanism, this paper describes the development of a method for independently controlling roll and pitch as well as yaw using driving force distribution control at each wheel. It also details the theoretical calculation of a method for decoupling the dynamic motions. Finally, it describes the application of these 3D dynamic motion control methods to a test vehicle and the confirmation of the performance improvement.     

电动汽车转矩定向分配差速器建模与动态仿真

本文中提出一种新型具备转矩定向分配功能差速器的集中式电驱动桥系统。该集中驱动系统可以在不改变总驱动转矩的条件下,类似分布式驱动方式实现驱动转矩在左右轮间的任意分配,从而产生改变车辆横摆动力学的直接横摆力偶矩。首先,分析了转矩定向分配差速器结构特点及其工作原理;其次,利用键合图理论建立了其动力学模型,并仿真分析了其动态响应特性;然后,设计了转矩响应控制系统以改善该差速器的动态性能;最后,嵌入整车模型进行了联合仿真。结果表明,装备该差速器的车辆可任意分配左右轮驱动转矩,并有效改善车辆操控特性。     

Optimal launching-intention-aware control strategy for automated clutch engagement

Clutch engagement control is critical during launching process in a vehicle equipped with an automated manual transmission (AMT), which is a problem including muti-objective optimization and nonlinear control. In this paper, a optimal launching-intention-aware control strategy is proposed for clutch engagement. Firstly, a launching-intention-aware machine (LIAM) based on artificial neural network (ANN) is designed to identify the driver’s launching intentions. Then the optimal laws of clutch engagement for different launching conditions are obtained based on the dynamic programming (DP), which regard friction loss, vehicle shock, angular acceleration of engine and engine torque as the optimizing indexes. Next, a slidingmode controller (SMC) is designed for the clutch engagement. Finally, the performances of the optimal laws and the SMC are validated by the joint simulation of Simulink-AMESim, and the results show that the requirements of vehicle launching are met. The proposed clutch engagement control strategy would provide a better theoretical support for the practical-extended application of AMT.     

人机工程学在防暴车设计中的应用

防暴车是警察处置规模性暴乱、骚乱时使用的特种车辆,配置多种特种装备。为了使操作者能迅速、准确地操纵这些装备,减少或避免操作差错和事故发生,提高工作效率和战斗力,对人-机-环界面设计提出了不同于民用乘坐车辆的要求。因此,从人体感知与运动特性出发,结合人的心理与行为特征,科学的应用人体测量数据,构造了良好的人-机-环界面。从车辆内部空间布局、控制台及操纵装置的设计、车辆内部照明等环节给出了设计参考数据。     

A Pitch-Plane Model of a Vehicle with Controlled Suspension

A vehicle model incorporating front and rear wheel suspensions and seat suspension is presented. The suspension control includes algorithms to provide both dynamic and steady state (levelling) control. Vehicle response to (a) vertical inputs due to ground disturbances at the wheels and (b) longitudinal inputs due to the inertial forces during braking and accelerating, are investigated. It is shown that the static (self-levelling) control causes a slight deterioration in dynamic performance. The active ride control produces improvements of ride comfort under dynamic conditions compared to an equivalent passively suspended vehicle. In steady state the proposed control eliminates the error heave of the body caused by tilting of the vehicle with active suspension.     

Modeling and ratio control of an electromechanical continuously variable transmission

A new type of electromechanical continuously variable transmission (EMCVT) was investigated. The EMCVT uses a direct current (DC) motor to push the driving pulley, which in turn changes the transmission ratio without a hydraulic system. This paper introduces the principle of the EMCVT and establishes a dynamic ratio control model. Ratio control strategies using both position and speed closed-loop control are proposed. Simulation results show that the simulation ratio curves of the EMCVT follow pre-designed ratios well for ramp and sine curves. Control software is based on MATLAB/Simulink/Stateflow and MotoHawk platforms. A prototype vehicle equipped with an EMCVT has been developed. Vehicle test results show that the control performance of the EMCVT satisfies the requirements of vehicle operation. The effectiveness of the EMCVT ratio control strategy proposed in this paper is validated with test data for the prototype vehicle.     

Proposal for Testing and Rating of Traction and Stability Control Systems

Function and object of existing control systems for traction and stability are described. The problem of rating and objective evaluation of the influence of such slip control systems on vehicle dynamics is demonstrated. Closed-loop manoeuvres with subjective assessment and open-loop tests with measured data are shown. Analysis of correlation results in characteristic values which allow assessment of dynamic performance of slip control systems. Tests on natural and synthetic μ-low road surface with two passenger cars, equipped with different slip control systems, demonstrate the objective test method and show their results.     

Vehicle dynamics control using an active third-axle system

This paper introduces the active third-axle system as an innovative vehicle dynamic control method. This method can be applicable for different kinds of three-axle vehicles such as buses, trucks, or even three-axle passenger cars. In this system, an actuator on the middle axle actively applies an independent force on the suspension to improve the handling characteristics, and hence, its technology is similar to slow-active suspension systems. This system can change the inherent vehicle dynamic characteristics, such as under/over steering behaviour, in the linear handling region, as well as vehicle stability in the nonlinear, limit handling region. In this paper, our main focus is to show the potential capabilities of this method in enhancing vehicle dynamic performance. For this purpose, as the first step, the proposed method in both linear and nonlinear vehicle handling regions is studied mathematically. Next, a comprehensive, nonlinear, 10 degrees of freedom vehicle model with a fuzzy control strategy is used to evaluate the effectiveness of this system. The dynamic behaviour of a vehicle, when either uncontrolled or equipped with the active third axle is then compared. Simulation results show that this active system can be considered as an innovative method for vehicle dynamic control.     

双电机耦合驱动电动汽车驱动模式划分与优化

为充分发挥一款双电机耦合驱动系统电动汽车(DMCP-EV)多驱动模式的节能优势,制定了基于系统效率最优的驱动模式控制策略。根据该双电机耦合驱动系统的结构特点,定义了电机4种驱动模式并分别建立其动力学驱动模型和系统效率模型。在满足动力性要求的前提下,分析并划分了各驱动模式的工作范围,以系统效率为优化目标,采用粒子群优化算法进行优化,获得最佳的驱动模式切换控制和转矩分配策略。开展了Matlab/Simulink仿真和硬件在环试验验证。结果表明,经系统效率优化的驱动模式在满足动力性要求的前提下,有效提高了双电机耦合驱动系统的经济性,能耗降低11%。     

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.     

Vehicle dynamic estimation with road bank angle consideration for rollover detection: theoretical and experimental studies

This article describes a method of vehicle dynamics estimation for impending rollover detection. This method is evaluated via a professional vehicle dynamics software and then through experimental results using a real test vehicle equipped with an inertial measurement unit. The vehicle dynamic states are estimated in the presence of the road bank angle (as a disturbance in the vehicle model) using a robust observer. The estimated roll angle and roll rate are used to compute the rollover index which is based on the prediction of the lateral load transfer. In order to anticipate the rollover detection, a new method is proposed in order to compute the time-to-rollover using the load transfer ratio. The used nonlinear model is deduced from the vehicle lateral dynamics and is represented by a Takagi–Sugeno (TS) fuzzy model. This representation is used in order to take into account the nonlinearities of lateral cornering forces. The proposed TS observer is designed with unmeasurable premise variables in order to consider the non-availability of the slip angles measurement. Simulation results show that the proposed observer and rollover detection method exhibit good efficiency.     

Vehicle dynamics control of an electric-all-wheel-drive hybrid electric vehicle using tyre force optimisation and allocation

ABSTRACT

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV) offer improved fuel efficiency compared to conventional vehicles at the expense of adding complexity and at times, reduced total power. As a result, HEV generally lack the dynamic performance that customers enjoy. To address this issue, the paper presents a HEV with electric All-Wheel-Drive capabilities via the use of torque vectoring electric rear axle drive (TVeRAD) to power the rear axle. The addition of TVeRAD to a front wheel drive HEV improves the total power output. To improve the handling characteristics of the vehicle, the TVeRAD provides torque vectoring at the rear axle. A bond graph model of the drivetrain is developed and used in co-simulation with CarSim. The paper proposes a control system which utilises control allocation to optimise tyre forces. The proposed control system is tested in the simulation environment with a high fidelity CarSim vehicle model. Simulation results show the control system is able to maximise vehicle longitudinal performance while avoiding tyre saturation on low mu surfaces. More importantly, the control system is able to track the desired yaw moment request on a high speed double lane change manoeuvre through the use of the TVeRAD to improve the handling characteristic of the vehicle.     

Direct yaw moment control and power consumption of in-wheel motor vehicle in steady-state turning

Driving force distribution control is one of the characteristic performance aspects of in-wheel motor vehicles and various methods have been developed to control direct yaw moment while turning. However, while these controls significantly enhance vehicle dynamic performance, the additional power required to control vehicle motion still remains to be clarified. This paper constructed new formulae of the mechanism by which direct yaw moment alters the cornering resistance and mechanical power of all wheels based on a simple bicycle model, including the electric loss of the motors and the inverters. These formulation results were validated by an actual test vehicle equipped with in-wheel motors in steady-state turning. The validated theory was also applied to a comparison of several different driving force distribution mechanisms from the standpoint of innate mechanical power.     

混合动力汽车匀速下坡再生制动模型预测控制

基于车载导航系统(GPS/CIS等)所提供的未来一段预测路线上的汽车运行状态信息,建立中度混合动力汽车再生制动能量回收的全局优化动态规划模型;采用模型预测控制方法,将动态规划的全局优化控制策略转化成预测视距内的局部优化算法,实现滚动优化控制;为解决动态规划中的维数灾问题,确定了电池荷电状态和温度的可达区域;对模型预测控制策略、全局优化控制策略和瞬时优化控制策略进行了计算比较,在不同坡度、不同坡长的匀速下坡工况下的仿真表明:模型预测算法的计算效率显著高于全局优化策略的;应用模型预测控制策略的再生制动能量回收效率明显高于瞬时优化控制策略的,相比全局优化策略的降低不到1.31%,且采用档位提示的模型预测控制策略能量回收效果更好.     

分布式电驱动车辆力矩分配控制研究现状综述

分布式电驱动车辆具有控制灵活度高、传动链短、结构紧凑、传动效率高、空间布置利用率高等特点,独特的结构特点与驱动方式令其在充分挖掘车辆动力学控制潜力、增强车辆安全性、提升驱动效率、简化底盘结构等方面带来明显的技术革新,为高性能车辆控制技术提供硬件载体。然而,作为过驱动、多约束、车辆纵向-横向-垂向运动行为强非线性耦合系统,分布式电驱动车辆在车辆动力学控制、车辆行驶经济性控制、协同控制等方面仍面临理论与技术挑战。基于此,综合国内外前沿分布式电驱动车辆力矩分配控制策略研究,主要从控制框架、稳定性控制、能效控制、兼顾稳定性与经济性控制4个方面重点阐述当前发展现状,设计并对比分析应用案例,从不同角度对力矩分配的发展方向进行展望,旨在为先进分布式电驱动车辆高性能力矩分配控制器开发提供参考。