Comparison of Feedforward and Feedback Control for 4WS

SUMMARY

A system incorporating feedforward plus feedback control was configured such that it would follow the target yaw rate found by calculation. Selection of optimum values for the control system constants made it possible to separate control of the steering input response characteristic from control of vehicle stability against external disturbances. The former is controlled by the feedforward control function and the latter by the feedback control function; the values of the two functions can be set independently.     

Nonlinear feedforward–feedback control of clutch-to-clutch shift technique

To improve the shift quality of the vehicle with clutch-to-clutch gear shifts, a nonlinear feedforward–feedback control scheme is proposed for clutch slip control during the shift inertia phase. The feedforward control is designed based on flatness in consideration of the system nonlinearities, and the linear feedback control is given to accommodate the model errors and the disturbances. Lookup tables, which are widely used to represent complex nonlinear characteristics of powertrain systems, appear in their original form in the designed feedforward controller, while the linear feedback controller is calculated through linear matrix inequalities such that the control system is robust against the parameter uncertainties. Finally, the designed controller is tested on an AMESim powertrain simulation model, which contains a time-variant model of clutch actuators.     

某电动车后轮转向系统控制策略开发研究

利用某电动车线性二自由度车辆模型和基于CarSim与MATLAB/Simulink的联合仿真模型,对所提出的后轮转向双参前馈控制策略进行仿真分析,并与前馈比例控制策略、前馈比例加横摆角速度反馈控制策略的控制效果进行对比分析,证明了双参前馈控制策略的有效性。     

Adaptive Yaw Rate Feedback 4WS with Tire/Road Friction Coefficient Estimator

This paper proposes an adaptive yaw rate feedback control system for a four-wheel-steering (4WS) vehicle which involves a tire/road friction coefficient estimator. The adaptive 4WS system has been developed so that the vehicle possesses desirable lateral characteristics even on slippery roads and in critical driving situations. The friction coefficient is estimated on real time from the yaw rate response of the controlled vehicle with the least squares. The control system adopts a two degree of freedom structure which consists of a feedforward compensator and a feedback control subsystem. The feedforward compensator is determined with the estimated friction coefficient to minimize the steady-state and transient vehicle slip angle in spite of changes in tire/road conditions. The feedback subsystem adopts the Internal Model Control (IMC) structure in order to compensate for nonlinearities and to realize robustness against modelling and estimation errors.     

A new flatness-based control of lateral vehicle dynamics

This paper presents a new concept for vehicle dynamics control (VDC). The control of the longitudinal vehicle dynamics is not discussed, since we are assuming that it is much slower and weakly coupled to the lateral and yawing dynamics. The actuators are considered to be the traction and the braking torques of the individual wheels and only the standard sensors of the common VDC system are used. A modular interface to the subordinate wheel control system is provided by choosing the yaw torque as a fictitious control input. The VDC system is designed by means of a two degrees-of-freedom control scheme. It comprises a flatness-based feedforward part and a stabilising feedback part. The reference trajectory generation is introduced for the flat output which is given by the lateral velocity of the vehicle. Thus an advantageous kind of body side-slip angle control is provided with the standard VDC system hardware. Extensive simulation studies show excellent performance of the designed control concept.     

Multivariable speed synchronisation for a parallel hybrid electric vehicle drivetrain

In this article, a new drivetrain configuration of a parallel hybrid electric vehicle is considered and a novel model-based control design strategy is given. In particular, the control design covers the speed synchronisation task during a restart of the internal combustion engine. The proposed multivariable synchronisation strategy is based on feedforward and decoupled feedback controllers. The performance and the robustness properties of the closed-loop system are illustrated by nonlinear simulation results.     

Development of Preview Active Suspension Control System and Performance Limit Analysis by Trajectory Optimization

The main role of the suspension system is to achieve ride comfort by reducing vibrations generated by the road roughness. The active damper is getting much attention due to its reduced cost and ability to enhance ride comfort especially when the road ahead is measurable by an environment sensor. In this study a preview active suspension control system was developed in order to improve ride comfort when the vehicle is passing over a speed bump. The control system consists of a feedback controller based on the skyhook logic and a feedforward controller for canceling out the road disturbance. The performance limit for the active suspension control system was computed via trajectory optimization to provide a measure against which to compare and validate the performance of the developed controller. The simulation results indicated that the controller of this study could enhance ride comfort significantly over the active suspension control system employing only the skyhook feedback control logic. Also the developed controller, by displaying similar control pattern as the trajectory optimization during significant time portions, proved that its control policy is legitimate.     

Design and Evaluation of Robust Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control Systems in Parameter Space

This paper is on the design of cooperative adaptive cruise control systems for automated driving of platoons of vehicles in the longitudinal direction. Longitudinal models of vehicles with simple dynamics, an uncertain first order time constant and vehicle to vehicle communication with a communication delay are used in the vehicle modeling. A robust parameter space approach is developed and applied to the design of the cooperative adaptive cruise control system. D-stability is chosen as the robust performance goal and the feedback PD controller is designed in controller parameter space to achieve this D-stability goal for a range of possible longitudinal dynamics time constants and different values of time gap. Preceding vehicle acceleration is sent to the ego vehicle using vehicle to vehicle communication and a feedforward controller is used in this inter-vehicle loop to improve performance. Simulation results of an eight vehicle platoon of heterogeneous vehicles are presented and evaluated to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed design method. Also, the proposed method is compared with a benchmark controller and the feedback only controller. Time gap regulation and string stability are used to assess performance and the effect of the vehicle to vehicle communication frequency on control system performance is also investigated.     

Additional 4WS and Driver Interaction

This investigation is based on a complex 4-wheel vehicle model of a passenger car that includes steering system and drive train. The tyre properties are described for all possible combined longitudinal and lateral slip values and for arbitrary friction conditions. The active part is an additional steering system of all 4 wheels, additionally to the driver's steering wheel angle input. Three control levels are used for the driver model that thereby can follow a given trajectory or avoid an obstacle.

The feedback control of the additional 4 wheel steering is based on an observer which can also have adaptive characteristics. Moreover a virtual vehicle model in a feedforward scheme can provide desired steering characteristics.

To get information for critical situations a cornering manoeuvre with sudden u-split conditions is simulated. Further a similar manoeuvre is used to evaluate the reentry in a high friction area from low friction conditions. And finally the performance of the controller is shown in a severe lane change manoeuvre.     

Iterative Learning Control Algorithm for Feedforward Controller of EGR and VGT Systems in a CRDI Diesel Engine

The modern diesel engines equip the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system to suppress the NOx emissions. In addition, the variable geometric turbocharger (VGT) system is installed to improve the drivability and fuel efficiency. These EGR and VGT systems have cross-coupled behavior because they interact with the intake and the exhaust manifolds. Furthermore, the turbocharger time delay, gas flow dynamics through EGR pipe cause the nonlinearity characteristics. These nonlinear multi-input-multi-output characteristics cause the degradation of control accuracy, especially during the transient condition. In order to improve the control accuracy, this study proposes an iterative learning control (ILC) algorithm for feedforward controller of EGR and VGT systems. The feedforward controller obtains the values about EGR and VGT actuators using the previous control results in predefined transient states. The ILC algorithm consists of a PD-type learning function and a low-pass filter. The control gains of learning function are determined to guarantee the convergence of learning results. In addition, the low-pass filter is designed for robustness against plant disturbance. The proposed control algorithm was validated by engine experiment which repeated predefined transient states. The error was reduced by 15 % according to the gain. As a result, the proposed algorithm is affordable for improving the transient control performance.     

Feedforward and Crone Feedback Control Strategies for Automobile ABS

Summary As mechatronic subsystems and especially new emerging technologies for brake systems are more and more developed, a new control architecture for ABS is proposed. The control architecture is designed using both feedback and feedforward controls that command pressure-controlled proportional servo-valves. The methods are developed to compensate for the uncertainty associated with the state of the road surface. The advantages of this strategy compared to the existing ABS strategy are discussed including simulations results using a complete vehicle and brake system model.     

Feedforward and Crone Feedback Control Strategies for Automobile ABS

Summary As mechatronic subsystems and especially new emerging technologies for brake systems are more and more developed, a new control architecture for ABS is proposed. The control architecture is designed using both feedback and feedforward controls that command pressure-controlled proportional servo-valves. The methods are developed to compensate for the uncertainty associated with the state of the road surface. The advantages of this strategy compared to the existing ABS strategy are discussed including simulations results using a complete vehicle and brake system model.     

智能汽车自动紧急转向避撞的跟踪控制方法对比研究

为了提高智能汽车的主动安全性,提出3种不同的自动紧急转向避撞跟踪控制方法。首先建立汽车避撞简化模型,对制动、转向及两者相结合的3种不同避撞方式进行对比分析。其次,为深入研究汽车避撞过程中的实际响应,建立包含转向、制动及悬架3个子系统耦合特性的底盘18自由度统一动力学模型,并进行相关试验验证。随后构建智能汽车自动紧急转向避撞控制框架,对五次多项式参考路径和七次多项式参考路径的横摆角速度和横摆角加速度进行对比分析。接着以线性2自由度转向动力学模型为参考对象,对最优控制四轮转向、最优控制前轮转向、前馈与反馈控制相结合的前轮转向3种不同的跟踪控制系统分别进行设计。最后,以汽车底盘18自由度统一动力学模型为研究对象,对上述3种避撞控制系统进行仿真试验对比分析。研究结果表明：与制动避撞相比而言,转向避撞所需的纵向距离有较大降低,随着车速的增加和路面附着系数的越低,效果越明显;七次多项式参考路径比五次多项式参考路径的避撞过渡过程更为平缓,当实际车速与控制器所用车速不一致时,前者避撞性能表现更优;最优四轮转向控制系统在高、低2种不同附着路面都具有较好的避撞效果,最优前轮转向控制系统次之,而前馈与反馈相结合的前轮转向控制系统在低附着路面上则表现出严重的失稳。     

Additional 4WS and Driver Interaction

SUMMARY

This investigation is based on a complex 4-wheel vehicle model of a passenger car that includes steering system and drive train. The tyre properties are described for all possible combined longitudinal and lateral slip values and for arbitrary friction conditions. The active part is an additional steering system of all 4 wheels, additionally to the driver's steering wheel angle input. Three control levels are used for the driver model that thereby can follow a given trajectory or avoid an obstacle.

The feedback control of the additional 4 wheel steering is based on an observer which can also have adaptive characteristics. Moreover a virtual vehicle model in a feedforward scheme can provide desired steering characteristics.

To get information for critical situations a cornering manoeuvre with sudden u-split conditions is simulated. Further a similar manoeuvre is used to evaluate the reentry in a high friction area from low friction conditions. And finally the performance of the controller is shown in a severe lane change manoeuvre.     

Control of a hydraulically actuated continuously variable transmission

Vehicular drivelines with hierarchical powertrain control require good component controller tracking, enabling the main controller to reach the desired goals. This paper focuses on the development of a transmission ratio controller for a hydraulically actuated metal push-belt continuously variable transmission (CVT), using models for the mechanical and the hydraulic part of the CVT. The controller consists of an anti-windup PID feedback part with linearizing weighting and a setpoint feedforward. Physical constraints on the system, especially with respect to the hydraulic pressures, are accounted for using a feedforward part to eliminate their undesired effects on the ratio. The total ratio controller guarantees that one clamping pressure setpoint is minimal, avoiding belt slip, while the other is raised above the minimum level to enable shifting. This approach has potential for improving the efficiency of the CVT, compared to non-model based ratio controllers. Vehicle experiments show that adequate tracking is obtained together with good robustness against actuator saturation. The largest deviations from the ratio setpoint are caused by actuator pressure saturation. It is further revealed that all feedforward and compensator terms in the controller have a beneficial effect on minimizing the tracking error.     

Almost disturbance decoupling control of mimo nonlinear system subject to feedback linearization and a feedforward neural network: Application to half-car active suspension system

A novel tracking and almost disturbance decoupling problem of multi-input, multi-output (MIMO) nonlinear systems based on feedback linearization and a multi-layered feedforward neural network approach has been proposed. The feedback linearization and neural network controller guarantees exponentially global uniform ultimate bounded stability and almost disturbance decoupling performance without using any learning or adaptive algorithms. The new approach renders the system to be stable with the almost disturbance decoupling property at each step when selecting weights to enhance the performance if the proposed sufficient conditions are maintained. One example, which cannot be solved by the existing approach of the almost disturbance decoupling problem because it requires the sufficient conditions that the nonlinearities that multiply the disturbances satisfy structural triangular conditions, is proposed to exploit the fact that the tracking and the almost disturbance decoupling performances are easily achieved by the proposed approach. In order to demonstrate the practical applicability, a famous half-car active suspension system is investigated.     

Control of a hydraulically actuated continuously variable transmission

Vehicular drivelines with hierarchical powertrain control require good component controller tracking, enabling the main controller to reach the desired goals. This paper focuses on the development of a transmission ratio controller for a hydraulically actuated metal push-belt continuously variable transmission (CVT), using models for the mechanical and the hydraulic part of the CVT. The controller consists of an anti-windup PID feedback part with linearizing weighting and a setpoint feedforward. Physical constraints on the system, especially with respect to the hydraulic pressures, are accounted for using a feedforward part to eliminate their undesired effects on the ratio. The total ratio controller guarantees that one clamping pressure setpoint is minimal, avoiding belt slip, while the other is raised above the minimum level to enable shifting. This approach has potential for improving the efficiency of the CVT, compared to non-model based ratio controllers. Vehicle experiments show that adequate tracking is obtained together with good robustness against actuator saturation. The largest deviations from the ratio setpoint are caused by actuator pressure saturation. It is further revealed that all feedforward and compensator terms in the controller have a beneficial effect on minimizing the tracking error.     

基于可拓切换控制方法的智能车辆车道保持系统研究（双语出版）

针对道路曲率变化范围较大时，智能车辆在大曲率道路工况车道保持控制精度低的问题，提出一种基于可拓切换控制理论的智能车辆车道保持控制系统，该车道保持系统由上层可拓控制器和下层控制器两部分组成。在上层可拓控制器中，通过车道线检测得到车辆相对于道路的位置信息和道路曲率信息。根据可拓集合理论，选取预瞄点处横向位置偏差和前方道路曲率值作为可拓集合的特征值并划分可拓集合，求解关联函数，并根据关联函数值将车辆-道路系统状态分为经典域、可拓域和非域。在下层控制器中，在经典域采用基于横向位置偏差和航向偏差的PID反馈控制器，在可拓域中采用基于前方道路曲率的PID前馈-反馈控制器，非域中车辆-道路系统处于完全失控状态，采取紧急制动。2种仿真工况结果表明：相比于单一PID反馈控制，提出的车道保持控制系统，有效抑制了在大曲率道路下的跟踪误差值，提高了智能驾驶汽车在时变曲率的道路工况下车道保持控制精度和工况适应性。     

An Emergency Obstacle Avoidance Control Strategy for Automated Highway Vehicles

Summary This paper presents an emergency obstacle avoidance control strategy that may be used in automated highway vehicles. In the proposed control strategy, an inverse vehicle dynamics problem is solved on the selected emergency lane-change path to find out the nominal feedforward control inputs such as the steering wheel angle and the braking force. Then the overall vehicle lateral and yaw motion is controlled additionally in the feedback path by an active yaw moment for stability augmentation as well as a corrective steering angle that is added to the nominal steering angle in order to compensate for uncertainties involved in the nominal control input computation. The proposed control strategy has been tested by an ABS Hardware-In-the-Loop Simulation (HILS) system for rapid and safe control prototyping in a lab. Simulation results with a sample emergency avoidance distance (45 m) show that the proposed control strategy may be used as a feasible obstacle avoidance strategy for automated highway vehicles.     

Development of control logic for hydraulic active roll control system

Developed in this research is a control logic for the ARC (Active Roll Control) system that uses rotary-type hydraulic stabilizer actuators at the front and rear axles. The hydraulic components of the system were modeled in detail using AMESim, and a driving logic for the hydraulic circuit was constructed based upon the model. The performance of the driving logic was evaluated on a test bench, and it demonstrated good pressure tracking capability. The control logic was then designed with the target of reducing the roll motion of the vehicle during cornering. The control logic consists of two parts: a feedforward controller that generates anti-roll moments in response to the centrifugal force, and a feedback controller that generates anti-roll moments in order to make the roll angle to follow its target value. The developed ARC logic was evaluated on a test vehicle under various driving conditions including a slowly accelerated circular motion and a sinusoidal steering. Through the test, the ARC system demonstrated successful reduction of the roll motion under all conditions, and any discomfort due to the control delay was not observed even at a fast steering maneuver.