Vehicle/Pilot System Analysis: A New Approach Using Optimal Control With Delay

This article deals with the simulation of a vehicle/pilot system experiencing external disturbances. In the simulation, the car is modeled with two degrees of freedom and the pilot is assumed to respond to the state vector with a time delay. When perturbations are introduced, the pilot is expected to drive his car back to the initial state while minimizing a quadratic cost function. With some simplifications for low frequencies responses, the model is then used to simulate the response of different vehicles to an initial step in lateral displacement. The results from the simulations are interpreted in the light of the controllability diagrams.     

Black-box modelling of nonlinear railway vehicle dynamics for track geometry assessment using neural networks

ABSTRACT

The use of vehicle dynamics simulation for the track geometry assessment gives rise to new demands. In order to analyse the responses of the vehicles to the measured track geometry defects, the integration of the simulation process in the measurement chain of the track geometry recording car is envisaged. Fast and reliable simulation results are required. This work studies the use of black-box modelling approaches as an alternative to multi-body simulation. The performances of different linear and nonlinear black-box models for the simulation of the vertical and lateral bogie accelerations are compared. While linear transfer function models give good results for the simulation of the vertical responses, their use is not suitable for the highly nonlinear lateral vehicle dynamics. The lateral accelerations are best represented by recurrent neural networks. For the training and validation on high-speed lines using measured vehicle responses, the performance of the black-box simulation outperforms the multi-body simulation. Due to the larger variability of track design and track quality conditions on conventional lines, the model performance degrades and depends significantly on the analysed vehicle type and the track characteristics.     

Development and Evaluation of Vehicle Simulation Models for a 4WS Application

SUMMARY

In the scope of the European Prometheus project a passenger car with active rear wheel steering was developed by TNO in cooperation with PSA. During development and engineering of the rear wheel steering system simulation tools have been used to reduce development costs. This paper describes the evaluation of different simulation models, from simple to complex, with results of full vehicle driving tests. The optimal balance for model complexity and accuracy was achieved with a 2-dimensional model with an added roll degree of freedom. The results show that validation using time responses can give ambiguous and inaccurate results, and that frequency response functions are much more usable in validation.     

On the Stability of a Flexible Vehicle Controlled by a Human Pilot

SUMMARY

This paper presents a stability analysis of a vehicle flexible in the plane of yawing and being controlled by a human pilot. The vehicle is represented by a two degrees-of-freedom model and the pilot is assumed to respond to the lateral displacement and to the lateral velocity with a time delay. It is shown that in order for the pilot model to exhibit a realistic human operator behavior, driver's gain must be linearly proportional to vehicle velocity and also inversely related to frontal visibility. Moreover, application of the Hurwitz criterion indicated that flexibility of the vehicle frame has a destabilising effect on the lateral stability and reduces the stable domain of operation.     

An Investigation into Stick-Slip Vibrations on Vehicle/Track Systems

SUMMARY

A model for the numerical simulation of vehicle/track interaction and stick-slip vibration is presented. A finite element model is developed to calculate vertical contact forces. These forces are then coupled through the contact patch into a non-linear time-domain model by which the stick-slip vibration behaviour of a wheel-rail system is analysed. The investigation suggests that stick-slip vibration may occur if a vehicle which has a maligned or an initial ‘wind-up’ wheeiset meets a vertical irregularity or contaminants on the track.     

Semi-Active Attitude and Vibration Control

SUMMARY

The paper discusses the attitude and vibration control of a passenger car on the basis of a full vehicle model. The analysis presented consists of two parts: (I) The introduction of a newly developed semi-active anti-roll/pitch system, (ii) An example of an actively suspended full vehicle model using a simple control strategy to improve ride comfort. The attitude control using semi-actively generated compensation forces prevents the car from rolling in curves and pitching during braking or accelerating. The strength of the system is the small energy consumption. The performance of the combination of both attitude and vibration control can compete with a fully active suspension system.     

汽车挡风玻璃除霜性能数值模拟分析

本文采用计算流体力学软件STAR-CCM+对某新开发汽车除霜风道进行数值模拟。通过稳态计算来预测汽车的除霜性能,对除霜效果进行了探讨,并进行了试验。对比模拟结果和试验结果总体比较接近,验证了CFD模拟的的可靠性,为汽车挡风玻璃除霜效果模拟工程提供了参考。     

An Active Roll-Moment Control Strategy for Narrow Tilting Commuter Vehicles

SUMMARY

An automatic tilt control strategy for a narrow commuter vehicle is described. Such a vehicle would be enclosed like a conventional car but would bank into turns like a motorcycle and so it would feel quite unconventional to drive. The proposed tilt control system uses the steering to tilt the car over like a motorcycle but this is augmented by actively generating a rolling moment about the pivot axis between the tilting upper body and non-tilting base. The provision of this active direct tilt control enables the vehicle to remain upright at low or zero speed and also permits the designer to fine tune the transient roll response. Although it appears complex the proposed tilting control relies on only a few simple sensor measurements, some modest, microprocessor based signal processing and low power, low bandwidth steering and tilt control actuators which might be derived from existing automotive components.     

金属带式CVT速比控制的仿真与试验研究

针对装备金属带式无级变速器(CVT)的整车,建立了无级变速传动系统数学模型.以无级变速汽车动力性和经济性相协调为目标,设计了Fuzzy-PI复合速比控制器.采用Fuzzy-PD控制策略和Fuzzy-PI复合控制策略对汽车起动工况进行了仿真分析,对装备金属带式CVT的某轿车进行了起动工况的模拟试验.结果表明,Fuzzy-PI复合控制策略优于Fuzzy-PD控制策略,速比的试验结果与理论数据一致,说明所建模型合理.     

Nonlinear ACC in Simulation and Measurement

In this paper an adaptive cruise control (ACC) of a convoy consisting of two passenger cars is designed and tested. For the ACC only on board sensors in the following vehicle are used, communication within the convoy or between the controlled vehicle and electronic systems on the roadside is not assumed. A laser scanner is applied for range measurements, derived from the complete vision data of the area in front of the car. Since the scanner provides the range only, a Kalman Filter is used to estimate the velocity and acceleration of the car. For controller design the concept of flat outputs in connection with the exact state linearization is applied. Moreover, the exact state linearization is combined with a sliding mode control. The control parameters are obtained by an optimization algorithm using optimal tracking formulation. The optimization also guarantees individual vehicle stability as well as string stability of the convoy. It is shown how the convoy is responding to disturbances resulting from initial errors or from velocity steps by the leading vehicle at lower speed in simulation and experiment.     

Nonlinear ACC in Simulation and Measurement

In this paper an adaptive cruise control (ACC) of a convoy consisting of two passenger cars is designed and tested. For the ACC only on board sensors in the following vehicle are used, communication within the convoy or between the controlled vehicle and electronic systems on the roadside is not assumed. A laser scanner is applied for range measurements, derived from the complete vision data of the area in front of the car. Since the scanner provides the range only, a Kalman Filter is used to estimate the velocity and acceleration of the car. For controller design the concept of flat outputs in connection with the exact state linearization is applied. Moreover, the exact state linearization is combined with a sliding mode control. The control parameters are obtained by an optimization algorithm using optimal tracking formulation. The optimization also guarantees individual vehicle stability as well as string stability of the convoy. It is shown how the convoy is responding to disturbances resulting from initial errors or from velocity steps by the leading vehicle at lower speed in simulation and experiment.     

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.     

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.     

Roadway Elevation Profile Generation for Vehicle Simulation

SUMMARY

With a simplified approach for creating road surface elevation information for simulation of vehicle vertical response to roadway unevenness, roadways for single and parallel track simulations and averaged roads for variable velocity simulation are developed. Sets of correctly chosen random roadway slopes are averaged appropriately for the variable velocity simulation. The procedure generates approximately “white” slope spectral density roadways in the frequency ranges of interest, and the elevation profiles are representative of average road profiles. The method is simple in practice yet suffices for many parameter studies of suspensions and vehicle dynamics.     

Simulation Approach to the Effect of the Ratio Changing Speed of a Metal V-Belt CVT on the Vehicle Response

SUMMARY

In regard to the belt and pulley system of a metal V-belt CVT, the characteristics of the ratio changing speed is obtained by experiments. It is summarized in a practical and simple experimental equation. By using this equation a simulation model is developed to analyze the response of a vehicle with a metal V-belt CVT to a rapid pulley ratio change. The simulation results are in reasonable agreements with experimental results.     

Random Response of Tractor-Semitrailer System

SUMMARY

This work describes an analytical study of the dynamic behaviour of a tractor-semitrailer vehicle. A digital computer simulation was used to describe the longitudinal, vertical, and pitching motions of the vehicle travelling over a stationary random road surface. A man-seat model was also incorporated into the simulation. Vehicle response to road irregularities has been studied by assuming two different roads for loaded and unloaded cases.

Numerical results are presented for vehicle, showing system eigenvalues, power spectral densities and root mean square values of the linear and angular accelerations and displacements. Vehicle acceleration response is compared with the ISO riding comfort standard. All results for the loaded and unloaded cases and for smooth and rough roads indicated that an uncomfortable ride would result from vehicle response.     

Application of Sensitivity Methods to Analysis and Synthesis of Vehicle Dynamic Systems

SUMMARY

The development and application of sensitivity methods for determining the effects of parameter changes on the response of vehicle dynamic systems is presented. The procedures shown can be used to enhance the analysis and synthesis processes of virtually any road or rail vehicle system regardless of its complexity. The parametric sensitivity of vehicle models in time domain, steady state models and vehicle models in frequency domain can be investigated using different types of sensitivity functions, both dimensional and dimensionless including first order standard, percentage, logarithmic, second order standard, and logarithmic and percentage sensitivity measures. These sensitivity functions and measures are determined as functions of partial derivatives of system variables taken with respect to system parameters. In the case of sensitivity functions in the frequency domain the variable values are computed as either the magnitude or phase angle of a complex element of the transfer function matrix. The methods presented enable to determine the influence of all system primary (constant) and secondary (non-constant) parameters on system primary and secondary variables. The primary variables are state variables or elements of the transfer function matrix and the secondary variables may be any functions of primary variables and system parameters. Typical secondary system parameters which can be examined include initial conditions, time variant coefficients, natural frequencies, loads, and typical secondary variables are forces, weight transfers, stability factors and energy components. The analysis of sensitivity results obtained for three vehicle handling models in both linear and nonlinear regimes of vehicle performance and utilizing various types of sensitivity functions is also presented.     

On Control Laws for Vehicle Suspensions Accounting for Input Correlations

SUMMARY

Input correlations involving time delays are common in active vehicle suspension system problems. One approach to control law derivation fur such systems is to restrict attention to slate feedback laws in the interests of practicality and it is then of interest to determine the law which is, in some sense, the best. Under assumptions which are common in this area. relating to input, system and cost Function forms, a new derivation of the expression for the cost, accounting for time delays, is given. The use of the expression in numerical procedures for determining effective control gains is discussed and an example for a half car planar vehicle model is described. By comparing results with existing ones which are truly optimal, an estimate is made of the loss of performance which results from the restriction of the control law form in this case. Some generalisation of the results is attempted and they are placed in a contemporary context at the conclusion.     

Aerodynamics of Road- and Rail Vehicles

SUMMARY

The technical state-of-the-art of aerodynamics of ground transportation vehicles is reviewed. Currently available theoretical calculation methods and experimental simulation techniques as well as typical results illustrating the impact of aerodynamics on vehicle performance and running characteristics are summarized and the interactions between vehicle system dynamics and aerodynamics are adressed. Correlation of theoretical and experimental data show the present potential of vehicle aerodynamics and point to fields in which further research work is necessary.