Advanced vehicle dynamics of heavy trucks with the perspective of road safety

ABSTRACT

This paper presents state-of-the art within advanced vehicle dynamics of heavy trucks with the perspective of road safety. The most common accidents with heavy trucks involved are truck against passenger cars. Safety critical situations are for example loss of control (such as rollover and lateral stability) and a majority of these occur during speed when cornering. Other critical situations are avoidance manoeuvre and road edge recovery. The dynamic behaviour of heavy trucks have significant differences compared to passenger cars and as a consequence, successful application of vehicle dynamic functions for enhanced safety of trucks might differ from the functions in passenger cars. Here, the differences between vehicle dynamics of heavy trucks and passenger cars are clarified. Advanced vehicle dynamics solutions with the perspective of road safety of trucks are presented, beginning with the topic vehicle stability, followed by the steering system, the braking system and driver assistance systems that differ in some way from that of passenger cars as well.     

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。     

Optimal control of brakes and steering for autonomous collision avoidance using modified Hamiltonian algorithm

ABSTRACT

This paper considers the problem of collision avoidance for road vehicles, operating at the limits of friction. A two-level modelling and control methodology is proposed, with the upper level using a friction-limited particle model for motion planning, and the lower level using a nonlinear 3DOF model for optimal control allocation. Motion planning adopts a two-phase approach: the first phase is to avoid the obstacle, the second is to recover lane keeping with minimal additional lateral deviation. This methodology differs from the more standard approach of path-planning/path-following, as there is no explicit path reference used; the control reference is a target acceleration vector which simultaneously induces changes in direction and speed. The lower level control distributes vehicle targets to the brake and steer actuators via a new and efficient method, the Modified Hamiltonian Algorithm (MHA). MHA balances CG acceleration targets with yaw moment tracking to preserve lateral stability. A nonlinear 7DOF two-track vehicle model confirms the overall validity of this novel methodology for collision avoidance.     

Unified decision-making and control for highway collision avoidance using active front steer and individual wheel torque control

ABSTRACT

Collision avoidance is a crucial function for all ground vehicles, and using integrated chassis systems to support the driver presents a growing opportunity in active safety. With actuators such as in-wheel electric motors, active front steer and individual wheel brake control, there is an opportunity to develop integrated chassis systems that fully support the driver in safety critical situations. Here we consider the scenario of an impending frontal collision with a stationary or slower moving vehicle in the same driving lane. Traditionally, researchers have approached the required collision avoidance manoeuver as a hierarchical scheme, which separates the decision-making, path planning and path tracking. In this context, a key decision is whether to perform straight-line braking, or steer to change lanes, or indeed perform combined braking and steering. This paper approaches the collision avoidance directly from the perspective of constrained dynamic optimisation, using a single optimisation procedure to cover these aspects within a single online optimisation scheme of model predictive control (MPC). While the new approach is demonstrated in the context of a fully autonomous safety system, it is expected that the same approach can incorporate driver inputs as additional constraints, yielding a flexible and coherent driver assistance system.     

基于线性路径跟踪控制的换道避撞控制策略研究

为实现车辆自主避撞,改善道路交通安全状况,提出一种基于线性路径跟踪控制的换道避撞控制策略。为实时确定制动和换道时机,获取跟车状态下自车和前车车速、加速度、相对距离以及驾驶人制动反应时间计算制动安全距离和换道安全距离,并在此基础上分别引入制动危险系数B和换道危险系数S评估制动与换道风险,使得车辆发生追尾碰撞的危险程度和主动干预阈值更直观。根据车辆期望横向加速度和期望横向位移的变化特性,采用5次多项式法规划符合驾驶人换道避撞特性的避撞路径。为保证换道避撞过程中驾驶人的安全舒适,采用最大横向加速度约束换道避撞轨迹。为实现对换道避撞路径的线性跟踪控制,保证车辆的操纵稳定性和横摆稳定性,基于车辆稳态动力学模型建立前馈控制,结合线性反馈控制消除换道路径的位置和横摆角偏差,修正参考路径实现直车道场景追尾避撞控制。仿真和实车交叉验证试验表明：根据车辆期望横向加速度和期望横向位移建立的符合驾驶人换道避撞特性的五次多项式换道路径与驾驶人实际换道避撞路径基本吻合,结合碰撞时间和车间时距的制动避撞控制策略能够在保证车辆行驶安全舒适性的同时有效避免车辆追尾碰撞,减少交通事故的发生。     

Stability enhancement and fuel economy of the 4-wheel-drive hybrid electric vehicles by optimal tyre force distribution

In this paper, vehicle stability control and fuel economy for a 4-wheel-drive hybrid vehicle are investigated. The integrated controller is designed within three layers. The first layer determines the total yaw moment and total lateral force made by using an optimal controller method to follow the desired dynamic behaviour of a vehicle. The second layer determines optimum tyre force distribution in order to optimise tyre usage and find out how the tyres should share longitudinal and lateral forces to achieve a target vehicle response under the assumption that all four wheels can be independently steered, driven, and braked. In the third layer, the active steering, wheel slip, and electrical motor torque controllers are designed. In the front axle, internal combustion engine (ICE) is coupled to an electric motor (EM). The control strategy has to determine the power distribution between ICE and EM to minimise fuel consumption and allowing the vehicle to be charge sustaining. Finally, simulations performed in MATLAB/SIMULINK environment show that the proposed structure could enhance the vehicle stability and fuel economy in different manoeuvres.     

A study on model fidelity for model predictive control-based obstacle avoidance in high-speed autonomous ground vehicles

This paper investigates the level of model fidelity needed in order for a model predictive control (MPC)-based obstacle avoidance algorithm to be able to safely and quickly avoid obstacles even when the vehicle is close to its dynamic limits. The context of this work is large autonomous ground vehicles that manoeuvre at high speed within unknown, unstructured, flat environments and have significant vehicle dynamics-related constraints. Five different representations of vehicle dynamics models are considered: four variations of the two degrees-of-freedom (DoF) representation as lower fidelity models and a fourteen DoF representation with combined-slip Magic Formula tyre model as a higher fidelity model. It is concluded that the two DoF representation that accounts for tyre nonlinearities and longitudinal load transfer is necessary for the MPC-based obstacle avoidance algorithm in order to operate the vehicle at its limits within an environment that includes large obstacles. For less challenging environments, however, the two DoF representation with linear tyre model and constant axle loads is sufficient.     

A combined use of phase plane and handling diagram method to study the influence of tyre and vehicle characteristics on stability

This paper deals with in-curve vehicle lateral behaviour and is aimed to find out which vehicle physical characteristics affect significantly its stability. Two different analytical methods, one numerical (phase plane) and the other graphical (handling diagram) are discussed. The numerical model refers to the complete quadricycle, while the graphical one refers to a bicycle model. Both models take into account lateral load transfers and nonlinear Pacejka tyre–road interactions. The influence of centre of mass longitudinal position, tyre cornering stiffness and front/rear roll stiffness ratio on vehicle stability are analysed. The presented results are in good agreement with theoretical expectations about the above parameters influence, and show how some physical characteristics behave as saddle-node bifurcation parameters.     

Vehicle dynamic control of a passenger car applying flexible body model

Modern software tools have enhanced modelling, analysis and simulation capabilities pertaining to control of dynamic systems. In this regard, in this paper a full vehicle model with flexible body is exposed by using MSC. ADAMS and MSC. NASTRAN. Indeed, one of the most significant vehicle dynamic controls is directional stability control. In this case, the vehicle dynamic control system (VDC) is used to improving the vehicle lateral and yaw motions in critical manoeuvres. In this paper, for design the VDC system, an optimal control strategy has been used for tracking the intended path with optimal energy. For better performance of VDC system, an anti-lock brake system (ABS) is designed as a lower layer of the control system for maintaining the tyre longitudinal slip in proper value. The performances of the controller on rigid and flexible models are illustrated, and the results show the differences between the control efforts for these models, which are related to the differences of dynamic behaviours of rigid and flexible vehicle dynamic models.     

自动紧急转向导致斜角碰撞的一体化仿真分析

在前方道路突然出现障碍物的危急情况中,车辆采用自动紧急转向来避障,由于情况紧急,车辆在转向过程中仍可能与其他道路参与者发生碰撞事故.当车辆采用自动紧急转向避让道路前方路口突然闯入的车辆时,与对向来车发生斜角碰撞,由此,对该特定场景的转向-碰撞全过程进行一体化仿真,分析乘员在转向阶段因车辆横摆和侧倾运动引起的离位现象以及...     

装载机避障轨迹规划及模型预测轨迹跟踪

轮式装载机在工作区域行驶时，避障过程频繁，以往的避障轨迹规划未考虑整车转向半径约束和车速变化，也较少考虑整车在动力学模型条件下的轨迹跟踪性能。针对上述情况，以自动驾驶轮式装载机为对象，基于最优快速随机扩展树算法（RRT^*），考虑车身膨胀圆个数，生成全局最优避障路径，以整车最小稳定转向半径为约束，利用CC-Steer算法对避障路径进行平滑处理，采用路径-速度分解算法规划满足整车在加速、匀速和减速状态下的避障行驶轨迹。基于整车动力学模型，考虑行驶过程中的横向位置偏差和航向角偏差，并将整车动力传动系统视为1阶惯性环节，构建装载机动力学状态空间方程。以加速度和铰接角为控制输入，以车速、横向位置偏差和航向角偏差为控制输出，建立整车动力学预测模型，以加速度、铰接角和车速为约束条件，将目标函数转换为二次规划问题，建立满足装载机在工作区域避障的模型预测轨迹跟踪控制系统。以规划的非匀速行驶避障轨迹为目标，利用构建的模型预测轨迹跟踪系统，进行自动驾驶轮式装载机的轨迹跟踪仿真。研究结果表明：所提方法能够很好地控制自动驾驶轮式装载机从初始位姿驶向目标位姿，实现整车在工作区域的避障过程，且在避障过程中满足整车的约束要求，保证整车在轨迹跟踪过程中的安全稳定性能。     

对开路面弯道制动ABS控制策略研究

在对开路面弯道制动工况下分析了轮胎受力情况,提出一种基于转角预测前馈、路径偏移量反馈的车辆最佳滑移率动态调节方法,在SIMPACK中建立汽车多体模型,在MATLAB/Simulink中搭建控制系统,并进行了虚拟在环试验。试验结果显示,与传统ABS相比,所提出的控制方法可以显著改善车辆的侧偏位移、横摆角速度以及制动时方向的稳定性,保证了制动效能,使车辆侧向稳定性得到显著提高。     

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.     

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.     

面向动态避障的智能汽车滚动时域路径规划

为解决城市低速条件下智能汽车在避障过程中的路径规划问题，提出面向动态避障的智能汽车滚动时域路径规划方法。首先，划分车道可行区域，利用3次拉格朗日插值法拟合车道边界，并根据"车-路"的相对位置关系将车道区域进一步划分为车道间区域与车道内区域两部分。其次，以区域虚拟力场进行动态交通场景模拟，包括在障碍车周身沿车道方向的虚拟矩形区域斥力场，行驶目标位置的虚拟引力场和车道保持虚拟区域引力场3个部分，然后结合划分的车道区域确定各虚拟力场的作用区域。再次，建立主车动力学与运动学模型，障碍车运动学预测模型，把主车与障碍车无碰撞，主车行驶在车道内区域，趋向目标位置以及保证车辆稳定性作为优化目标，综合车辆模型的控制输入、状态变量等动力学约束条件，构建多目标的滚动时域控制器用于车辆避障路径规划，求解获得前轮转角作为控制量。最后，利用MATLAB和veDYNA软件对提出的路径规划控制系统分别在静态障碍和动态障碍工况下进行联合仿真。研究结果表明：该方法能够很好地解决躲避静态障碍和低速动态障碍车的问题，控制车辆驶向目标位置，并且在避障过程中满足车辆的动力学约束，同时又不会与道路边界发生碰撞，保证了车辆的安全性和稳定性。     

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。     

Lateral handling improvement with dynamic curvature control for an independent rear wheel drive EV

The integrated longitudinal and lateral dynamic motion control is important for four wheel independent drive (4WID) electric vehicles. Under critical driving conditions, direct yaw moment control (DYC) has been proved as effective for vehicle handling stability and maneuverability by implementing optimized torque distribution of each wheel, especially with independent wheel drive electric vehicles. The intended vehicle path upon driver steering input is heavily depending on the instantaneous vehicle speed, body side slip and yaw rate of a vehicle, which can directly affect the steering effort of driver. In this paper, we propose a dynamic curvature controller (DCC) by applying a the dynamic curvature of the path, derived from vehicle dynamic state variables; yaw rate, side slip angle, and speed of a vehicle. The proposed controller, combined with DYC and wheel longitudinal slip control, is to utilize the dynamic curvature as a target control parameter for a feedback, avoiding estimating the vehicle side-slip angle. The effectiveness of the proposed controller, in view of stability and improved handling, has been validated with numerical simulations and a series of experiments during cornering engaging a disturbance torque driven by two rear independent in-wheel motors of a 4WD micro electric vehicle.     

Velocity and normal tyre force estimation for heavy trucks based on vehicle dynamic simulation considering the road slope angle

A precise estimation of vehicle velocities can be valuable for improving the performance of the vehicle dynamics control (VDC) system and this estimation relies heavily upon the accuracy of longitudinal and lateral tyre force calculation governed by the prediction of normal tyre forces. This paper presents a computational method based on the unscented Kalman filter (UKF) method to estimate both longitudinal and lateral velocities and develops a novel quasi-stationary method to predict normal tyre forces of heavy trucks on a sloping road. The vehicle dynamic model is constructed with a planar dynamic model combined with the Pacejka tyre model. The novel quasi-stationary method for predicting normal tyre forces is able to characterise the typical chassis configuration of the heavy trucks. The validation is conducted through comparing the predicted results with those simulated by the TruckSim and it has a good agreement between these results without compromising the convergence speed and stability.     

Desired yaw rate and steering control method during cornering for a six-wheeled vehicle

This paper proposes a steering control method based on optimal control theory to improve the maneuverability of a six-wheeled vehicle during cornering. The six-wheeled vehicle is believed to have better performance than a four-wheeled vehicle in terms of its capability for crossing obstacles, off-road maneuvering and fail-safe handling when one or two of the tires are punctured. Although many methods to improve the four-wheeled vehicle’s lateral stability have been studied and developed, there have only been a few studies on the six-wheeled vehicle’s lateral stability. Some studies of the six-wheeled vehicle have been reported recently, but they are related to the desired yaw rate of a four-wheeled vehicle to control the six-wheeled vehicle’s maneuvering during corning. In this paper, the sideslip angle and yaw rate are controlled to improve the maneuverability during cornering by independent control of the steering angles of the six wheels. The desired yaw rate that is suitable for a six-wheeled vehicle is proposed as a control target. In addition, a scaled-down vehicle with six drive motors and six steering motors that can be controlled independently is designed. The performance of the proposed control methods is verified using a full model vehicle simulation and scaled-down vehicle experiment.     

轮胎侧偏特性研究的特点及其发展

首先,分析并阐述了车辆动力学特性与轮胎力学特性的关系。然后,对轮胎力学特性进行了分类,介绍了轮胎侧偏特性研究的特点,描述了轮胎稳态和非稳态侧偏特性研究的历史及其发展。最后,指出了轮胎侧偏特性研究的意义和轮胎模型的研究方向。