A Study on Terrain-Surface Modeling and Searching Algorithms for Real-time Simulation of Off-Road Vehicles

Summary Terrain surfaces have to be modeled in very detail and wheel-surface contacting geometry must be well defined in order to obtain proper ground-reaction and friction forces for realistic simulation of off-road vehicles. Delaunay triangulation is one of the most widely used methods in modeling 3-dimensional terrain surfaces, and the T-search is a relevant algorithm for searching resulting triangular polygons. The T-search method searches polygons in a successive order and may not allow real-time computation of off-road vehicle dynamics if the terrain is modeled with many polygons, depending on the computer performance used in the simulation. In order to accelerate the searching speed of the T-search, a terrain database of triangular polygons is modeled in multi-levels by adopting the LOD (Level of Detail) method used in real-time computer graphics. Simulation results show that the new LOD-search is effective in shortening the required computing time. The LOD-search can be even further accelerated by introducing the NN (Neural Network) algorithm, in the cases where a appropriate range of moving paths can be predicted by cultural or geographical or empirical information of the simulated terrain, such as lakes, houses, etc. Numerical tests show that LOD-NN search almost doubles the speed of the original T-search.     

松软路面突变性对车辆垂向振动的影响

为了在越野行驶车辆平顺性仿真系统中实时动态反映车辆的振动特性,提出了基于小波变换的松软越野路面突变性描述方法并分析突变性对车辆垂向振动的影响。通过小波变换对路面奇异点进行测定和定位,把越野车辆平顺性仿真系统看作是在有限时间内受到随机载荷激励的动力系统,分析其受路面突变载荷的车辆的垂直振动响应方差。结果表明,小波变换能较准确地判定路面奇异点并对其定位,可为越野车辆平顺性虚拟测试系统提供路面随机输入。     

Ride Dynamics of High-Speed Tracked Vehicles: Simulation with Field Validation

SUMMARY

Ride dynamic behaviour of a typical high-speed tracked vehicle, such as a conventional military armoured personnel carrier (APC) negotiating rough off-road terrains, is studied through computer simulations and field tests. A comprehensive ride dynamic simulation model is developed, assuming constant forward vehicle speed and non-deformable terrain profile. The ride model includes dynamic track load and wheel/track-terrain interaction. Dynamic track load is modeled in view of track belt stretching and initial track tension, whereas an equivalent damper and continuous radial spring formulation is employed to model wheel/track-terrain interaction. Field testing of a APC subjected to discrete half round obstacles of various radii, a sinusoidal course, a random course, and a Belgian Pave\ is carried out for various vehicle configurations and speeds. Computer simulation results are validated against field measured results. The comparison of measured and predicted results shows generally good agreement.     

Stability measurement of high-speed vehicles

Vehicle rollover represents a significant percentage of single-vehicle accidents and accounts for over 9000 fatalities and over 200,000 non-fatal injuries each year. Previous research has yielded rollover stability control systems that are effective in on-road conditions. Accident statistics show, however, that over 90% of rollovers involve road departure, during which a vehicle may encounter sloped and rough terrain while travelling at high speed. A critical element of most rollover stability control systems is a metric that monitors a vehicle's nearness to rollover. Most metrics, however, are designed for use on flat, level surfaces characteristic of on-road terrain. In this paper, a new stability metric, termed the stability moment, is proposed that is accurate on terrain surfaces with arbitrary geometry, which allows it to be used in road departure scenarios. The metric is based on an estimate of the distribution of wheel–terrain contact forces. The metric can be calculated on line in real time, using only practical, low-cost sensors. The metric is compared in simulations and experimental studies to existing stability metrics and is shown to exhibit superior performance, particularly in off-road conditions.     

轮毂电机驱动车辆驱动力控制研究

轮毂电机驱动车辆各轮转矩精确可控且响应迅速的特点适用于越野工况，但越野路面起伏不一且附着条件多变，因此，开发基于越野工况辨识的车辆驱动力控制策略，对提升轮毂电机驱动车辆的纵向行驶稳定性具有重要意义。基于动力学模型分析路面附着与路面几何特征，确定可用于越野工况辨识的车辆特征参数集；针对车轮悬空垂向载荷估计失真现象，且由于地面垂向力的实际变化导致车辆垂向载荷分配比例的改变，修正了垂向载荷的计算；利用各特征参数的差异与越野工况的映射关系判定工况属性，采用模糊识别法界定4种地形工况；驱动力控制上层考虑工况与驾驶员影响因素，通过越野工况辨识结果决策驱动利用系数，作为前馈期望转矩调节权重；中层通过四轮垂向载荷得到转矩分配系数，设计驱动力分配算法；下层针对车辆在越野工况下出现车轮滑转与悬空状态，对车轮进行动态转矩补偿。仿真测试与实车验证表明，越野工况辨识结果与预期相符，驱动力控制策略综合优化了车辆稳定性和动力性。     

基于生长算法构建Delaunay三角网的研究

提出了一种基于凸包构建Delaunay三角网的算法,它包括离散点数据的三角剖分及将约束边嵌入三角网。在对离散点数据进行三角剖分时,首先建立一个外轮廓为凸包的初始三角网,然后将剩余的点依次与既有三角网合并来生成包含所有数据点的三角网。为了将约束边嵌入三角网,找出约束边穿过的三角形,删除这些三角形并用约束边将这些三角形所围成的多边形分成两个简单多边形,再对这两个简单多边形进行Delaunay三角网剖分即可达到嵌入约束边的目的。     

Robust estimation of maximum tire-road friction coefficient considering road surface irregularity

An accurate estimation of the maximum tire-road friction coefficient may provide higher performance in a vehicle active safety control system. Unfortunately, real-time tire-road friction coefficient estimation is costly and necessitates additional sensors that must be installed and maintained at all times. This paper proposes an advanced longitudinal tire-road friction coefficient estimation method that is capable of considering irregular road surfaces. The proposed algorithm uses a stiffness based estimation method, however, unlike previous studies, improvements were made by suggesting a third order model to solve problems related to nonlinear mu-slip curve. To attain the tire-road friction coefficient, real-time normalized force is obtained from the force estimator as exerted from the tire in the low slip region using the recursive least squares method. The decisive aspect of using the suggested algorithm lies in its low cost and versatility. It can be used under irregular road conditions due to its capability of easily obtaining wheel speed and acceleration values from production cars. The newly improved algorithm has been verified to computer simulations as well as compact size cars on dry asphalt conditions.     

Effect of number of wheels on high speed UGV traversability: Online terrain assessment approach

This paper addresses the problem of determining the maximum allowable speed (V _max ) of Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) traversing off-road heterogeneous rough/complex terrain. The maximum speed is calculated based on online terrain assessment and the vehicle’s characteristics; this speed achieves the high speed navigation without exceeding a predefined allowable range of transmitted force and moments (i.e., moments in the roll and pitch directions) to the vehicle’s frame. The proposed system enables UGV’s to change their speed autonomously and transit between terrains with different characteristics (e.g., pavement, rocky) safely. This paper proposes a computationally inexpensive approach to process acquired data and assess the terrain roughness. The proposed Roughness Index (RI) is used to represent the terrain roughness on a scale from 0.0 (highly rough to be traversed by a particular vehicle) to 1.0 (perfectly flat/smooth surface). A general vehicle model (workable for any vehicle size and wheel configuration) is presented in this paper. A closed form expression of the maximum allowable vehicle speed is developed. Simulation results obtained on real vehicles (e.g., military tank LEOPARD I) show the effect of increasing the number of wheels to improve the capability of a ground vehicle to traverse rough terrains at high speeds. In addition, the proposed terrain assessment system is a key module in UGVs navigation systems enabling them to be truly autonomous by providing the navigation system with the necessary information for path and speed planning.     

Power Requirements for Traversing Uneven Roadways

Vehicles which travel on uneven roadways or rough surfaces require power beyond that associated with air drag, rolling resistance or other sources of friction even though kinetic and potential energy may be conserved on the average. This is true because damped relative motions within the vehicle dissipate energy, and, even for nearly rigid vehicles, energy is lost at impact with the ground whenever the vehicle loses contact with the ground surface due to the finite downward acceleration of gravity.

Using elementary vehicle models, the nature and magnitude of the component of propulsive force associated with these energy loss mechanisms is estimated. In certain speed ranges, this force is found to vary dramatically with speed for several types of periodic roadway profiles studied. While the force due to unevennesss may be small compared to other forces for high-speed vehicles operating on smooth surfaces, it can be the major source of required power for off-road vehicles operating on very rough terrain.     

吉林省公路风吹雪分布特征及原因分析

为了研究吉林省公路风吹雪的分布特征,采用现场调研与Ansys Fluent软件仿真模拟相结合的方式,绘制吉林省公路风吹雪分布地图;以吉林省受灾最多的路基横断面形式为例,以主要地形区雪季平均风速为代表风速仿真模拟,结果表明：吉林省公路风吹雪分布特征的主要影响因素是风速。     

基于MPC的分布式驱动越野车辆原地转向控制研究

针对轮毂电机分布式驱动越野车辆在狭小空间快速机动的需求,设计了一种分层结构的原地转向控制策略。基于动力学原理分析了各轮载荷、附着条件对原地转向横摆速度的影响机理,并搭建原地转向运动学模型,上层采用模型预测控制算法设计原地转向理想轨迹以及期望的横摆角速度,开发基于PI滑模控制的横摆运动跟踪算法,通过补偿转向横摆力矩以提高方向角控制的鲁棒性和稳定性,下层以最优轮胎利用率为目标,设计二次规划算法优化分配各轮附加横摆力矩。dSPACE硬件在环测试结果表明,所提出的控制算法可在保证稳定性的前提下实现原地转向,大幅提高了车辆的转向机动性,在方向盘动态输入仿真中,车辆最大转弯半径为0.157 m,转向中心的最大偏移量为3.610 m;同时,驾驶员能对转向过程进行闭环控制,实现了原地转向过程中横摆速度的实时调节。     

Study of the optimization of electrical turbo-compound system through computer simulation

In order to optimize the turbo-compound system for getting the best fuel saving a computer simulation was made. The system was modeled precisely and running conditions of the components were examined. In the case of an electrical turbo-compound system, it is possible to keep the power turbine speed at good efficiency over a wide range of running conditions because the power turbine speed can be controlled independently from the engine speed.     

面向平顺性仿真的越野汽车动态模型

首先根据越野汽车的结构特点和平顺性试验方法建立越野汽车静态模型;然后把平顺性虚拟测试过程视为变化的系统,从集合观点建立其动态模型,并把多种越野路面包括在模型中。测试结果表明,该建模方法可以用来表征不同越野车型随时间和空间变化的激励与响应特征,扩大了越野汽车平顺性虚拟测试系统的适用范围。     

汽车安全气囊展开过程计算机仿真及其接触搜寻方法

本文系统地讨论了安全气囊展开过程计算机仿真中接触界的搜寻方法。该方法以级域理论的基本思想为基础，分接触前搜寻和接触后搜寻两大部分，具有速度快，可靠性好，通用性强等优点，并被移植到ＬＳ－ＤＹＮＡ３Ｄ中进行了初步验证。     

越野汽车挡位决策的自适应模糊控制

为提高装备自动变速器的越野汽车换挡控制系统对复杂路况的自适应能力,在基本模糊控制模块基础上,建立了具有两级递阶结构的越野车自适应模糊换挡控制系统.基本模糊控制模块将油门开度、车速和加速度3参数进行模糊化和模糊推理,实现挡位决策;自适应控制模块按照检测的车速和加速度对直线行驶阻力和附着力进行在线辨识,并由此进行量化因子的自调整.仿真结果表明所设计的模糊控制系统具有良好的自适应能力.     

Dynamics of Tracked Vehicles

This paper provides a brief review of the state-of-the-art of tracked vehicle dynamics, including mobility over soft terrain, ride dynamics over rough surfaces and manoeuvrability. It is found that considerable progress has been made in the development of analytical frameworks for evaluating and predicting tracked vehicle mobility over soft terrain, taking into account the characteristics of terrain response to normal and shear loading. Certain computer simulation models for tracked vehicle mobility have been gaining increasingly wide acceptance by industry and governmental agencies in product development and in procurement. It is also found that most of the research on tracked vehicle ride dynamics and manoeuvrability is confined to operations on rigid surfaces. To achieve a realistic evaluation and prediction of the dynamic behaviour of tracked vehicles in the field, the key is to have a better understanding of terrain response to dynamic vehicular loading, including its dynamic stiffness and damping. Challenges that face vehicle dynamicists in this emerging field are identified.     

基于ADVISOR二次开发的混合动力越野车仿真分析

针对混合动力越野车性能仿真需求,考虑到ADVISOR不能提供变化路面条件和不同环境条件下的仿真分析,对ADVISOR进行了二次开发。通过修改ADVISOR中整车模型、车轮模型和部件模型,增加滚动阻力系数模型、车轮滑转率与附着系数模型和蓄电池温度模型,建立了串联式混合动力越野车仿真系统。对某在研国产串联式混合动力越野车的整车性能进行了仿真分析。仿真结果表明,不同的路面条件和环境条件对混合动力车的各种性能有较大影响。     

微观交通分布式并行仿真系统设计与效益分析

为了提高交通网络仿真的速度和效率,从挖掘交通网络仿真的并行性出发,设计了分布式并行仿真系统的结构和仿真算法,通过比较选择PVM(Parallel Virtual Machine)作为并行计算的编程环境,提出基于车辆数的网络分割算法和数据时钟同步的通讯方式,使并行仿真达到负载平衡。用程序执行时间、加速比、并行效率和可扩展性4个测度指标来评价算法的并行效益,并以24个交叉口组成的交通网络为例,应用设计的并行算法在不同处理器数目下进行仿真。试验结果显示并行仿真速度比串行仿真提高了3.5倍,因此,这种并行算法提高了交通网络仿真的速度和效率,为实现更大规模的交通仿真奠定了基础。     

融合改进YOLO和背景差分的道路抛洒物检测算法

针对现有道路抛洒物检测算法识别准确率低、识别种类有限、实时检测效率低的问题，探索了将深度学习目标检测和传统图像处理相结合的抛洒物检测算法。提出在YOLOv5s目标检测算法基础上，对模型结构进行修改以满足实时性需求。具体地，使用卷积优化YOLO中的降采样模块，采用Ghost网络替代原始的特征提取网络以减少计算量，根据抛洒物检测对象的特点设计符合数据集的锚框以提高目标识别准确度。使用优化后的YOLO检测道路场景中车辆、行人作为交通参与者得到检测框，在检测框周围设定感兴趣区域，并在感兴趣区域内用背景差分算法实现前景目标识别。计算前景目标与YOLO检测结果的交并比，排除交通参与者目标后实现道路抛洒物的识别。针对交通参与者检测的实验结果表明，改进后的YOLO检测算法在整体识别精度没有损失的情况下单帧检测速度为20.67 ms，比原始YOLO检测算法速度提升16.42%。真实道路抛洒物实验结果表明，在没有抛洒物训练数据情况下，传统混合高斯模型算法平均精度值为0.51，采用融合改进YOLO和背景差分的抛洒物检测算法平均精度值为0.78，算法检测精度提高52.9%。改进后算法可适用于没有抛洒物数据或正样本数据稀少的情况。该算法在嵌入式设备Jetson Xavier NX上单帧检测速度达到24.4 ms，可实现抛洒物的实时检测。      

Dynamics of Tracked Vehicles

SUMMARY

This paper provides a brief review of the state-of-the-art of tracked vehicle dynamics, including mobility over soft terrain, ride dynamics over rough surfaces and manoeuvrability. It is found that considerable progress has been made in the development of analytical frameworks for evaluating and predicting tracked vehicle mobility over soft terrain, taking into account the characteristics of terrain response to normal and shear loading. Certain computer simulation models for tracked vehicle mobility have been gaining increasingly wide acceptance by industry and governmental agencies in product development and in procurement. It is also found that most of the research on tracked vehicle ride dynamics and manoeuvrability is confined to operations on rigid surfaces. To achieve a realistic evaluation and prediction of the dynamic behaviour of tracked vehicles in the field, the key is to have a better understanding of terrain response to dynamic vehicular loading, including its dynamic stiffness and damping. Challenges that face vehicle dynamicists in this emerging field are identified.