How to Use Driving Simulators Properly: Impacts of Human Sensory and Perceptual Capabilities on Visual Fidelity

Fidelity has been a critical concern of researchers throughout the history of driving simulation. Understanding the limits of a driving simulation system is a prerequisite for conducting valid driving simulator studies. This paper proposes a novel and interdisciplinary methodology to ensure validity of studies using driving simulators (primarily for traffic control devices and other object detection tasks) based on the visual limits of human sensory and perceptual capabilities, and the characteristics of raster graphics. This methodology decomposes the perceptual issues of a stimulus into perceptual issues of different visual properties like luminance, hue, or text of the stimulus. By systematically analyzing the mechanism of human vision in driving simulators, the perceptual principle is proposed to ensure perceivable visual details in human-in-the-loop driving simulation systems. Additionally, the graphic principle is proposed to ensure perceivable features of a target object in the virtual driving environment. Both principles quantify the minimum requirements of visual fidelity with two measurements: angular resolution and matrix dimensions. The enriched results from existing pertinent studies are analyzed and organized to yield support of both principles. This research focuses on the minimum requirements for four factors; namely the visual acuity of drivers, the specifications of display systems, the configurations of graphics systems, and the design of virtual scenarios, as well as the relationship among all these factors to assess the visual fidelity in driving simulation systems. Within the realm of human perception, this work can provide criteria for proper design, calibration, and usage of driving simulators.     

Did Chinese cities that implemented driving restrictions see reductions in PM10?

Imposing driving restrictions is becoming increasingly popular as a policy intended to control urban air pollution. Existing studies on this topic offer highly mixed observations, and each study tends to focus on only one city. In this paper, we used 11 Chinese cities with driving restrictions as the treatment group, and compared them to other cities that did not implement the policy. Based on a propensity score matching and difference-in-difference analysis, we found no evidence of a decrease in PM10 concentrations in cities after they implemented driving restrictions. This finding may be attributed to an increase in the number of cars in these cities after implementing driving restrictions, but we also found no evidence of an improvement in air quality for a given number of cars after implementation of the policies.     

鱼雷定深航行稳定性的分叉分析

鱼雷定深运动方程含有诸多的非线性项，用传统的分析方法对其稳定性进行研究有较大难度。运用非线性科学中的分叉理论，选定鱼雷定深运动方程中的某一流体动力系数扰动值为分叉参数，系统地分析在经典比例微分深度控制系统作用下，鱼雷在退化平衡点处的航行稳定性。利用中心流形定理，推导出系统状态变量解析表达式，对系统 Hopf分叉进行分析，并进行仿真验证。结果表明，流体动力系数变化使定深航行产生 Hopf分叉，并给出了确保鱼雷稳定航行的流体动力参数取值范围。     

Fractional-order-based ACC/CACC algorithm for improving string stability

Traffic flow optimization and driver comfort enhancement are the main contributions of an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system. If communication links are added, more safety and shorter gaps can be reached performing a Cooperative-ACC (CACC). Although shortening the inter-vehicular distances directly improves traffic flow, it can cause string unstable behavior. This paper presents fractional-order-based control algorithms to enhance the car-following and string stability performance for both ACC and CACC vehicle strings, including communication temporal delay effects. The proposed controller is compared with state-of-the-art implementations, exhibiting better performance. Simulation and real experiments have been conducted for validating the approach.     

新五维超混沌系统反同步研究

以新五维超混沌系统为对象，基于Lyapunov稳定性理论，采用非线性控制法、主动控制法及全局控制法，分别设计了控制器，实现了新五维超混沌系统的反同步。通过数值仿真，对三种方法的反同步效果进行了验证和对比分析，结果显示主动控制法优于其它两种方法。     

保证路基长期稳定性的技术措施研究

路基长期稳定性是一个综合性的问题,要想通过设计或施工一劳永逸的解决,在技术上是困难的,在经济上也是不适宜的。只有通过对设计、施工、养护三者综合考虑,把握影响路基长期稳定性的关键因素,才能经济、合理地解决该问题,使公路更好地为经济建设服务。     

关于木材运输船安全运输的几点分析

木材船海上运输具有一定的风险,一旦积载和绑扎不当或管理不妥,造成货物滚动、移位、货垛倒塌,就会引发安全事故甚至导致船舶倾覆。因此,加强木材船的安全管理,落实各项安全保障措施,是确保木材船安全运输生产的重要举措。     

钢檩条设计中的若干问题

轻型屋面钢檩条的竖向荷载、整体稳定性计算以及檩条与屋面梁、屋架的连接构造是设计的重要环节,本文结合规范和国家标准设计图的编制提出若干问题,供参考.     

薄基岩顶板隧道爆破施工围岩稳定性分析

为更有效地进行薄基岩顶板条件下隧道施工安全控制,以某高速公路隧道为工程背景,运用数值模拟的方法,分别研究不同顶板厚度下隧道爆破施工引起的围岩振速分布特征及其对围岩的损伤情况,并进行围岩稳定性分析。结果表明:1)当顶板厚度在5 m及以上时,围岩是稳定的;2)当顶板厚度为3 m时,最危险横断面上基岩顶板内开始产生严重的拉伸裂缝及一些径向裂缝,将形成超挖;3)当顶板厚度≤2 m时,径向裂缝贯穿顶板岩体,围岩稳定性较差,在掌子面后1 m内可能发生塌落、掉块等事故。     

Magneto-rheological suspensions for improving ground vehicle’s ride comfort,stability, and handling

ABSTRACT

A state-of-the-art discussion on the applications of magneto-rheological (MR) suspensions for improving ride comfort, handling, and stability in ground vehicles is discussed for both road and rail applications. A historical perspective on the discovery and engineering development of MR fluids is presented, followed by some of the common methods for modelling their non-Newtonian behaviour. The common modes of the MR fluids are discussed, along with the application of the fluid in valve mode for ground vehicles’ dampers (or shock absorbers). The applications span across nearly all road vehicles, including automobiles, trains, semi-trucks, motorcycles, and even bicycles. For each type of vehicle, the results of some of the past studies is presented briefly, with reference to the originating study. It is discussed that Past experimental and modelling studies have indicated that MR suspensions provide clear advantages for ground vehicles that far surpasses the performance of passive suspension. For rail vehicles, the primary advantage is in terms of increasing the speed at which the onset of hunting occurs, whereas for road vehicles – mainly automobiles – the performance improvements are in terms of a better balance between vehicle ride, handling, and stability. To further elaborate on this point, a single-suspension model is used to develop an index-based approach for studying the compromise that is offered by vehicle suspensions, using the H₂ optimisation approach. Evaluating three indices based on the sprung-mass acceleration, suspension rattlespace, and tyre deflection, it is clearly demonstrated that MR suspensions significantly improve road vehicle’s ride comfort, stability, and handling in comparison with passive suspensions. For rail vehicles, the simulation results indicate that using MR suspensions with an on-off switching control can increase the speed at which the on-set of hunting occurs by as much as 50% to more than 300%.