Model-based control of an electropneumatic brake system for commercial vehicles

A properly functioning brake system is critical for ensuring the safe operation of any vehicle on roadways. Commercial vehicles such as trucks, tractors-trailers and buses are equipped with an air brake system that uses compressed air as the energy transmitting medium. This paper presents a model-based control scheme for an electropneumatic brake system for use in commercial vehicles. A mathematical model for an electropneumatic brake system was developed and corroborated with experimental data. A control scheme was developed based on this model and was used to regulate the pressure of air inside the brake chamber according to a desired pressure trajectory. This control scheme was implemented on an experimental test bench, and its performance was studied for various values of the controller parameter. The control scheme was tested for various desired pressure trajectories reflecting actual brake operation.