Sensitivity of Driver-Vehicle Performance to Vehicle Characteristics Revealed in Open-loop Tests

The advantages of being able to objectively specify desirable vehicle handling characteristics, which can be determined without recourse to closed-loop tests on a prototype vehicle, are widely recognised. This paper reviews the studies that have attempted to find a relationship between closed-loop task performance, and driver subjective opinion, and various steady-state and transient characteristics revealed in open-loop tests of the vehicle. It is found that the level of definition of these relationships is not sufficient to justify mandatory regulations for vehicle design. However, the basic requirements for steering control sensitivity, and the rapidity and stability of the fixed-control dynamic response of vehicles in normal manoeuvres, are beginning to emerge. Data are particularly lacking for the closed-loop effects of vehicle sideslipping characteristics, free-control responses and vehicle behaviour in limit manoeuvres.