Haptic support systems for curve negotiation in a driving simulator

A human operator performing a manual control task can be assisted by haptic shared control, a novel approach in literature which makes use of a continuous-time force feedback to guide the operator in a specific control direction. In a previous research, a haptic controller has been designed and tested in a for curve negotiation support in a driving simulator. This support system provides a force feedback the operator has to give way to in order to correct the vehicle deviations from a reference trajectory. It was proved in an experiment to yield benefits in terms of increased performance and reduced effort from the operator with respect to manual driving. As a variation from the haptic shared control philosophy, a novel approach has been introduced in literature for supporting a human operator piloting RPVs in a simulated environment. This haptic controller is called Indirect since the force feedback it provides has the only effect of changing the neutral point of the control interface. The operator can exploit this aiding by contrasting the force feedback and keeping the control device close to the central position. The Indirect haptic controller was proved in an experiment to increase performance and was found helpful by the pilots, as well as the Direct controller, which is the classic approach, and compared to manual piloting. This novel approach in haptic shared control has only been investigated as a support for piloting RPVs. In this project the Indirect controller is being designed in a modeling study and tested for a curve negotiation task in a driving simulator. The Indirect controller for curve negotiation is designed in a model-based study, where a scheme is employed simulating the behaviour of a human operator and the haptic controller. The outcome of this study are some previsions on different driving conditions, where an operator can drive manually or be assisted by the classic Direct haptic controller or by the novel Indirect controller. An experimental campaign with a driving simulator is performed, based on the previsions figured in the modeling study. The results of the experiment tells us that both the Direct and Indirect controllers can be helpful for performance and effort of the operator in low visibility conditions, while in normal visibility a contrast in goal can arise between operator and shared controller, due to a different way of the operator to cut curves. In a situation of evasive maneuver with a faulty controller, where the operator has to reject the force feedback, the Indirect controller is proved to be more damaging than the Direct support. Finally, some negative after-effects on performance and effort are encountered after the Indirect controller is switched-off, due to an intense adaptation of the operator to the different dynamics to control. The Indirect haptic support can be a valid alternative to the typical Direct control scheme for curve negotiation support, although there is room for improving its functioning. Future developments should be focused on making the Indirect controller easier to understand, to cope with more effectively in case of failures and possibly to switch to manual driving without confusion

A Review of Shared Control for Automated Vehicles: Theory and Applications

The last decade has shown an increasing interest on advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) based on shared control, where automation is continuously supporting the driver at the control level with an adaptive authority. A first look at the literature offers two main research directions: 1) an ongoing effort to advance the theoretical comprehension of shared control, and 2) a diversity of automotive system applications with an increasing number of works in recent years. Yet, a global synthesis on these efforts is not available. To this end, this article covers the complete field of shared control in automated vehicles with an emphasis on these aspects: 1) concept, 2) categories, 3) algorithms, and 4) status of technology. Articles from the literature are classified in theory- and application-oriented contributions. From these, a clear distinction is found between coupled and uncoupled shared control. Also, model-based and model-free algorithms from these two categories are evaluated separately with a focus on systems using the steering wheel as the control interface. Model-based controllers tested by at least one real driver are tabulated to evaluate the performance of such systems. Results show that the inclusion of a driver model helps to reduce the conflicts at the steering. Also, variables such as driver state, driver effort, and safety indicators have a high impact on the calculation of the authority. Concerning the evaluation, driver-in-the-loop simulators are the most common platforms, with few works performed in real vehicles. Implementation in experimental vehicles is expected in the upcoming years.This work was supported in part by the ECSEL Joint Undertaking, which funded the PRYSTINE project under Grant 783190, and in part by the AUTOLIB project (ELKARTEK 2019 ref. KK-2019/00035; Gobierno Vasco Dpto. Desarrollo económico e infraestructuras)

A Review of Shared Control for Automated Vehicles: Theory and Applications

The last decade has shown an increasing interest on advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) based on shared control, where automation is continuously supporting the driver at the control level with an adaptive authority. A first look at the literature offers two main research directions: 1) an ongoing effort to advance the theoretical comprehension of shared control, and 2) a diversity of automotive system applications with an increasing number of works in recent years. Yet, a global synthesis on these efforts is not available. To this end, this article covers the complete field of shared control in automated vehicles with an emphasis on these aspects: 1) concept, 2) categories, 3) algorithms, and 4) status of technology. Articles from the literature are classified in theory- and application-oriented contributions. From these, a clear distinction is found between coupled and uncoupled shared control. Also, model-based and model-free algorithms from these two categories are evaluated separately with a focus on systems using the steering wheel as the control interface. Model-based controllers tested by at least one real driver are tabulated to evaluate the performance of such systems. Results show that the inclusion of a driver model helps to reduce the conflicts at the steering. Also, variables such as driver state, driver effort, and safety indicators have a high impact on the calculation of the authority. Concerning the evaluation, driver-in-the-loop simulators are the most common platforms, with few works performed in real vehicles. Implementation in experimental vehicles is expected in the upcoming years

Shared control strategies for automated vehicles

188 p.Los vehículos automatizados (AVs) han surgido como una solución tecnológica para compensar las deficiencias de la conducción manual. Sin embargo, esta tecnología aún no está lo suficientemente madura para reemplazar completamente al conductor, ya que esto plantea problemas técnicos, sociales y legales. Sin embargo, los accidentes siguen ocurriendo y se necesitan nuevas soluciones tecnológicas para mejorar la seguridad vial. En este contexto, el enfoque de control compartido, en el que el conductor permanece en el bucle de control y, junto con la automatización, forma un equipo bien coordinado que colabora continuamente en los niveles táctico y de control de la tarea de conducción, es una solución prometedora para mejorar el rendimiento de la conducción manual aprovechando los últimos avances en tecnología de conducción automatizada. Esta estrategia tiene como objetivo promover el desarrollo de sistemas de asistencia al conductor más avanzados y con mayor grade de cooperatición en comparación con los disponibles en los vehículos comerciales. En este sentido, los vehículos automatizados serán los supervisores que necesitan los conductores, y no al revés. La presente tesis aborda en profundidad el tema del control compartido en vehículos automatizados, tanto desde una perspectiva teórica como práctica. En primer lugar, se proporciona una revisión exhaustiva del estado del arte para brindar una descripción general de los conceptos y aplicaciones en los que los investigadores han estado trabajando durante lasúltimas dos décadas. Luego, se adopta un enfoque práctico mediante el desarrollo de un controlador para ayudar al conductor en el control lateral del vehículo. Este controlador y su sistema de toma de decisiones asociado (Módulo de Arbitraje) se integrarán en el marco general de conducción automatizada y se validarán en una plataforma de simulación con conductores reales. Finalmente, el controlador desarrollado se aplica a dos sistemas. El primero para asistir a un conductor distraído y el otro en la implementación de una función de seguridad para realizar maniobras de adelantamiento en carreteras de doble sentido. Al finalizar, se presentan las conclusiones más relevantes y las perspectivas de investigación futuras para el control compartido en la conducción automatizada

Output-Feedback Shared-Control for Fully Actuated Linear Mechanical Systems

This paper presents an output feedback shared-control algorithm for fully-actuated, linear, mechanical systems. The feasible configurations of the system are described by a group of linear inequalities which characterize a convex admissible set. The properties of the shared-control algorithm are established with a Lyapunov-like analysis. Simple numerical examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the strategy

Output-feedback shared-control for fully actuated linear mechanical systems

This paper presents an output feedback shared-control algorithm for fully-actuated, linear, mechanical systems. The feasible configurations of the system are described by a group of linear inequalities which characterize a convex admissible set. The properties of the shared-control algorithm are established with a Lyapunov-like analysis. Simple numerical examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the strategy

Haptic Shared Control in Tele-Manipulation: Effects of Inaccuracies in Guidance on Task Execution

Haptic shared control is a promising approach to improve tele-manipulated task execution, by making safe and effective control actions tangible through guidance forces. In current research, these guidance forces are most often generated based on pre-generated, errorless models of the remote environment. Hence such guidance forces are exempt from the inaccuracies that can be expected in practical implementations. The goal of this research is to quantify the extent to which task execution is degraded by inaccuracies in the model on which haptic guidance forces are based. In a human-in-the-loop experiment, subjects (n = 14) performed a realistic tele-manipulated assembly task in a virtual environment. Operators were provided with various levels of haptic guidance, namely no haptic guidance (conventional tele-manipulation), haptic guidance without inaccuracies, and haptic guidance with translational inaccuracies (one large inaccuracy, in the order of magnitude of the task, and a second smaller inaccuracy). The quality of natural haptic feedback (i.e., haptic transparency) was varied between high and low to identify the operator\u27s ability to detect and cope with inaccuracies in haptic guidance. The results indicate that haptic guidance is beneficial for task execution when no inaccuracies are present in the guidance. When inaccuracies are present, this may degrade task execution, depending on the magnitude and the direction of the inaccuracy. The effect of inaccuracies on overall task performance is dominated by effects found for the Constrained Translational Movement, due to its potential for jamming. No evidence was found that a higher quality of haptic transparency helps operators to detect and cope with inaccuracies in the haptic guidance.</p

Aerial Vehicles

This book contains 35 chapters written by experts in developing techniques for making aerial vehicles more intelligent, more reliable, more flexible in use, and safer in operation.It will also serve as an inspiration for further improvement of the design and application of aeral vehicles. The advanced techniques and research described here may also be applicable to other high-tech areas such as robotics, avionics, vetronics, and space