A survey on fractional order control techniques for unmanned aerial and ground vehicles

In recent years, numerous applications of science and engineering for modeling and control of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) systems based on fractional calculus have been realized. The extra fractional order derivative terms allow to optimizing the performance of the systems. The review presented in this paper focuses on the control problems of the UAVs and UGVs that have been addressed by the fractional order techniques over the last decade

Interval Prediction for Continuous-Time Systems with Parametric Uncertainties

The problem of behaviour prediction for linear parameter-varying systems is considered in the interval framework. It is assumed that the system is subject to uncertain inputs and the vector of scheduling parameters is unmeasurable, but all uncertainties take values in a given admissible set. Then an interval predictor is designed and its stability is guaranteed applying Lyapunov function with a novel structure. The conditions of stability are formulated in the form of linear matrix inequalities. Efficiency of the theoretical results is demonstrated in the application to safe motion planning for autonomous vehicles.Comment: 6 pages, CDC 2019. Website: https://eleurent.github.io/interval-prediction

MME-EKF-Based Path-Tracking Control of Autonomous Vehicles Considering Input Saturation

This paper investigates the path-tracking control issue for autonomous ground vehicles with the integral sliding mode control (ISMC) considering the transient performance improvement. The path-tracking control is converted into the yaw stabilization problem, where the sideslip-angle compensation is adopted to reduce the steady-state errors, and then the yaw-rate reference is generated for the path-tracking purpose. The lateral velocity and roll angle are estimated with the measurement of the yaw rate and roll rate. Three contributions have been made in this paper: first, to enhance the estimation accuracy for the vehicle states in the presence of the parametric uncertainties caused by the lateral and roll dynamics, a robust extended Kalman filter is proposed based on the minimum model error algorithm; second, an improved adaptive radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) considering the approximation error adaptation is developed to compensate for the uncertainties caused by the vertical motion; third, the RBFNN and composite nonlinear feedback (CNF) based ISMC is developed to achieve the yaw stabilization and enhance the transient tracking performance considering the input saturation of the front steering angle. The overall stability is proved with Lyapunov function. Finally, the superiority of the developed control strategy is verified by comparing with the traditional CNF with high-fidelity CarSim-MATLAB simulations

A Systematic Survey of Control Techniques and Applications: From Autonomous Vehicles to Connected and Automated Vehicles

Vehicle control is one of the most critical challenges in autonomous vehicles (AVs) and connected and automated vehicles (CAVs), and it is paramount in vehicle safety, passenger comfort, transportation efficiency, and energy saving. This survey attempts to provide a comprehensive and thorough overview of the current state of vehicle control technology, focusing on the evolution from vehicle state estimation and trajectory tracking control in AVs at the microscopic level to collaborative control in CAVs at the macroscopic level. First, this review starts with vehicle key state estimation, specifically vehicle sideslip angle, which is the most pivotal state for vehicle trajectory control, to discuss representative approaches. Then, we present symbolic vehicle trajectory tracking control approaches for AVs. On top of that, we further review the collaborative control frameworks for CAVs and corresponding applications. Finally, this survey concludes with a discussion of future research directions and the challenges. This survey aims to provide a contextualized and in-depth look at state of the art in vehicle control for AVs and CAVs, identifying critical areas of focus and pointing out the potential areas for further exploration

Robust Discrete-Time Lateral Control of Racecars by Unknown Input Observers

This brief addresses the robust lateral control problem for self-driving racecars. It proposes a discrete-time estimation and control solution consisting of a delayed unknown input-state observer (UIO) and a robust tracking controller. Based on a nominal vehicle model, describing its motion with respect to a generic desired trajectory and requiring no information about the surrounding environment, the observer reconstructs the total force disturbance signal, resulting from imperfect knowledge of the time-varying tire-road interface characteristics, presence of other vehicles nearby, wind gusts, and other model uncertainty. Then, the controller actively compensates the estimated force and asymptotically steers the tracking error to zero. The brief also presents a closed-loop stability proof of the method, ensuring perfect asymptotic estimation and tracking by the controlled vehicle. The proposed solution advantageously needs no a-priori information about the total disturbance boundedness, additional variables to model uncertainty, or observer parameters to be tuned. Its effectiveness and superiority to existing methods are studied in theory and shown in simulations where a full racecar model, based on the vehicle dynamics blockset, is required to track aggressive maneuvers. Through a faster and more accurate disturbance estimation, the solution robustly ensures better dynamic responses even with measurement noise

Vehicle dynamics virtual sensing and advanced motion control for highly skilled autonomous vehicles

This dissertation is aimed at elucidating the path towards the development of a future generation of highly-skilled autonomous vehicles (HSAV). In brief, it is envisaged that future HSAVs will be able to exhibit advanced driving skills to maintain the vehicle within stable limits in spite of the driving conditions (limits of handling) or environmental adversities (e.g. low manoeuvrability surfaces). Current research lines on intelligent systems indicate that such advanced driving behaviour may be realised by means of expert systems capable of monitoring the current vehicle states, learning the road friction conditions, and adapting their behaviour depending on the identified situation. Such adaptation skills are often exhibited by professional motorsport drivers, who fine-tune their driving behaviour depending on the road geometry or tyre-friction characteristics. On this basis, expert systems incorporating advanced driving functions inspired by the techniques seen on highly-skilled drivers (e.g. high body slip control) are proposed to extend the operating region of autonomous vehicles and achieve high-level automation (e.g. manoeuvrability enhancement on low-adherence surfaces). Specifically, two major research topics are covered in detail in this dissertation to conceive these expert systems: vehicle dynamics virtual sensing and advanced motion control. With regards to the former, a comprehensive research is undertaken to propose virtual sensors able to estimate the vehicle planar motion states and learn the road friction characteristics from readily available measurements. In what concerns motion control, systems to mimic advanced driving skills and achieve robust path-following ability are pursued. An optimal coordinated action of different chassis subsystems (e.g. steering and individual torque control) is sought by the adoption of a centralised multi-actuated system framework. The virtual sensors developed in this work are validated experimentally with the Vehicle-Based Objective Tyre Testing (VBOTT) research testbed of JAGUAR LAND ROVER and the advanced motion control functions with the Multi-Actuated Ground Vehicle “DevBot” of ARRIVAL and ROBORACE.Diese Dissertation soll den Weg zur Entwicklung einer zukünftigen Generation hochqualifizierter autonomer Fahrzeuge (HSAV) aufzeigen. Kurz gesagt, es ist beabsichtigt, dass zukünftige HSAVs fortgeschrittene Fahrfähigkeiten aufweisen können, um das Fahrzeug trotz der Fahrbedingungen (Grenzen des Fahrverhaltens) oder Umgebungsbedingungen (z. B. Oberflächen mit geringer Manövrierfähigkeit) in stabilen Grenzen zu halten. Aktuelle Forschungslinien zu intelligenten Systemen weisen darauf hin, dass ein solches fortschrittliches Fahrverhalten mit Hilfe von Expertensystemen realisiert werden kann, die in der Lage sind, die aktuellen Fahrzeugzustände zu überwachen, die Straßenreibungsbedingungen kennenzulernen und ihr Verhalten in Abhängigkeit von der ermittelten Situation anzupassen. Solche Anpassungsfähigkeiten werden häufig von professionellen Motorsportfahrern gezeigt, die ihr Fahrverhalten in Abhängigkeit von der Straßengeometrie oder den Reifenreibungsmerkmalen abstimmen. Auf dieser Grundlage werden Expertensysteme mit fortschrittlichen Fahrfunktionen vorgeschlagen, die auf den Techniken hochqualifizierter Fahrer basieren (z. B. hohe Schlupfregelung), um den Betriebsbereich autonomer Fahrzeuge zu erweitern und eine Automatisierung auf hohem Niveau zu erreichen (z. B. Verbesserung der Manövrierfähigkeit auf niedrigem Niveau) -haftende Oberflächen). Um diese Expertensysteme zu konzipieren, werden zwei große Forschungsthemen in dieser Dissertation ausführlich behandelt: Fahrdynamik-virtuelle Wahrnehmung und fortschrittliche Bewegungssteuerung. In Bezug auf erstere wird eine umfassende Forschung durchgeführt, um virtuelle Sensoren vorzuschlagen, die in der Lage sind, die Bewegungszustände der Fahrzeugebenen abzuschätzen und die Straßenreibungseigenschaften aus leicht verfügbaren Messungen kennenzulernen. In Bezug auf die Bewegungssteuerung werden Systeme zur Nachahmung fortgeschrittener Fahrfähigkeiten und zum Erzielen einer robusten Wegfolgefähigkeit angestrebt. Eine optimale koordinierte Wirkung verschiedener Fahrgestellsubsysteme (z. B. Lenkung und individuelle Drehmomentsteuerung) wird durch die Annahme eines zentralisierten, mehrfach betätigten Systemrahmens angestrebt. Die in dieser Arbeit entwickelten virtuellen Sensoren wurden experimentell mit dem Vehicle-Based Objective Tyre Testing (VBOTT) - Prüfstand von JAGUAR LAND ROVER und den fortschrittlichen Bewegungssteuerungsfunktionen mit dem mehrfach betätigten Bodenfahrzeug ”DevBot” von ARRIVAL und ROBORACE validiert