New slip control system considering actuator dynamics

A new control strategy for wheel slip control, considering the complete dynamics of the electro-hydraulic brake (EHB) system, is developed and experimentally validated in Cranfield University's HiL system. The control system is based on closed loop shaping Youla-parameterization method. The plant model is linearized about the nominal operating point, a Youla parameter is defined for all stabilizing feedback controller and control performance is achieved by employing closed loop shaping technique. The stability and performance of the controller are investigated in frequency and time domain, and verified by experiments using real EHB smart actuator fitted into the HiL system with driver in the loop

Antilock braking control using robust control approach

The aims of this study are to establish the mathematical model and the robust control technique for an Antilock Braking System (ABS). The ABS have been developed to reduce tendency of wheel lock up and to improve vehicle control during sudden braking. The ABS work by maintaining the wheel slip to a desired level so that maximum tractive force and maximum vehicle deceleration is obtained, thus reducing the vehicle stopping distance. A quarter vehicle model undergoing straightline braking maneuver, tire dynamics and hydraulic brake dynamics mathematical model are developed to represent the ABS model. The established mathematical model shows the ABS dynamics exhibits strong nonlinear characteristics. Thus, Sliding Mode Control which is a robust control technique is proposed in this study to regulate the wheel slip at the desired value depending on the road surface. The mathematical derivations proved the designed controller satisfy the stability requirement. Extensive simulation study is performed to verify the effectiveness of the designed controller and the result shows the designed controller able to maintain the wheel slip at the desired value and reducing the stopping distanc

Heterogeneous and hybrid control with application in automotive systems

Control systems for automotive systems have acquired a new level of complexity. To fulfill the requirements of the controller specifications new technologies are needed. In many cases high performance and robust control cannot be provided by a simple conventional controller anymore. In this case hybrid combinations of local controllers, gain scheduled controllers and global stabilisation concepts are necessary. A considerable number of state-of-the-art automotive controllers (anti-lock brake system (ABS), electronic stabilising program (ESP)) already incorporate heterogeneous and hybrid control concepts as ad-hoc solutions. In this work a heterogeneous/hybrid control system is developed for a test vehicle in order to solve a clearly specified and relevant automotive control problem. The control system will be evaluated against a state-of-the-art conventional controller to clearly show the benefits and advantages arising from the novel approach. A multiple model-based observer/estimator for the estimation of parameters is developed to reset the parameter estimate in a conventional Lyapunov based nonlinear adaptive controller. The advantage of combining both approaches is that the performance of the controller with respect to disturbances can be improved considerably because a reduced controller gain will increase the robustness of the approach with respect to noise and unmodelled dynamics. Several alternative resetting criteria are developed based on a control Lyapunov function, such that resetting guarantees a decrease in the Lyapunov function. Since ABS systems have to operate on different possibly fast changing road surfaces the application of hybrid methodologies is apparent. Four different model based wheel slip controllers will be presented: two nonlinear approaches combined with parameter resetting, a simple linear controller that has been designed using the technique of simultaneously stabilising a set of linear plants as well as a sub-optimal linear quadratic (LQ)-controller. All wheel slip controllers operate as low level controllers in a modular structure that has been developed for the ABS problem. The controllers will be applied to a real Mercedes E-class passenger car. The vehicle is equipped with a brake-by-wire system and electromechanical brake actuators. Extensive real life tests show the benefits of the hybrid approaches in a fast changing environment

Study and comparison of non linear and LPV control approaches for vehicle stability control

International audienceThis paper proposes a study and a comparison between two efficient and novel vehicle control dynamics strategies, namely, the non linear Flatness control strategy and the LPV/Hinf control strategy. The first one concerns a controller based on the differential algebraic flatness of non linear systems and an algebraic non linear estimation applied to commercial vehicles. The second one is a LPV/Hinf (Linear Varying Parameter with the Hinf norm ) control using a stability monitoring system to achieve the vehicle dynamics control objective. These two strategies use Active Steering and Electro- Mechanical Braking actuators and aim at improving the vehicle stability and steerability by designing a multivariable controller that acts simultaneously on the lateral and longitudinal dynam- ics of the car. Simulations are performed on a complex nonlinear full vehicle model, the same driving scenario is applied for the two control strategies. The model parameters are those of a Renault Mégane Coupé (see table.I), obtained by identification with real data. Promising simulations results are obtained. Comparison between the two proposed strategies and the uncontrolled vehicle show the reliability and the robustness of the proposed solutions, even if one is governed within the linear control framework while the other one is a non linear control approach

Trajectory generation for road vehicle obstacle avoidance using convex optimization

This paper presents a method for trajectory generation using convex optimization to find a feasible, obstacle-free path for a road vehicle. Consideration of vehicle rotation is shown to be necessary if the trajectory is to avoid obstacles specified in a fixed Earth axis system. The paper establishes that, despite the presence of significant non-linearities, it is possible to articulate the obstacle avoidance problem in a tractable convex form using multiple optimization passes. Finally, it is shown by simulation that an optimal trajectory that accounts for the vehicle’s changing velocity throughout the manoeuvre is superior to a previous analytical method that assumes constant speed

Full-scale testing of a novel slip control braking system for heavy vehicles

This paper summarises the measured emergency braking performance of a tri-axle heavy goods vehicle semitrailer fitted with a novel pneumatic slip control braking system developed by the Cambridge Vehicle Dynamics Consortium. Straight-line braking tests were carried out from 40 km/h in order to compare a commercially electro-pneumatic available anti-lock braking system and the Cambridge Vehicle Dynamics Consortium system, which has bi-stable valves coupled with a sliding-mode slip controller. On average, the Cambridge Vehicle Dynamics Consortium system reduced the stopping distance and the air use by 15% and 22% respectively compared with those for the conventional anti-lock braking system. The most significant improvements were seen on a wet basalt-tile surface (with similar friction properties to ice) where the stopping distance and the air use were improved by 17% and 30% respectively. A third performance metric, namely the mean absolute slip error, is introduced to quantify the ability of each braking system to track a wheel slip demand. Using this metric, the bi-stable valve system is shown to improve the wheel slip demand tracking by 62% compared with that of the conventional anti-lock braking system. This improvement potentially allows more accurate control of the wheel forces during extreme manoeuvres, providing scope for the future development of advanced stability control systems. This work was supported by Haldex Brake Products Ltd, the New Zealand Tertiary Education Commission and the Cambridge Vehicle Dynamics Consortium (CVDC).This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Sage via http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/095440701560480

Modelling and control of the braking system of the electric Polaris Ranger all-terrain-vehicle

I mezzi ATV sono impiegati in attività forestali, di sorveglianza e soccorso. Si è vista recentemente la nascita di ATV elettrici, sinonimo di pulizia e risparmio. La possibilità di rendere questi veicoli completamente autonomi ha stimolato l'interesse del settore automotive. L' ABS in particolare, che finora è diffusa solo tra i veicoli stradali è stata introdotta e studiata. Modelli matematici per la simulazione dell'impianto frenante sono stati derivati, come base per il futuroope

Development of a vehicle dynamics controller for obstacle avoidance

As roads become busier and automotive technology improves, there is considerable potential for driver assistance systems to improve the safety of road users. Longitudinal collision warning and collision avoidance systems are starting to appear on production cars to assist drivers when required to stop in an emergency. Many luxury cars are also equipped with stability augmentation systems that prevent the car from spinning out of control during aggressive lateral manoeuvres. Combining these concepts, there is a natural progression to systems that could assist in aiding or performing lateral collision avoidance manoeuvres. A successful automatic lateral collision avoidance system would require convergent development of many fields of technology, from sensors and instrumentation to aid environmental awareness through to improvements in driver vehicle interfaces so that a degree of control can be smoothly and safely transferred between the driver and vehicle computer. A fundamental requirement of any collision avoidance system is determination of a feasible path that avoids obstacles and a means of causing the vehicle to follow that trajectory. This research focuses on feasible trajectory generation and development of an automatic obstacle avoidance controller that integrates steering and braking action. A controller is developed to cause a specially modified car (a Mercedes `S' class with steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire capability) to perform an ISO 3888-2 emergency obstacle avoidance manoeuvre. A nonlinear two-track vehicle model is developed and used to derive optimal controller parameters using a series of simulations. Feedforward and feedback control is used to track a feasible reference trajectory. The feedforward control loops use inverse models of the vehicle dynamics. The feedback control loops are implemented as linear proportional controllers with a force allocation matrix used to apportion braking effort between redundant actuators. Two trajectory generation routines are developed: a geometric method, for steering a vehicle at its physical limits; and an optimal method, which integrates steering and braking action to make full use of available traction. The optimal trajectory is obtained using a multi-stage convex optimisation procedure. The overall controller performance is validated by simulation using a complex proprietary model of the vehicle that is reported to have been validated and calibrated against experimental data over several years of use in an industrial environment