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This paper proposes a new Electric Power Steering (EPS) control strategy that improves steering maneuverability especially on slippery roads. In a conventional steering system (including mechanical and hydraulic ones), poor steering wheel returnability associated with reduced alignment torque from the road may lead to awkward handling on slippery roads. In experiments with a test driver, we found that this phenomenon occurs because of the delay in the driver turning the steering wheel to avoid spinning the vehicle. This delay comes from a lower steering wheel returnability than driver expected. Increasing the steering wheel returnability will be effective in avoiding this problem. This can be realized by using the steering angle feedback or the estimated alignment torque feedback. However, the simple feedback of such values will provide drivers with poor road information when the road is slippery.

Accuracy of positioning with GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) has been improved in recent years. Especially in Japan, high accuracy GNSS service, QZSS (Quasi Zenith Satellite System), will start in 2018 and the first QZS, “MICHIBIKI” has been already launched. They will broadcast correction data which enhances GNSS performance and realize cm-order positioning. In this paper, we, Mitsubishi Electric develop the estimation algorithm of vehicle position and attitude and also adapt the algorithm to a test vehicle which can trace automatically the calculated path with EPS (Electric Power Steering) and high accuracy GNSS. Although the GNSS receiver calculates the longitude and latitude of the vehicle every second, it is not enough to control vehicle dynamics smoothly. So we estimate vehicle position and attitude of the vehicle with GNSS and vehicle sensors in high frequency.