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It is very significant for autonomous vehicles to have the ability to operate beyond the stable handling limits, which plays a vital role in vehicles’ active safety and enhances riding and driving pleasure. For traditional vehicles, it is rather difficult to control the longitudinal speed, sideslip angle and yaw rate simultaneously when drifting along a given trajectory because they are under-actuated. Nevertheless, for a 4-wheel-independent-drive (4WID) vehicle, it is possible and controllable thanks to its over-actuated characteristics. This article designs a trajectory following control strategy for automated drifting of 4WID vehicles. First, a double-track 7 degree of freedom (7DOF) vehicle dynamic model is established, which incorporates longitudinal and lateral load transfer and considers nonlinear tire models. The controller which proposes a hierarchical architecture is then designed.

Lane changing is an essential action in commercial vehicles to prevent collisions. However, steering system malfunctions significantly escalate the risk of head-on collisions. With the advancement of intelligent chassis control technologies, some autonomous commercial vehicles are now equipped with a four-wheel independent braking system. This article develops a lane-changing control strategy during steering failures using torque vectoring through brake allocation. The boundaries of lane-changing capabilities under different speeds via brake allocation are also investigated, offering valuable insights for driving safety during emergency evasions when the steering system fails. Firstly, a dual-track vehicle dynamics model is established, considering the non-linearity of the tires. A quintic polynomial approach is employed for lane-changing trajectory planning. Secondly, a hierarchical controller is designed.

This paper presents a two-layer torque vectoring control strategy for the Formula SAE racing car of Tsinghua University to enhance steering response, lateral stability and track performance. Firstly, the dynamic model of the existing FSAE car is built as parameters of tires, suspensions, motors and aerodynamics are measured and identified. Secondly, this paper develops a two-layer torque vectoring strategy, the upper-layer direct yaw moment (DYC) controller and the lower-layer torque distribution controller are developed in Simulink. The upper-layer sliding mode control DYC controller calculates the target additional yaw moment according to the target yaw rate based on the two-degree-of-freedom (2DOF) reference model, and the sideslip angle is constrained as well.

A tire force estimation algorithm is proposed for vehicle dynamic stability control (DSC) system to protect the vehicle from deviation of the normal dynamics attitude and to realize the improved dynamics stability in limited driving conditions. The developed algorithm is based on the theoretical analysis of all the subsystems of the active brake control in DSC system and modulation in DSC, and the robustness is achieved by a compensation method using nonlinear filter in the real time control. The software-in-loop simulation using Matlab/AMEsim and the ground test in the real car show the validation of this method.

As important members of the STATCOM (Static Synchronous Compensator), the passive elements play an indispensable role in the transient and steady state performance of STATCOM. The harmonics resonant phenomena have been pointed out in some papers. However from the engineering design point of view, a more detailed investigation should be conducted to give an insight into the effects of passive parameter selection on the system performance. Based on the experience in developing STATCOM, the authors proposed a modified mathematical model in a per-unit system as the base of parameter evaluation. With the proposed model, the authors analyze the influence of the per-unit passive parameters on the performance of STATCOM systematically. Simplified algebraic expressions for the magnitudes of the harmonic current as well as the dc voltage regarding the particular harmonics are derived, which can be used as an indication of the preference for the passive elements.

Based on the simulation results of tire rolling over perpendicular cleats by MPTM model, in present paper, a series of simulation results of tire rolling over oblique cleats with different angles are given. For that, the Modal Parameter Tire Camber property Model is established. For the appraisement of comparison between simulation and experimental results a problem concern the validation test is pointed out. In the end, simulation results of tire rolling over a series of continuous cleats are given.

Studying drifting dynamics and control could extend the usable state-space beyond handling limits and maximize the potential safety benefits of autonomous vehicles. Distributed electric vehicles provide more possibilities for drifting control with better grip and larger maximum drift angle. Under the state of drifting, the distributed electric vehicle is a typical nonlinear over-actuated system with actuator redundancy, and the coupling of input vectors impedes the direct use of control algorithm of upper. This paper proposes a novel automated drifting controller for the distributed electric vehicle. First, the nonlinear over-actuated system, comprised of driving system, braking system and steering system, is formulated and transformed to a square system through proposed integrative recombination method of control channel, making general nonlinear control algorithms suitable for this system.

The accuracy of road input identifiaction for autonomous vehicles (AVs) system, especially in state-based AVs control for improving road handling and ride comfort, is a challenging task for the intelligent transport system. Due to the high fatality rate caused by inaccurate state-based control algorithm, how to precisely and effectively acquire road rough information and chose the reasonable road-based control algorithm become a hot topic in both academia and industry. Uncertainty is unavoidable for AVs system, e.g., varying center of gravity (C.G.) of sprung mass, controllable suspension damping force or variable spring stiffness. To tackle the above mentioned, this paper develops a novel observer approach, which combines unscented Kalman filter (UKF) and Minimum Model Error (MME) theory, to optimize the estimation accuracy of the road rough for AVs system. A full-car nonlinear model and road profile model are first established.

In hybrid vehicles, the drive motor is directly connected to the drive train and the inherent drive train damping is low. When subjected to external disturbance, the low damping characteristics of the transmission system may cause torsional vibration, which will continue to oscillate the transmission system and affect the driving performance of the vehicle. In this paper, we propose a harmonic injection wheel control method based on motor speed to suppress oscillations and improve the driving performance of hybrid electric vehicles. The harmonic injection control method based on motor speed is based on Fourier transform to decompose sinusoidal harmonics based on specific order of motor speed. RLS algorithm is used to estimate the amplitude and phase, and PI control is used to calculate the compensation torque for the actual amplitude and target amplitude. Simulation and test results show that the proposed control strategy is effective in suppressing oscillations.

A vehicle dynamics stability control system based on integrated-electro-hydraulic brake (I-EHB) system with hierarchical control architecture and nonlinear control method is designed to improve the vehicle dynamics stability under extreme conditions in this paper. The I-EHB system is a novel brake-by-wire system, and is suitable to the development demands of intelligent vehicle technology and new energy vehicle technology. Four inlet valves and four outlet valves are added to the layout of a conventional four-channel hydraulic control unit. A permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) provides a stabilized high-pressure source in the master cylinder, and the four-channel hydraulic control unit ensures that the pressures in each wheel cylinder can be modulated separately at a high precision. Besides, the functions of Anti-lock Braking System, Traction Control System and Regenerative Braking System, Autonomous Emergency Braking can be integrated in this brake-by-wire system.

The mathematic model and co-simulation model for distributed-drive articulated heavy vehicles (DAHVs) are developed along with the techniques for its satisfactory verification. The objectives of this paper are to introduce and verify the researches about the assist-steering method for DAHVs. The theory of this proposed assist-steering method in this paper distinguishes it from the traditional direct yaw moment control (DYC) method or assist-steering methods in the previous studies. Furthermore, the co-simulation model developed by MATLAB/Simulink, ADAMS, and AMESim is more reasonable than the traditional methods with simple virtual models, which can replace the real test vehicle for the verification of proposed assist-steering method. Field tests were conducted with a 35t DAHV to verify the models with the comparison of vehicle responses.

As the essential of future driver assistance system, brake-by-wire system is capable of performing autonomous intervention to enhance vehicle safety significantly. Regenerative braking is the most effective technology of improving energy consumption of electrified vehicle. A novel brake-by-wire system scheme with integrated functions of active braking and regenerative braking, is proposed in this paper. Four pressure-difference-limit valves are added to conventional four-channel brake structure to fulfill more precise pressure modulation. Four independent isolating valves are adopted to cut off connections between brake pedal and wheel cylinders. Two stroke simulators are equipped to imitate conventional brake pedal feel. The operation principles of newly developed system are analyzed minutely according to different working modes. High fidelity models of subsystems are built in commercial software MATLAB and AMESim respectively.

To tackle the over-actuated and highly nonlinear characteristics that four-wheel-independent-steering and four-wheel-independent -driving (4WIS/4WID) vehicles exhibit when tracking aggressive trajectory, a hierarchical controller with layers of computation-intensive modules is commonly adopted. The high-level linear motion controller commands the desired state derivatives of the vehicle to meet the overall trajectory tracking objectives. Then the system dynamic is inversed by the mid-level control allocation layer and the low-level wheel control layer to map the target state derivatives to steering angle and motor torque commands. However, this type of controller is difficult to implement on the embedded hardware onboard since the nonlinear dynamic inversion is typically solved by nonlinear programming.

In recent years, the tractor-semitrailer combination has become the primary vehicle of China's long-distance freight system. In this paper, with the aim of optimizing the path tracking control and following control of the tractor-semitrailer combination, a kinematics-based path tracking control scheme is proposed. Firstly, a kinematic model of the tractor-semitrailer combination has been constructed. The control of the tractor-semitrailer combination is simplified to focus on three control points based on the kinematics model. Secondly, the path tracking control algorithm and the following control algorithm of the tractor-semitrailer combination are proposed in this paper. The improved MPC is used for path-tracking control of tractor-semitrailer combinations. The cost function of rolling optimization steps is intended, and the optimal line is determined with the lateral deviation, the variation of lateral error, and the deviation of heading angle as the input.

The performance of electric vehicles could be enhanced by more flexible drivetrain configurations combined with advanced control methods. Based on four wheel independent driving and front and rear axle modular steering configuration, which was proposed by our research group last year, the problem of slippery under close-to-limit conditions are further discussed and simulated. A new torque vectoring method based on obtainable parameters and variables in real driving situations is introduced to reduce the sideslip when turning on low friction surfaces or with high speed. This method is developed from a comprehensive index, which reflects the stability and maneuverability, by adding additional torques when stability could not be compensated enough by basic torque vectoring. Besides, an improvement of adding a simu-Torsen differential mechanism is made to the model of the vehicle, which enables another control method with the same purpose as before.

This work presents a multi-objective adaptive cruise control (ACC) system via deep reinforcement learning (DRL). During the control period, it quantitatively considers three indexes: tracking accuracy, riding comfort, and fuel economy. The system balances contradictions between different indexes to achieve the best overall control results. First, a hierarchical control architecture is utilized, where the upper level controller is synthesized under DRL framework to give out the vehicle desired acceleration. The lower level controller executes the command and compensates vehicle dynamics. Then, four state variables that can comprehensively determine the car-following states are selected for better convergence. Multi-objective reward function is quantitatively designed referring to the evaluation indexes, in which safety constraints are considered by adding violation penalty. Thereafter, the training environment which excludes the disturbance of preceding car acceleration is built.

In a monotube magnetorheological fluid damper (MRFD), there usually exists a compensation chamber with designated initial gas pressure. This enclosed compensation chamber works as an air spring to some degree to provide force to the working piston. In this work, in order to extend the external damping force range and improve the controlling efficiency, a structure of MRFD with three additional accumulators is proposed. These additional accumulators are connected to the atmosphere through an air pump and the compensation chamber with a barometric valve. The external damping force range thus can be rapidly adjusted through mode shifting with this configuration. A mathematical model of this damper with coupled effects between the air and the magnetorheological fluid (MRF) is developed. Comparing the bench tests results with some simulation outcomes, the simulation model of this MRFD is validated.

The desired yaw rate is a vital target parameter for vehicle stability control, which is currently determined as a steady-state yaw rate by the linear single-track vehicle model. Tire nonlinearity deteriorates the effect of vehicle stability control at larger lateral acceleration. This paper proposes a new calculation method of the steady-state yaw rate considering the tire nonlinearity based on the brush tire model. To validate and verify the proposed method, step steering tests of the target vehicle under different lateral accelerations are carried out on a real proving ground. The results show that when the lateral acceleration is relatively small, the difference between the calculation results of the proposed method and the traditional one is not apparent, and both methods can provide a good estimation for the steady-state yaw rate; however, when the lateral acceleration is relatively large, the difference becomes apparent.

The lithium-ion battery plays an important role in saving energy and lowering emissions. Many parameters like temperature have an influence on the characteristic of the battery and this phenomenon becomes more serious in an electric vehicle. In this paper, the application of a boost DC/DC converter to the battery system of high power for online AC impedance identification is proposed. The function of the converter is to inject a current excitation signal into the battery at work and the normal output current is drawn by a load. Through analyzing the average state space equations and deriving the small signal model of the converter, the gain function is deduced of the fluctuated current signal against the fluctuated duty cycle which controls the converter. The control algorithm is designed and the system model is verified using Matlab/Simulink with respect to the disturbance current signal generation, the gain function and its variation with frequency range.

In order to get a better understanding of the mechanical behavior of lithium-ion battery cells, especially for the mechanical anisotropy and dynamic effect, a series of tests for quasi-static indentation and dynamic impact tests has been designed. In the study, mechanical indentation tests with different indentation heads, different loading directions and different impact speeds were performed on a type of large format prismatic lithium-ion battery cells and jellyrolls of them. To mitigate thermal runaway, only fully-discharged cells and jellyrolls were used. The force-displacement response and open circuit voltage (OCV) were recorded and compared. It shows that jellyroll and battery cell have apparent mechanical anisotropy and strain-rate effect. The stiffness of jellyroll and cell in out-of-plane direction is much larger than that in two in-plane directions.