Title: Vehicle stabilisation in response to exogenous impulsive disturbances to the vehicle body

Authors: Jing Zhou, Jianbo Lu, Huei Peng

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Michigan, G041 Lay AutoLab, 1231 Beal Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. ' Active Safety Research and Advanced Engineering, Ford Motor Company, 2101 Village Rd., Dearborn, MI 48124-3993, USA. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Michigan, G036 Lay AutoLab, 1231 Beal Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA

Abstract: Multi-event traffic crashes typically result in a higher toll than single-event crashes do. One type of multi-event crash includes the case where the initial harmful event leads to a subsequent loss of directional control. Vehicle stabilisation countermeasures in response to exogenous impulsive disturbances are addressed here. Based on a dedicated collision model, a sensing scheme is proposed to detect the crash events. The stabilisation controller, developed from the model predictive supervisory control approach and optimal control allocation, is then activated to attenuate vehicle motions. This stabilisation scenario can be deemed as a functional extension to Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems.

Keywords: vehicle stability control; MPC; model predictive control; optimal tyre force allocation; vehicle collision modelling; crash impulse detection; multi-event crashes; traffic accidents; stabilisation; supervisory control; optimal control.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVAS.2010.035798

International Journal of Vehicle Autonomous Systems, 2010 Vol.8 No.2/3/4, pp.242 - 262

Published online: 04 Oct 2010 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article