Title: A new concept traction control for F-1 racing car

Authors: Yuji Yasui; Ikue Kawasumi; Shinya Nakano; Takahide Mizuno; Yoshihisa Iwaki

Addresses: Honda R&D Co., Ltd. Automobile R&D Center, 4630 Shimotakanezawa, Haga-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi, 321-3393, Japan. ' Honda R&D Co., Ltd. Aircraft Engine R&D Center, 1-4-1, Chuo, Wako-shi, Saitama-ken, 351-0113, Japan. ' Honda R&D Co., Ltd. Motorcycle R&D Center, 3-15-1, Senzui Asaka-shi, Saitama-ken, 351-0024, Japan. ' Honda R&D Americas, Inc. Ohio Center, 21001 State Route 739, Raymond, OH 43067-9705, USA. ' Honda R&D Co., Ltd. Automobile R&D Center, 4630 Shimotakanezawa, Haga-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi, 321-3393, Japan

Abstract: A traction control had been applied to a racing car of Formula One (F-1) from 2001 to 2007. General traction controls had used feedback algorithms based on the wheel slip of driving wheels. However, general traction controls cannot reduce engine torque before wheel slip occurs. This lag characteristic of the general traction controls rarely causes excessive wheel slip. When excessive wheel slip occurs, the yaw behaviour of the racing car become unsuitable and the vehicle speed during going around a turn becomes slow. Therefore, a new traction control composed of an adaptive feedforward function and a feedback function was designed to improve the stability of vehicle behaviour. The adaptive feedforward function automatically updates a torque limit value on the basis of reduction behaviour of engine torque controlled by the feedback function, and restricts driver's demanded engine torque to the torque limit value before wheel slip occurs.

Keywords: adaptive control; traction control; two degree-of-freedom control; 2DOF control; F-1 racing cars; Formula One; wheel slip; yaw behaviour; vehicle speed; vehicle stability; adaptive control; feedforward control; torque limit value; feedback control; engine torque.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMIC.2012.048922

International Journal of Modelling, Identification and Control, 2012 Vol.17 No.2, pp.151 - 157

Published online: 17 Dec 2014 *

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