Title: Ground vehicle steering systems: modelling, control, and analysis of hydraulic, electric and steer-by-wire configurations

Authors: Santosh Ancha, Abhijit Baviskar, John R. Wagner, Darren M. Dawson

Addresses: Automotive Research Laboratory, Departments of Mechanical and Electrical/Computer Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson 29634-0921, South Carolina, USA. ' Automotive Research Laboratory, Departments of Mechanical and Electrical/Computer Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson 29634-0921, South Carolina, USA. ' Automotive Research Laboratory, Departments of Mechanical and Electrical/Computer Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson 29634-0921, South Carolina, USA. ' Automotive Research Laboratory, Departments of Mechanical and Electrical/Computer Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson 29634-0921, South Carolina, USA

Abstract: Recent advances in ground transportation technologies and emerging vehicle safety requirements have fostered research and innovation in steering systems. The availability of cost effective sensors, actuators, and microprocessors enable vehicle steering upgrades. This paper investigates servo-motor based steering systems for improved vehicle lateral responsiveness and manoeuvrability, as well as reduced driver steering effort. Mathematical models and control algorithms for operator commanded tracking will be presented for hydraulic, electric, front steer-by-wire, front/rear steer-by-wire, and distributed steer-by-wire steering systems. Representative numerical results will be presented and discussed for these vehicle steering systems undergoing transient manoeuvres at two speeds to facilitate performance comparisons.

Keywords: automotive; hydraulic steering; electric steering; steer-by-wire; modelling; control; vehicle behaviour; vehicle steering systems; ground transportation; vehicle safety; vehicle design; servomotors; lateral responsiveness; manoeuvrability; driver steering effort.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2007.013225

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2007 Vol.44 No.1/2, pp.188 - 208

Published online: 12 Apr 2007 *

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