Title: A real-time non-linear vehicle preview model

Authors: B.V. Linström; P.S. Els; T.R. Botha

Addresses: Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa ' Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa ' Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa

Abstract: Vehicle accident statistics indicate that fatalities due to rollover of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are of international concern. Soft suspension, combined with high centre-of-gravity, increase SUV rollover propensity. Control strategies for prevention or mitigation of rollover, based on the current state of the vehicle, exist but most experience a delay in switching, due to response times of the controllers and actuators used to control vehicles dynamics. This paper proposes a real-time non-linear vehicle preview model (VPM) capable of accurately predicting future vehicle states based on current states. The preview model is developed and experimentally validated on a SUV. Results indicate that important vehicle states, including roll angle and lateral acceleration, can be accurately predicted up to more than 0.25 s into the future. Vehicle dynamics controllers can use the previewed states instead of the measured states to eliminate delays and make the strategies proactive instead of reactive.

Keywords: rollover; real time; preview model; controller delay.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.2018.089893

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 2018 Vol.25 No.1, pp.1 - 22

Accepted: 22 Jun 2016
Published online: 16 Feb 2018 *

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