Active steering control strategy for articulated vehicles

To improve maneuverability and stability of articulated vehicles, we design an active steering controller, including tractor and trailer controllers, based on linear quadratic regulator(LQR) theory. First, a three-degree-of-freedom(3-DOF) model of the tractor-trailer with steered trailer axles is built. The simulated annealing particle swarm optimization(SAPSO) algorithm is applied to identify the key parameters of the model under specified vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. Thus, the key parameters of the simplified model can be obtained according to the vehicle conditions using an online look-up table and interpolation. Simulation results show that vehicle parameter outputs of the simplified model and Truck Sim agree well, thus providing the ideal reference yaw rate for the controller. Then the active steering controller of the tractor and trailer based on LQR is designed to follow the desired yaw rate and minimize their side-slip angle of the center of gravity(CG) at the same time. Finally, simulation tests at both low speed and high speed are conducted based on the Truck Sim-Simulink program. The results show significant effects on the active steering controller on improving maneuverability at low speed and lateral stability at high speed for the articulated vehicle. The control strategy is applicable for steering not only along gentle curves but also along sharp curves.

Design of a Preview Controller for Articulated Heavy Vehicles

The paper presents a preview controller design for ATS （active trailer steering） systems to improve high-speed stability of AHVs （articulated heavy vehicles）. An AHV consists of a towing unit, namely tractor or truck, and one or more towed units which called trailers. Individual units are connected to one another at articulated joints by mechanical couplings. Due to the multi-unit configurations, AHVs exhibit unique unstable motion modes, including jack-knifing, trailer swing and rollover. These unstable motion modes are the leading cause of highway accidents. To prevent these unstable motion modes, the preview controller, namely the LPDP （lateral position deviation preview） controller, is proposed. For a truck/full-trailer combination, the LPDP controller is designed to control the steering of the front and rear axle wheels of the trailing unit. The calculation of the corrective steering angle of the trailer front axle wheels is based on the preview information of the lateral position deviation of the trajectory of the axle center from that of the truck front axle center. Similarly, the steering angle of the trailer rear axle wheels is calculated by using the lateral position deviation of the trajectory of the axle center from that of the truck front axle. To perform closed-loop dynamic simulations and evaluate the vehicle performance measure, a driver model is introduced and it ＇derives＇ the AHV model based on well-defined testing specifications. The proposed preview control scheme in the continuous time domain is developed by using the LQR （linear quadratic regular） technique. The closed-loop simulation results indicate that the performance of the AHV with the LPDP controller is improved by decreasing rearward amplification ratio from the baseline value of 1.28 to 0.98 and reducing transient off-tracking by 95.03%. The proposed LPDP control algorithm provides an alternative method for the design optimization of AHVs with ATS systems.

A Hybrid Path Planning Method Based on Articulated Vehicle Model

Due to the unique steering mechanism and driving characteristics of the articulated vehicle,a hybrid path planning method based on the articulated vehicle model is proposed to meet the demand of obstacle avoidance and searching the path back and forth of the articulated vehicle.First,Support Vector Machine(SVM)theory is used to obtain the two-dimensional optimal zero potential curve and the maximum margin,and then,several key points are selected from the optimal zero potential curves by using Longest Accessible Path(LAP)method.Next,the Cubic Bezier(CB)curve is adopted to connect the curve that satisfies the curvature constraint of the articulated vehicle between every two key points.Finally,Back and Forth Rapidly-exploring Random Tree with Course Correction(BFRRT-CC)is designed to connect paths that do not meet articulated vehicle curvature requirements.Simulation results show that the proposed hybrid path planning method can search a feasible path with a 90-degree turn,which meets the demand for obstacle avoidance and articulated vehicle back-and-forth movement.

Mechanical-Hydraulic Co-Simulation of Full Hydraulic Articulated Steering System

With the development and improvement of the hydraulic steering system,the articulated steering system became the research focus of numerous domestic and foreign scholars.The full hydraulic steering system with a compact structure and ease of operation,is widely used in articulated steering mode.Furthermore,its performance can directly impact the steering sensitivity and stability.This paper studies the working principle and actual structure of the priority valve and the steering control valve,which are very important.By setting up a mathematic model,the system’s load-sensing characteristics and the impact of steering control valve bypass throttle damping on steering stability can be analyzed.The Hydraulic Components Design(HCD)model was established for the hydraulic part of this system.It is proved that the model can reflect the system’s actual properties by comparing simulation and experimental results.The dynamic model is based on its actual prototype parameters by taking the tire and ground forces into account.The steering process’s dynamic characteristics are co-simulated in the 1D+3D system model by combining AMESim and Virtual.Lab Motion.The simulation results show that the system’s load-sensing characteristics ensure the sensitivity of the steering operation,and the bypass throttle damping has significantly improved the operation stability and lowered down the cylinder pressure fluctuations.This can improve the system performance by appropriate optimization.

MODALS RELATED TO STABILITY AND COMFORTABILITY OF ARTICULATED VEHICLE

An articulated vehicle is simplified as a multibody system. tires are simplified asparagraphic linear springs with damping, and the differential equations of system motion aregiven. Taking the ZL10 loader as an example, and measuring three-dimensional dynamicstiffness and damping of the tires, seven orders of natural frequencies and related natural modesare obtained by modal analysis, and shown on the computer with three-dimensional moving pic-tures. The following conclusions are obtained: the first order frequency relates to the horizontalstability, the second order frequency relates to the vertical stability, and each order of frequencyrelates to the comfortability. All results of this work can be applied .to monitor stability and eval-uate comfortability.

Influence of Novel Redirector with Bypass Damping on the Performance of Load-Sensing Steering System

Load-sensing steering systems for articulated loaders are prone to large pressure shocks and oscillations during steering operations,affecting the system stability.An optimized structure of the redirector with bypass damping is proposed to improve this phenomenon.In this structure,orifices and throttle grooves are added to the traditional redirector.To control the steering load and working conditions,the steering load of the loader is replaced by a pressure regulating valve.Simulation and experimental results reveal that the redirector with bypass damping has better load-sensing characteristics than the traditional redirector.The peak output pressure shock caused by the load unit step signal decreases from 6.50 to 5.64 MPa,which means the pressure oscillation of the hydraulic system is reduced by 13.4%.The pressure fluctuation time can be reduced from 2.09 to 1.6 s,with a decrease rate of 23.4%.The output pressure oscillation decays swiftly,and the smoothness of the steering operation is improved significantly.