Statistics show that unstable articulated vehicles pose a serious threat to the occupants driving them as well as the occupants of the vehicles around them. An articulated vehicle typically experiences three types of instability: snaking, jack-knifing and rollover. An articulated vehicle subjected to any of these instabilities can result in major accidents. It is also known that many individuals are unaware of how to properly tow or pack a loaded articulated vehicle. These individuals are, therefore, at a high risk of causing the vehicle system to become unstable. It can hence be confidently said that a method in which an articulated vehicle can stabilise itself is a worthy research question. The method that is implemented in this study is to create a control system, using Nonlinear Model Predictive Control (NMPC), that has the capability of stabilising an articulated vehicle by applying torque vectoring to the trailer. In order for this control system to be applied, a nonlinear articulated vehicle MSC ADAMS model was constructed. The NMPC controller works by using a nonlinear explicit model to predict the future states of the vehicle and then finding the optimal left and right braking forces of the trailer by minimising the cost function using least squares minimisation. The cost function includes the towing vehicle yaw rate, trailer yaw rate and hitch angle and is minimised by minimising the error between the desired vehicle states and the actual states. It was found that the NMPC is capable of not only preventing instability but also causes the vehicle system to behave as if the trailer is unloaded. This conclusion means that this type of control system can be used on all types of articulated vehicles and shall ensure the safety of not only the vehicle occupants but other road users as well. Unfortunately, due to the impact of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the experimental validation of the model had to be delayed significantly. It is for this reason that the experimental validation for the controller could not be done. / Dissertation (MEng (Mechanical Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 2021. / SATC VDG UP / Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering / MEng (Mechanical Engineering) / Unrestricted

Apresenta um modelo completo em sistemas multicorpos de uma combinação veicular formada por um cavalo mecânico e um semi-reboque para um estudo de dirigibilidade. O modelo multicorpos foi desenvolvido no MSC.Adams/Car e inclui a suspensão primária, sistema de direção, trem de força, modelo de pneu e um quadro flexível para o cavalo mecânico, e a suspensão primária, modelo de pneu e quadro rígido para o semi-reboque. A resposta dinâmica lateral de uma composição veicular depende das características combinadas de estabilidade direcional, dirigibilidade e interação pneu/pavimento da unidade motora e da unidade rebocada. Os parâmetros mais importantes em relação à dinâmica lateral dos veículos longos combinados são: a velocidade longitudinal, o concerning stiffness dos pneus da combinação veicular, as elasticidades dos sistemas de suspensão e esterçamento do cavalo mecânico, a localização, distribuição do carregamento e momento de inércia em guinada da unidade movida e transferência lateral de carga do veículo como um todo. O modelo foi validado no âmbito dos modos de vibração. As análises de dirigibilidade foram realizadas mediante execução de manobras de mudança simples de pista e de esterçamento com entrada rampa, no MSC.Adams/Car, para calcular métricas comumente utilizadas para avaliação da dinâmica lateral de veículos longos combinados como aceleração lateral, velocidade de guinada, offtracking dinâmico e o gradiente de esterçamento. Análises dos resultados mostraram a influência no tempo de resposta, em regime transitório, do cavalo quando atrelado ao semi-reboque e um comportamento sub-esterçante nas velocidades longitudinais simuladas. A combinação veicular utilizada para este estudo apresenta um comportamento direcional estável. / This work presents a complete multibody model of a heavy articulated vehicle with a tractor and a semitrailer for handling study purposes. The model had been developed on MSC.Adams/Car and includes primary suspension system, steering system, powertrain, tire model and a flexible frame for tractor, suspension system, tire model and a rigid frame for semitrailer. The lateral dynamics response of a heavy articulated vehicle depends on tractor/semitrailer combined characteristics of the directional stability, the manouverability and the tire/road interaction. The most important parameters concerning of the lateral dynamics of heavy articulated vehicles are: longitudinal velocity, combined tire cornering stiffness of vehicular composition, suspensions systems compliance and steering system compliance of tractor, location, load distribution and yaw moment of towing unit and vehicle overall lateral load transfer. The model was validated about modal shapes and frequencies vibrations. Handling analyses had performed with single lane change and ramp steer maneuvers simulation on MSC.Adams/Car to calculate common measures for heavy articulated vehicles lateral dynamics evaluation as lateral acceleration, yaw velocity, dynamic offtracking and understeer gradient. The results analyses showed that the towing unit influences on response of the tractor and an understeer behavior of all vehicular composition over longitudinal velocity range simulated. The heavy articulated vehicle used on this study shows a stable directional behavior.

Die Arbeit befasst sich mit der Entwicklung automatischer Lenkungen, die die von Schienenfahrzeugen bekannte Spurtreue auf n-gliedrige, mehrachsgelenkte Straßenfahrzeuge übertragen. Spurtreu bedeutet folglich, dass die Lenkachsmittelpunkte keinen seitlichen Versatz zueinander aufweisen. Dafür wird ein modellbasiertes automatisches Lenkverfahren systematisch konzipiert, entworfen und erprobt, das sowohl eine vollautomatische Spurführung als auch eine halbautomatische Nachführung erlaubt. Die modellbasierten automatischen Lenkungen unterliegen keinen praktisch relevanten Einschränkungen. Das wird durch die Verwendung einer Steuerungsstruktur mit zwei Freiheitsgraden erreicht, die aus einer modellbasierten Vorsteuerung und einem Rückführregler besteht. In der Vorsteuerung werden die Lenkwinkel aller Achsen berechnet, mit denen der Sollweg theoretisch spurtreu befahren wird. Durch den Einsatz eines speziell angepassten, modularen Mehrkörpermodells gelingt diese Berechnung allgemein für eine Klasse n-gliedriger Fahrzeuge. Zum Ausgleich von nicht vermeidbaren Modellunbestimmtheiten und nicht gemessenen Störungen werden ein nichtlinearer Mehrgrößenregler sowie achs-individuelle lineare Eingrößenregler entworfen und miteinander verglichen. Simulationen und Fahrversuche zeigen, dass das entwickelte Verfahren in einem weiten Geschwindigkeitsbereich robust gegenüber typischen Einflussgrößen wie Fahrbahn- und Beladungszustand ist.

Articulated Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) are more efficient than conventional rigid lorries, but exhibit reduced low-speed manoeuvrability and high-speed stability. Technologies such as autonomous reversing and path-following trailer steering can mitigate this, but practical limitations of the available sensing technologies restrict their commercialisation potential. This dissertation describes the development of practical vision-based articulation angle and trailer off-tracking sensing for HGVs. Chapter 1 provides a background and literature review, covering important vehicle technologies, existing commercial and experimental sensors for articulation angle and off-tracking measurement, and relevant vision-based technologies. This is followed by an introduction to pertinent computer vision theory and terminology in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 describes the development and simulation-based assessment of an articulation angle sensing concept. It utilises a rear-facing camera mounted behind the truck or tractor, and one of two proposed image processing methods: template-matching and Parallel Tracking and Mapping (PTAM). The PTAM-based method was shown to be the more accurate and versatile method in full-scale vehicle tests. RMS measurement errors of 0.4-1.6° were observed in tests on a tractor semi-trailer (Chapter 4), and 0.8-2.4° in tests on a Nordic combination with two articulation points (Chapter 5). The system requires no truck-trailer communication links or artificial markers, and is compatible with multiple trailer shapes, but was found to have increasing errors at higher articulation angles. Chapter 6 describes the development and simulation-based assessment of a trailer off-tracking sensing concept, which utilises a trailer-mounted stereo camera pair and visual odometry. The concept was evaluated in full-scale tests on a tractor semi-trailer combination in which camera location and stereo baseline were varied, presented in Chapter 7. RMS measurement errors of 0.11-0.13 m were obtained in some tests, but a sensitivity to camera alignment was discovered in others which negatively affected results. A very stiff stereo camera mount with a sub-0.5 m baseline is suggested for future experiments. A summary of the main conclusions, a review of the objectives, and recommendations for future work are given in Chapter 8. Recommendations include further refinement of both sensors, an investigation into lighting sensitivity, and alternative applications of the sensors.

Apresenta um modelo completo em sistemas multicorpos de uma combinação veicular formada por um cavalo mecânico e um semi-reboque para um estudo de dirigibilidade. O modelo multicorpos foi desenvolvido no MSC.Adams/Car e inclui a suspensão primária, sistema de direção, trem de força, modelo de pneu e um quadro flexível para o cavalo mecânico, e a suspensão primária, modelo de pneu e quadro rígido para o semi-reboque. A resposta dinâmica lateral de uma composição veicular depende das características combinadas de estabilidade direcional, dirigibilidade e interação pneu/pavimento da unidade motora e da unidade rebocada. Os parâmetros mais importantes em relação à dinâmica lateral dos veículos longos combinados são: a velocidade longitudinal, o concerning stiffness dos pneus da combinação veicular, as elasticidades dos sistemas de suspensão e esterçamento do cavalo mecânico, a localização, distribuição do carregamento e momento de inércia em guinada da unidade movida e transferência lateral de carga do veículo como um todo. O modelo foi validado no âmbito dos modos de vibração. As análises de dirigibilidade foram realizadas mediante execução de manobras de mudança simples de pista e de esterçamento com entrada rampa, no MSC.Adams/Car, para calcular métricas comumente utilizadas para avaliação da dinâmica lateral de veículos longos combinados como aceleração lateral, velocidade de guinada, offtracking dinâmico e o gradiente de esterçamento. Análises dos resultados mostraram a influência no tempo de resposta, em regime transitório, do cavalo quando atrelado ao semi-reboque e um comportamento sub-esterçante nas velocidades longitudinais simuladas. A combinação veicular utilizada para este estudo apresenta um comportamento direcional estável. / This work presents a complete multibody model of a heavy articulated vehicle with a tractor and a semitrailer for handling study purposes. The model had been developed on MSC.Adams/Car and includes primary suspension system, steering system, powertrain, tire model and a flexible frame for tractor, suspension system, tire model and a rigid frame for semitrailer. The lateral dynamics response of a heavy articulated vehicle depends on tractor/semitrailer combined characteristics of the directional stability, the manouverability and the tire/road interaction. The most important parameters concerning of the lateral dynamics of heavy articulated vehicles are: longitudinal velocity, combined tire cornering stiffness of vehicular composition, suspensions systems compliance and steering system compliance of tractor, location, load distribution and yaw moment of towing unit and vehicle overall lateral load transfer. The model was validated about modal shapes and frequencies vibrations. Handling analyses had performed with single lane change and ramp steer maneuvers simulation on MSC.Adams/Car to calculate common measures for heavy articulated vehicles lateral dynamics evaluation as lateral acceleration, yaw velocity, dynamic offtracking and understeer gradient. The results analyses showed that the towing unit influences on response of the tractor and an understeer behavior of all vehicular composition over longitudinal velocity range simulated. The heavy articulated vehicle used on this study shows a stable directional behavior.

This report evaluates the option of using an equal slip controller, an effective rolling radius and rolling resistance force observer in a 4WD wheel loader. The vehicle studied is an under development- vehicle designed by Volvo CE. A wheel loader is an over actuated, articulated vehicle that is mainly used with low velocities in construction operations. The efficiency subject has been studied earlier by many manufacturers in order to analyze the environmental and economical losses and profits. This has provided research opportunities of optimizing efficiency of different kinds. Since the tire is the only part of a vehicle that is in contact with the ground, the characteristic of the tire effects the dynamics. The analysis shows that the efficiency of a tire is directly connected to the slip ratio which in turn is a component of the overall efficiency ratio. Studies show that the slip ratio should be controlled in such a way that the highest value of efficiency rate is obtained. This optimal value is dependent on all four wheel’s slip conditions. Therefore a strategy should be formulated in order to apply changes to all wheels and not only one. Further analysis shows that the maximum efficiency in a 4WD wheel loader is obtained when the vehicle runs in such a way that the slip ratio is equal for all wheels. I order to maintain same amount of slip for all wheels a control strategy is required. In the control strategy the current amount of slip of each wheel is determined. Further, the average value of slip ratio is calculated. Finally the equal amount of slip is achieved using corresponding optimal torque inputs for each individual wheel. Thus a stable, robust controller is required. The controller used to achieve this goal is a sliding mode controller that is popular among control engineers for its stability, robustness against uncertainties, speed and easy implementation. For an accurate control, states of the rolling resistance and the effective rolling radius need to be determined. The pressure acting on the tire will cause deformation on the tire itself. This leads to a dynamic radius of the tire. This deformation is highly dependent on vertical stress and the structure of tire. Further more velocity, inflation pressure, vertical load etc. also have effect on rolling resistance. Rolling resistance has a great impact on the fuel consumption of the vehicle and the driving characteristics. These estimated variations of effective radius and rolling resistance build a feedback system to the controller which in turn derives the system to the desired slip ratio. As it turns out, the slip efficiency is increased using an equal slip controller. However, it is highly dependent on the ratio of thrust between front and rear wheels. / Denna rapport utvärderar möjligheten att använda en olinjär regulator i syfte att sätta lika stor ’slip’ på fordonets alla fyra hjul. Vidare ska en olinjär observerare modelleras för att uppskatta den så kallad hjulets effektiva radie samt rollmoståndskraften som verkar på däcket. Det studerade fordonet är en hjullastare konstruerad av Volvo CE och som i nuläget är under utveckling. En hjullastare är ett overmanövrerat fordon som huvudsakligen används i låga hastigheter i bygg- och transportverksamheter. Effektivitet är ett ämne som har studerats tidigare av många tillverkare för att analysera miljörelaterade och ekonomiska förluster och vinster. Detta har gett forskarna möjligheten att studera effektivitet av olika slag. Eftersom däcket är den enda delen av ett fordon som kommer i kontakt med marken, påverkar dess karaktär fordonets dynamika beteende i helhet. Analysen visar att däckets effektivitet är direkt kopplad till slipförhållande som i sin tur är en del av det totala effektivitetsförhållandet. Studier visar att slipförhållandet bör kontrolleras på ett sådant sätt att det högsta värdet av effektivitet uppnås. Detta optimala värde är beroende av slipförhållanden hos alla fyra hjul och därför bör en strategi formuleras för att nå optimalt slipeffektivitet på alla hjul. Ytterligare analys visar att maximal slipeffektivitet i en 4WD hjullastare erhålls när fordonet går så att slipförhållandet är lika för alla hjul. I kontrollstrategin bestäms det nuvarande slipförhållandet för varje hjul. Av dessa beräknas medelvärdet som skall presentera referensvärdet av slipförhållandet. Slutligen upp-nås detta värde med motsvarande optimala momentinmatningar för varje enskilt hjul. Styralgoritmen som används för att uppnå detta mål är en Sliding mode regulator som är populär bland kontrollingenjörer för dess stabilitet, robusthet mot osäkerhet, snabbhet och enkel implementering. För en noggrann kontroll måste tillstånden av rullmotståndskraften och effektiv rull-radien observeras. De verkande krafterna på hjulet orsakar deformation på däcket som ger upphov till däckets dynamiska radie. Denna deformation är starkt beroende av vertikal spänning och däckets struktur. Vidare har hastighet, däckets lufttryck, vertikal belastning etc. också effekt på rullmotståndskraften. Rullmotstånd har stor inverkan på fordonets bränsleförbrukning och drivegenskaper. Dessa variationer av effektivradie och rullmotstånd bygger ett återkopplat system till regulatorn som i sin tur leder systemet till önskat slipförhållande. Som det visar sig, ökar slipeffektiviteten med hjälp av "equal slip" styralgoritm. Detta är emellertid mycket beroende av förhållandet av momentinmatningar mellan fram och bakhjulet.

Tyre wear is a significant problem on today's road vehicles, particularly for heavy trucks. As the tyre wears, microplastics is released in the air causing long term health issues and environmental pollution. With the introduction of automated vehicles there is a big potential to improve tyre wear of heavy trucks. In this direction, this thesis investigates the fundamentals of motion planning for minimising the lateral tyre wear in cornering for automated articulated vehicles. The trade-off between journey time and tyre wear is analysed. For the simulations, firstly an articulated vehicle model is used from the literature and validated with IPG/TruckMaker. Secondly, a sensitivity analysis is conducted on the articulated vehicle on a couple of parameters. The front cornering stiffness, hitch point, trailer mass and trailer centre of gravity position where the parameters influence on tyre wear is analysed. The results showed that moving the hitch point forward decreases the total tyre wear, increasing mass of the trailer increases tyre wear while the front cornering stiffness and centre of gravity position of the trailer did low to no difference to the total tyre wear. Then, an optimal control problem was configured to investigate the motion planning of an articulated vehicle. Then, the motion planning system is configured to find an optimal feasible trajectory with respect to dynamic and path constraints for the articulated vehicle to minimise lateral wear at a predefined path for fixed journey times. Four case different configurations of the problem are investigated to study the influence of driving style, lateral manoeuvrability allowance, vehicle acceleration capabilities and of the number of steering axles on the tractor. The results showed that motion planning can be used for minimising lateral tyre wear. The case study with largest impact on tyre wear was driving style, where the tyre wear showed significant difference between slow driving and aggressive driving. The second case study showed that wider lateral allowance led to less tyre wear and increasing the acceleration capabilities also decreases lateral tyre wear. The additional steering axle on the truck decreased tyre wear at higher velocities but for lower velocities the difference was negligible. / Däckslitage är ett signifikant problem både ur ett miljöperspektiv och ur ett ekonomiskt perspektiv. Väldigt lite fokus läggs på utsläpp från däck när olika utsläppskällor diskuteras. När transportsamhället rör sig mot automation finns det stora möjligheter att utnyttja automatiserade fordon för att minska däckslitage. Det här examensarbetet undersöker möjligheterna att minimera däckslitage genom ruttplanering för automatiserade lastbilar med en artikulationspunkt. Ett optimeringsproblem formuleras och definieras med två målfunktioner för att undersöka hur det laterala däckslitaget i kurvor kan minimeras utan att förlänga restiden. Ruttplaneringens uppgift är att finna den mest optimala rutten med hänsyn till den fördefinierade vägen, fordonets dynamiska begränsningar och vägens begränsningar. Fyra delstudier genomförs, där körstil, vägbredd, maximal tillåten acceleration och påverkan av en ytterligare styrande axel undersökes. För att genomföra simuleringarna implementeras en bilmodell från litteraturen. Bilmodellen jämförs sedan med ett program för att validera dess noggrannhet och robusthet. Sedan görs en känslighetsanalys med hänsyn till däckslitage på några fordonsparametrar, nämligen artikuleringspunkten, framaxelns kurvstyvhet, placering av släpets tyngdpunkt och släpets vikt. Resultatet påvisade att ruttplanering är en bra metod för att minimera däckslitage, resultatet visade att körstil var en viktig faktor till däckslitage, där aggressiv körstil resulterade i mer slitage. Sedan visades det att vägbredd också hade en stor påverkan, där bredare vägar gav upphov till mindre slitage, och smalare vägar gav upphov till mer slitage. Vid högre tillåtna acclerationsnivåer blev däckslitaget lägre men högre vid lägre accelerationsgränser. När två styrbara axlar styrbara används så påvisades mindre däckslitage mot samma restid som när en axel är styrbar. Sist så visade känslighetsanalysen en stor skillnad på totalt däckslitage i relation till placering av artikuleringspunkten. Högre släpvikt gav också mer slitage medan placering av släpets tyngdpunkt och framaxelns kurvstyvhet gav upphov till låg ändring i totalt däckslitage.

The automation of the tramming or load, haul and dump (LHD) procedure, performed by a LHD vehicle, holds the potential to improve productivity, efficiency and safety in the mining environment. Productivity is mainly increased by longer working hours; efficiency is improved by repetitive, faultless and predictable work; and safety is improved by removing the human operator from the harsh environment. However, before the automation of the process can be addressed, a thorough understanding of the process and its duty in the overall mining method is required. Therefore, the current applicable mining methods and their areas of potential automation are given. Since the automation of the LHD vehicle is at the core of this project, its implementation in the tramming process is also justified. Also, the current underground navigation methods are given and their shortcomings are named. It is concluded that infrastructure-free navigation is the only viable solution in the ever-changing mining environment. With that in mind, the feasibility of various navigation sensors is discussed and conclusions are drawn. Both kinematic and dynamic modelling of LHD vehicles are introduced. Various forms of kinematic models are given and their underlying modelling assumptions are named. The most prominent assumptions concern the vehicle’s half-length and the inclusion of a wheel-slip factor. Dynamic modelling techniques, with a strong emphasis on tyre modelling, are also stated. In order to evaluate the modelling techniques, field tests are performed on the articulated vehicles, namely the Wright 365 LHD and the Bell 1706C loader. The test on the Wright 365 LHD gives a good impression of the harsh ergonomics under which the operator has to work. A more thorough test is performed on the Bell 1706C articulated loader. The test results are then compared to simulation results obtained from the kinematic models. Also, the above-named assumptions are tested, evaluated and discussed. A dynamic model is also simulated and discussed. Lastly, two localization and control methods are given and evaluated. The first method is an open-loop nonlinear optimal control strategy with periodic position resetting and the second method is a pathtracking controller. AFRIKAANS : Automatisering van die laai-, vervoer- en dompel- (LVD) prosedure het die potensiaal om die produktiwiteit, effektiwiteit en veiligheid van die mynbedryf te verbeter. Produktiwiteit word hoofsaaklik deur langer werksure verhoog, effektiwiteit word deur herhalende, foutlose en voorspelbare werk verbeter en veiligheid word verbeter omdat menslike operateurs uit die gevaarlike ondergrondse omgewing verwyder word. Voordat aandag aan die automatisering van die prosedure geskenk kan word, moet die prosedure en die algemene mynbedrywighede rakende die prosedure deeglik bestudeer en verstaan word. As gevolg hiervan word die huidige, toepaslike mynboumetodes hier gedokumenteer. Die implementering van ʼn gekoppelde LVD-voertuig in die LVD-prosesword ook geregverdig. Verder word die huidige metodes van ondergrondse navigasie genoem en hulle tekortkominge aangedui. Die gevolgtrekking dat infrastruktuur-vrye navigasie die enigste lewensvatbare navigasiemetode in die immer veranderende ondergrondsemynbouomgewing is, word ook gemaak. In die lig daarvan word ʼn verskeidenheid sensors genoem en bespreek. Kinematiese en dinamiese modellering van ʼn LVD-voertuig word bekendgestel. Verskeie kinematiese modelle en hulle onderliggende aannames word genoem. Die mees prominente aannames is die lengte van die gekoppelde voertuig se hoofdele en die insluiting van ʼn wielglipfaktor. Die tegnieke van dinamiese modellering, met die klem op bandmodellering, word ook gegee. Praktyktoetse op gekoppelde voertuie is ook gedoen om die verskillende modelle te evalueer. Die toets op die Wright 365-LVD bied goeie insig in die strawwe ergonomiese toestande waaronder die operateurs moet werk. ʼn Deeglike toets is op ʼn BELL 1706C- gekoppelde laaier, wat kinematies identies aan ʼn LVD-voertuig is, uitgevoer. Die bevindinge van die toets word met bogenoemde modelsimulasies vergelyk en gevolgtrekkings word gemaak. Laastens word lokalisiering en beheer van ʼn LVDvoertuig behandel. Twee beheermetodes, opelus- nie-lineêre optimale beheer met periodieke herstel en padvolgingbeheer word geëvalueer en bespreek. Copyright / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering / unrestricted

Die Arbeit befasst sich mit der Entwicklung automatischer Lenkungen, die die von Schienenfahrzeugen bekannte Spurtreue auf n-gliedrige, mehrachsgelenkte Straßenfahrzeuge übertragen. Spurtreu bedeutet folglich, dass die Lenkachsmittelpunkte keinen seitlichen Versatz zueinander aufweisen. Dafür wird ein modellbasiertes automatisches Lenkverfahren systematisch konzipiert, entworfen und erprobt, das sowohl eine vollautomatische Spurführung als auch eine halbautomatische Nachführung erlaubt. Die modellbasierten automatischen Lenkungen unterliegen keinen praktisch relevanten Einschränkungen. Das wird durch die Verwendung einer Steuerungsstruktur mit zwei Freiheitsgraden erreicht, die aus einer modellbasierten Vorsteuerung und einem Rückführregler besteht. In der Vorsteuerung werden die Lenkwinkel aller Achsen berechnet, mit denen der Sollweg theoretisch spurtreu befahren wird. Durch den Einsatz eines speziell angepassten, modularen Mehrkörpermodells gelingt diese Berechnung allgemein für eine Klasse n-gliedriger Fahrzeuge. Zum Ausgleich von nicht vermeidbaren Modellunbestimmtheiten und nicht gemessenen Störungen werden ein nichtlinearer Mehrgrößenregler sowie achs-individuelle lineare Eingrößenregler entworfen und miteinander verglichen. Simulationen und Fahrversuche zeigen, dass das entwickelte Verfahren in einem weiten Geschwindigkeitsbereich robust gegenüber typischen Einflussgrößen wie Fahrbahn- und Beladungszustand ist.

Semitrailer trucks are widely used for transportation of goods in Sweden and around the world. Given their usefulness, and since they require specialized drivers, there is an increased need to automate the operation of these vehicles. In particular, reversing these vehicles is considered a challenging maneuver, mainly because of the jackknifing effect. To tackle this challenge, this thesis investigates path following for reversing single-joint semitrailer trucks, by comparing two path-following controllers, corresponding to a Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) and a Model Predictive Control (MPC), respectively. Both controllers receive kinematically feasible reference trajectories from a path planner (which is part of another thesis work), which makes it possible to avoid jackknifing as long as the reference joint angle between the trailer and the truck is closely followed. Moreover, they use a linearized and discretized 1-trailer kinematic model, defined in terms of the reference tracking errors for the truck as states. To evaluate the performance of the controllers, a Python simulation is implemented using the 1-trailer kinematic model. Using this simulation, the controllers are compared using metrics related to the reference tracking errors along the generated path and the controller execution time. The results show that the LQR and the MPC controllers perform similarly for most cases. Even though there are certain cases where the MPC outperforms the LQR, the execution time of the MPC is at least one order of magnitude slower, which makes the LQR an attractive solution for practical implementations, as long as certain assumptions (small initial deviations, reliable measurements) are ensured. As such, an LQR controller might be preferred by the industry because, while the performance from both controllers is similar, it can be considered a more efficient controller. / Lastbilar med olika släpvagnskombinationer används ofta för godstransporter i Sverige och runt om i världen. Med tanke på deras användbarhet och eftersom de kräver specialiserade förare finns det ett ökat behov av att automatisera driften av dessa fordon. I synnerhet anses backning av dessa fordon vara en utmanande manöver, främst på grund av jackknifseffekten. För att lösa detta problem undersöker denna rapport vägföljande för backande lastbilar med släp genom att jämföra två olika vägföljande styrenheter: Linear Quadtratic Regulator (LQR) och Model Predictive Control (MPC). Båda styrenheterna får kinematiskt genomförbara referensbanor från en vägplanerare (som är en del av en annan uppsats), vilket gör det möjligt att undvika jackknipning så länge referensvinkeln mellan släpet och lastbilen följs noggrant. Dessutom använder de en linjäriserad och diskretiserad kinematisk modell med en lastbil, definierad i termer av lastbilens referensspårningsfel som tillstånd. För att utvärdera kontrollernas prestanda implementeras en Python-simulering med den kinematisk modell med en lastbil. Med denna simulering jämförs de två styrenheterna med mått relaterade till referensspårningsfelen längs den generarade vägen och styrenheternas exekveringstid. Resultaten visar att LQR och MPCpresterar likadant i de flesta fallen. Även om det finns vissa fall där MPC överträffar LQR, är exekveringstiden för MPC åtminstone en storleksordning långsammare, vilket gör LQR till en attraktiv lösning för praktiska implementeringar, så länge som vissa antaganden (små initiala avvikelser, pålitliga mått) säkerställs. Som sådan kan en LQR-styrenhet föredras av industrin, för även om prestandan från båda styrenheterna är lika, kan den betraktas som en enklare styrenhet.