This thesis contains the design and simulation test results for the implementation of a new all-wheel drive (AWD) torque vectoring (TV) control system. A separate algorithm using standard control methods is included in this study for a comparison. The proposed controller was designed to be applied to an AWD independent drive electric vehicle, however the main concepts can be re-purposed for other vehicle drive train configurations. The purpose of the control system is to assist the driver in achieving a desired vehicle trajectory whilst also maintaining stability and control of the vehicle. This is accomplished by measuring various real time parameters of the vehicle and using this information as feedback for the control system to act on. The focus of this thesis resides on the controller. Hence, this study assumes perfect observation of feedback parameters, therefore some uncertainties are not accounted for. Using feedback parameters, the control system will manage wheel slip whilst simultaneously generating a torque around the center of gravity of the vehicle by applying a torque differential between the left and right wheels. The proposed TV algorithm is simulated in MATLAB/Simulink along with another separate TV algorithm for comparison. Both algorithms are comprised of two main parts: a slip ratio controller applied to each wheel individually and stability controller that manages yaw rate and side slip of the vehicle. The new algorithm leverages the super twisting algorithm for the slip ratio controller and uses a fusion of a linear quadratic regulator with the integral term of a super twisting algorithm to implement the yaw rate and side slip controller. The other algorithm used for comparison derives its implementation for the slip ratio controller and yaw rate and side slip controllers from simple and standard first order sliding mode control methods. Both control algorithms were tested in three different main tests: anti-lock braking, sine dwell (SD) steering, and constant steering angle (CSA) tests. To increase the comprehensive nature of the study, the SD and CSA tests were simulated at 3 speeds (30,50, and 80 mph) and the steering angle parameter was varied from 2 to 24 degrees in increments of 2. The result of this study proves that the proposed controller is a feasible option for use in theory. Simulated results show advantages and disadvantages of the new controller with respect to the standard comparison controller. Both controllers are also shown to provide positive impacts on the vehicle response under most test conditions.

No / A vehicle that deviates laterally from its intended path of travel when the brakes are applied is considered to demonstrate ‘instability’ in the form of an unexpected and undesirable response to the driver input. Even where the magnitude of lateral displacement of the vehicle is small (i.e. ‘drift’ rather than ‘pull’) such a condition would be considered unacceptable by manufacturers and customers. Steering ‘drift’ during braking can be caused by several factors, some of which relate to vehicle design and others to external influences such as road conditions. The study presented here examines the causes and effects of steering drift during straight-line braking. A comparative analysis is made between two types of vehicle model: one built with rigid suspension components and the other with flexible components. In both the cases, the vehicle behaviour is simulated during braking in a straight line, and responses including lateral acceleration, yaw rate, and lateral displacement of the vehicle are predicted and analysed under fixed steering control. Suspension/steering geometry characteristics, namely toe steer and caster angle, have been studied to understand how the effect of variations in these parameters differs in models with rigid or flexible components drift during straight-line braking. Results from both vehicle models show that differences between rigid and flexible components can affect the predicted steering drift propensity. The differences between the two models have emphasized the importance of using flexible (compliant) components in vehicle handling simulations to achieve better correlation between prediction and experiment.

No description available.

Collision avoidance systems (CASs) are being developed and fielded to reduce the number and severity of rear-end crashes. Kinematic algorithms within CASs evaluate sensor input and apply assumptions describing human-response timing and deceleration to determine when an alert should be presented. This dissertation presents an analytic assessment of dynamic function and performance CASs and associated driver performance for preventing automotive rear-end crashes. A method for using naturalistic data in the evaluation of CAS algorithms is described and applied to three algorithms. Time-series parametric data collected during 13 rear-end crashes and 70 near-crashes are input into models of collision avoidance algorithms to determine when the alerts would have occurred. Algorithm performance is measured by estimating how much of the driving population would be able to respond in the time available between when an alert would occur and when braking was needed. A sensitivity analysis was performed to consider the effect of alternative inputs into the assessment method. The algorithms were found to warn in sufficient time to permit 50–70% of the population to avoid collision in similar scenarios. However, the accuracy of this estimate was limited because the tested algorithms were found to alert too frequently to be feasible. The response of the assessment method was most sensitive to differences in assumed response-time distributions and assumed driver braking levels. Low-speed crashes were not addressed by two of the algorithms. Analysis of the events revealed that the necessary avoidance deceleration based on kinematics was generally less than 2 s in duration. At the time of driver response, the time remaining to avoid collision using a 0.5g average deceleration ranged from â 1.1 s to 2.1 s. In 10 of 13 crashes, no driver response deceleration was present. Mean deceleration for the 70 near-crashes was 0.37g and maximum was 0.72g. A set of the events was developed to measure driver response time. The mean driver response time was 0.7 s to begin braking and 1.1 s to reach maximum deceleration. Implications for collision countermeasures are considered, response-time results are compared to previous distributions and future work is discussed. / Ph. D.

In the driving task, vision, hearing, and the haptic senses are all used by the driver to gather required information. Future Intelligent Transportation Systems components are likely to further increase the volume of information available to or required by the driver, particularly in the case of commercial vehicle operators. The use of alternate modalities to present in-vehicle information is a possible solution to the potential overload of the visual channel. Auditory icons have been shown to improve operator performance and decrease learning and response times, not only in industrial applications, but also as emergency braking warnings. The use of auditory icons in commercial truck cabs has the potential to increase the number of auditory displays that can be distinguished and understood by commercial vehicle operators, and this experiment sought to determine the utility of auditory icons in that situation. Nine auditory icons were evaluated by commercial vehicle operators as they drove an experimental vehicle over public roads. A comparison of the data collected in the truck-cab environment to data collected in a laboratory study on the same auditory icons revealed some differences in the perceived meaning, perceived urgency, and association with the auditory icons' intended meanings between the two conditions. The presence of these differences indicates that driver evaluations of auditory icons can be affected by the environment, and testing should therefore be conducted in a situation that approximates the end-user environment as closely as possible. A comparison of the drivers' brake response times across the three warning conditions (no warning, auditory icon, and soft braking) was also conducted on a closed, secure handling course. Dependent measures included overall brake reaction time and its components, steering response time, time to initial driver action, and categorical measures of driver responses (steering, swerving, braking, and stopping). The results indicated numerically shorter mean response times (on the order of 0.5 seconds for Total Brake Response Time) for the two conditions with warnings, but the differences were not statistically significant. The most likely reason for this lack of significance is the extreme between-subject variability in response times in the no warning condition. An analysis of the response time variance across the three conditions did indicate significantly less variability in operator responses in the two warning conditions. Two of the five dependent measures (Brake Pedal Contact Time and Total Brake Response Time) exhibited significantly reduced variance in the auditory icon warning condition compared to the no warning condition. The soft braking warning condition exhibited significantly reduced variance for four of the dependent measures (Accelerator Reaction Time, Brake Pedal Contact Time, Total Brake Response Time, and First Reaction Time). These results indicate that a soft braking stimulus like that used in this study could potentially prove to be a more effective emergency braking warning than simple auditory warnings alone. / Master of Science

Yes / A 2D coupled temperature-displacement FE model is developed for a pad-disc brake system based on a restricted rotational pad boundary condition. The evolution of pressure, heat flux, and temperature along the contact interface during braking applications is analysed with the FE model. Results indicate that different rotational pad boundary conditions significantly impact the interface pressure distribution, which in turn affects interface temperature and heat flux distributions, and suggest that a particular pad rotation condition is most appropriate for accurately modelling friction braking processes. The importance of the thermal contact conductance in the analysis of heat transfer in friction braking is established, and it is confirmed that the heat partition ratio is not uniformly distributed along the interface under normal and high interface thermal conductance conditions.

The ride stability of an A-train 28-foot double tractor trailer when outfitted with different Roll Stability Control (RSC) systems with the same payload and suspension configurations is studied experimentally for various dynamic maneuvers. The primary goal of the study is to determine the effect of different commercially-available RSC systems on the extent of improvements they offer for increasing roll stability of commercial vehicles with double trailers, when subjected to limit-steering maneuvers that can rise during highway driving. A semitruck and two 28-foot trailers are modified for enduring the forces and moments that can result during testing. A load structure is used for placing the ballast loads within the trailers at a suitable height for duplicating the CG height of the trailers during their commercial use. Outriggers and jackknifing arresting mechanisms are used to prevent vehicle damage and ensure safety during the tests. The test vehicle is equipped with multiple sensors and cameras for the necessary measurements and observations. The analog and video data are time-synced for correlating the measurements with visual observation of the test vehicle dynamics in post-processing. An extensive number of tests are conducted at the Michelin Laurens Proving Grounds (MLPG) in Laurens, SC. The tests include evaluating each RSC system with different maneuvers and speeds until a rollover occurs or the vehicle is deemed to be unstable. The maneuvers that are used for the tests include: double lane change, sine-with-dwell, J-turn, and ramp steer maneuver. Both a steering robot and subjective driver are used for the tests. The test data are analyzed and the results are used to compare the three RSC systems with each other, and with trailers without RSC. The test results indicate that all three RSC systems are able to improve the speed at which rollover occurs, with a varying degree. For two of the systems, the rollover speed gained, when compared with trailers without RSC, is marginal. For one of the systems, there are more significant speed gains. Since most RSC systems are tuned for a conventional tractor-trailer, additional testing with some of the systems would be necessary to enable the manufacturers to better fine-tune the RSC control scheme to the dynamics of double trailers. / MS / The safety of driven semi-trailer trucks towing two trailers is analyzed in a study created to examine the behavior of the vehicle and its units during high speed, high maneuvering circumstances. The rolling over of a specific test truck is studied to study the ability of a common large vehicle to succeed in evasive or emergency maneuvers. Focus on the rolling over of a truck is placed in this project, as large freight vehicle rollovers are among the most popular and most dangerous type of accidents on highways today. A semi-trailer truck with two trailers, or double trailer vehicle, is instrumented with sensors and cameras to study several different characteristics associated with vehicle operation and conditions that incite rollover. The behavior of a double trailer vehicle is complicated due to the additional rotation joint between the adjacent trailers, where typical semi-trailer trucks (18-wheelers) only incorporate one: between the towing tractor and the towed trailer. Commercially available electronic appliances called Roll Stability Control (RSC) systems were designed to automatically control and apply the vehicle brakes under rollover conditions, and are installed and used individually to evaluate any improvements on the test vehicle’s ability to stay upright. Information regarding RSC system operation can be found. All vehicle testing is completed at a professional vehicle testing location in Laurens, SC and the same four test maneuvers are used to determine the effectiveness of each of the five RSC systems tested using data collected with the instrumented sensors. Different types of RSC systems exist due to different manners of operation, and are discussed in this document and analyzed. This project develops the conclusion that the five systems used during testing all improve vehicle stability, but provide differing results in doing so, largely due to their different operations. Therefore, commercially available RSC systems are proven to work differently and provide different results. Recommendations for further testing of RSC systems is provided. Although no recommendations are made regarding the tested RSC systems, the collected data show large, double trailer freight vehicles are more stable when using any of the tested commercially available RSC systems, especially during evasive maneuvering or emergency situations. These findings can bring immediate improvements to large freight vehicle operation and safety.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The slip synchronous-permanent magnet generator (SS-PMG) is a direct-driven, direct-to-grid generator for wind turbine applications. This investigation focuses on achieving automated grid connection and low voltage ride-through for a small-scale SS-PMG. To reduce cost and complexity, components such as blade pitch controllers and frequency converters are avoided. Instead, electromagnetic braking is employed to control turbine speed prior to grid synchronisation and compensation resistances are used to facilitate grid fault ride-through. The conditions under which the SS-PMG can be successfully synchronised with the grid are determined, indicating a need for speed control. An evaluation of electromagnetic braking strategies reveals that satisfactory speed control performance can be achieved when employing back-to-back thyristors to switch in the braking load. Simulations show that controlled synchronisation can be executed successfully under turbulent wind conditions. All controllable parameters are held within safe limits, but the SS-PMG terminal voltage drop is higher than desired. Compensation is developed to allow the SS-PMG to ride through the voltage dip profile specified by the Irish distribution code. It is found that a combination of series and shunt resistances is necessary to shield the SS-PMG from the voltage dip, while balancing active power transfer. The flexibility offered by thyristor switching of the shunt braking load is instrumental in coping with turbulent wind conditions and unbalanced dips. The South African voltage dip profile is also managed with conditional success. Following on from the theoretical design, the grid connection controller is implemented for practical testing purposes. Protection functions are developed to ensure safe operation under various contingencies. Before testing, problems with the operation of the thyristors are overcome. Practical testing shows that grid synchronisation can be undertaken safely by obeying the theoretically determined conditions. The speed control mechanism is also shown to achieve acceptable dynamic performance. Finally, the SS-PMG is incorporated into a functioning wind turbine system and automated grid connection is demonstrated under turbulent wind conditions. Future investigations may be focused on optimal control strategies, alternative solid-state switching schemes, and reactive power control. Low voltage ride-through should also be optimised for the South African dip profile and validated experimentally. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die glip-sinchroon permanente magneet generator (GS-PMG) is ‘n direkte dryf, direkte netwerkgekoppelde generator vir windturbine toepassings. Hierdie ondersoek fokus op die bereiking van ’n ge-outomatiseerde netwerkkoppeling en lae spanning deurry vir ‘n kleinskaalse GS-PMG. Om kostes en kompleksiteit te verminder, word komponente soos lemsteekbeheerders en frekwensie-omsetters vermy. In plaas daarvan word elektromagnetiese remwerking gebruik om die turbine spoed, voorgaande net-werksinchronisasie, te beheer, en word kompensasieweerstande gebruik om netwerkfoutdeurry te handhaaf. Die omstandighede waaronder die GS-PMG suksesvol met die netwerk gesinchroniseer kan word, is vasgestel en dit het die behoefte aan spoedbeheer uitgewys. ‘n Evaluering van elektromagnetiese remstrategië wys uit dat ’n bevredigende spoedbeheervermoë verkry kan word as anti-parallelle tiristors gebruik word om die remlas te skakel. Simulasies wys dat beheerde netwerksinchronisasie suksesvol uitgevoer kan word, selfs onder turbulente windtoestande. Alle beheerbare parameters is binne veilige perke gehou, maar die GS-PMG se klemspanningsval is gevind as hoë as verwag. Kompensasie is ontwikkel om die GS-PMG toe te laat om deur die spanningsvalprofiel, soos gespesifieer deur die Ierse distribusiekode, te ry. Dit is gevind dat ‘n kombinasie van serie- en parallelle weerstande nodig is om die GS-PMG teen die spanningsval te beskerm, terwyl aktiewe drywingsoordrag gebalanseer word. Die buigbaarheid wat verkry word met die tiristorskakeling van die parallele weerstand is noodsaaklik in die hanteering van turbulente windtoestande en ongebalanseerde spanningsvalle. Die Suid-Afrikaanse spanningsvalprofiel is ook met voorwaardelike sukses hanteer. In opvolg van die teoretiese ontwerp is die netwerkkoppelingsbeheerder vir praktiese toetsdoeleindes in werking gestel. Beskermingsfunksies is ontwikkel om veilige werking onder verskeie gebeurlikhede te verseker. Die probleme met die werking van die tiristors is oorkom voor die aanvang van die toetse. Die praktiese toetse bewys dat netwerksinchronisasie veilig gedoen kan word deur die teoretiese bepaalde voorwaardes te volg. Dit is ook getoon dat met die spoedbeheermeganisme aanvaarbare dinamiese gedrag verkry kan word. Ten laaste is die GS-PMG in ‘n werkende windturbinestelsel geïnkorporeer en outomatiese netwerkkoppeling is onder turbulente windtoestande gedemonstreer. Toekomstige ondersoeke kan toegespits word op optimale beheerstrategië, alternatiewe vaste toestand skakelingskemas en reaktiewe drywingsbeheer. Lae spanning deurry moet nog vir die Suid- Afrikaanse spanningsprofiel ge-optimeer en eksperimenteel bevestig word.

Este trabalho aplica um procedimento para análise do desempenho de um autoveículo rodoviário (Kadett GS 2.0 da General Motors do Brasil), em aceleração e desaceleração (freagem), considerando o \"passeio do centro de gravidade\" e as \"restrições impostas pelo binômio pneumático x pavimento\". A dinâmica do processo de frenagem do veículo/exemplo é estudada, obtendo-se a desaceleração e o espaço percorrido, como função do \"passeio do centro de gravidade\" e duas \"restrições impostas pelo pneumático x pavimento\". Comparações teórico-experimentais são realizadas. Para o controle do processo de frenagem do veículo/exemplo, obtém-se uma \"função-transferência\" que muda continuamente o balanceamento das forças de frenagem nos eixos, utilizando-se, para isto, de sinais oriundos de um acelerômetro e de um sensor de peso instalados no veículo. Esta função otimiza o processo de frenagem para qualquer carregamento permissível do veículo e em qualquer nível de desaceleração (qualquer tipo de piso). Deste veículo obtêm-se os diagramas de rendimento, aceleração líquida para cada marcha engrenada, e, posteriormente, o \"tempo de aceleração\" e \"retomada de velocidade\", como função do \"passeio do centro de gravidade\" e das \"restrições impostas pelo pneumático x pavimento\". Comparações teórico-experimentais são também realizadas. Em todos os casos, foram obtidos bons resultados na comparação teórico-experimental, validando o modelo matemático elaborado e o procedimento de análise. / This work applies a procedure for the analysis of the performance of a road vehicle, (General Motors do Brasil, Kadett GS 2.0), in acceleration and deceleration (braking), which takes into consideration the centre of gravity envelope and the restrictions imposed by the tyre/surface relationship. A study is made of the dynamic braking process of the vehicle/example, and the deceleration and distance covered are obtained as a functions of the c.g. position and the tyre/surface relationship. Comparisons are made between theory and experiment. A transfer function is obtained for the control of the braking process of the vehicle/example, that continually changes the balance of the braking forces on the axles, thorugh the use of signals transmitted from an accelerometer (g - meter) and a sensor giving the installed weight of the vehicle. This function optimizes the braking process for any permissible vehicle load and deceleration level, for any type of surface. The performance diagrams, the acceleration in each gear, and, following these the acceleration time and time-to-return-to-normal-speed are obtained as functions of the position of the c.g. and the restrictions imposed by the tyre/surface relationship. Comparisons of theory with practice are also made. In all cases, comparisons between theory and practice give good results, validating the mathematical model and the analysis procedure.

O bi-trem é um veículo cada vez mais comum no trânsito brasileiro. Por ser um veículo de grande porte, é capaz de se envolver em acidentes catastróficos caso o sistema de freio não esteja projetado de maneira adequada. Neste contexto é necessário um estudo que permita prever e otimizar o desempenho do sistema de freios para qualquer condição operacional. Para isso foi desenvolvida uma planilha de cálculos para estudar o desempenho da frenagem de um bi-trem. A planilha calcula a aderência que cada eixo utiliza, a desaceleração máxima desenvolvida pelo veículo, o espaço e o tempo de parada, a força de frenagem (e sua porcentagem) em cada eixo, a temperatura final do tambor, a eficiência do sistema de freios, as forças normais ao pavimento, a distribuição real e ideal das forças de frenagem e verifica se o cavalo mecânico e os semi-reboques se enquadram, respectivamente, nos diagramas 3 e 4 do anexo 10 da ECE-R13. Tais cálculos podem ser feitos com o veículo utilizando ou não ABS e com válvula sensível a carga nos semi-reboques e no \"tandem\" do cavalo mecânico. A planilha de cálculo foi aplicada em um veículo exemplo e os resultados são apresentados nesta dissertação. O sistema de freios desse veículo foi otimizado com a utilização da planilha, mostrando como ela pode ser de grande auxílio ao projetista. / The bi-trem (a vehicle similar to a twin trailler truck) is more and more common in the brazilians highways. Because it\'s a large and heavy vehicle it can cause catastrophics accidents if the brakes are not well developed. In this context it is necessary a study that allows to foresee and to optimize the performance of the brakes system for any operational condition. In this work an electronic spread sheet was developed in order to study the braking performance of a bi-trem. The spread sheet calcs the adhesion in each axle, the maximum deceleration, the braking space and the braking time, the braking force (and its percentage) in each axle, the final temperature of the drum, the brake system\'s efficiency, the normal forces, the actual and ideal brake force distribution, and verifies if the tractor and the semi trailers are fitted in the annex 10 of EGE-R13. The reckoning can be made for a vehicle equipped or not with ABS and with the load sensing valve in the semi trailers and in the tandem axle of the tractor. The spread sheet was applied in a example vehicle and the results are presented in this dissertation. The brakes system of this vehicle was optimized with the use of the spread sheet, showing as it can be of great assists the designer.