Development of a Smart Tire System and its Use in Improving the Performance of a Collision Mitigation Braking System

Author(s):  
Kanwar Bharat Singh ◽  
Mustafa Ali Arat ◽  
Saied Taheri

At present, the commercially available tire monitoring systems are not equipped to sense and transmit high speed dynamic variables used for real-time active safety control systems. Hence, today’s vehicle control systems are limited by the lack of knowledge of critical tire-road states (i.e. the kinematic conditions of the tire to its dynamic properties). From aforementioned discussion, it is clear that some method of estimating tire-road contact parameters would be greatly desirable. Existing tire-road friction estimation approaches often require certain levels of vehicle longitudinal and/or lateral motion to satisfy the persistence of excitation condition for reliable estimations. Such excitations may undesirably interfere with vehicle motion controls. This paper presents a novel development and implementation of a real-time tire-road contact parameter estimation methodology using acceleration signals from a smart tire. The proposed method characterizes the terrain using the measured frequency response of the tire vibrations and provides the capability to estimate the tire road friction coefficient under extremely lower levels of force utilization. Under higher levels of force excitation (high slip conditions), the increased vibration levels due to the stick/slip phenomenon linked to the tread block vibration modes make the proposed tire vibrations based method unsuitable. Therefore for high slip conditions, a tire-road friction model-based parameter estimation approach is proposed. Hence an integrated approach using the smart tire based friction estimator and the model based estimator gives us the capability to reliably estimate friction for a wider range of excitations. Considering the strong interdependence between the operating road surface condition and the instantaneous forces and moments generated; this real time estimate of the tire-road friction coefficient is expected to play a pivotal role in improving the performance of a number of vehicle control systems. In particular, this paper focuses on the possibility of enhancing the performance of collision mitigation braking systems.

Author(s):  
Kanwar B. Singh ◽  
Mustafa Ali Arat ◽  
Saied Taheri

The contact between the tire and the road is the key enabler of vehicle acceleration, deceleration and steering. However, due to changes to the road conditions, the driver's ability to maintain a stable vehicle may be at risk. In many cases, this requires intervention from the chassis control systems onboard the vehicle. Although these systems perform well in a variety of situations, their performance can be improved if a real-time estimate of the tire-road friction coefficient is available. Existing tire-road friction estimation approaches often require certain levels of vehicle longitudinal and/or lateral motion to satisfy the persistence of excitation condition for reliable estimations. Such excitations may undesirably interfere with vehicle motion controls. This paper presents a novel development and implementation of a real-time tire-road contact parameter estimation methodology using acceleration signals from an intelligent tire. The proposed method characterizes the terrain using the measured frequency response of the tire vibrations and provides the capability to estimate the tire road friction coefficient under extremely lower levels of force utilization. Under higher levels of force excitation (high slip conditions), the increased vibration levels due to the stick/slip phenomenon linked to the tread block vibration modes make the proposed tire vibrations based method unsuitable. Therefore for high slip conditions, a brush model-based nonlinear least squares (NLLS) parameter estimation approach is proposed. Hence an integrated approach using the intelligent tire based friction estimator and the model based estimator gives us the capability to reliably estimate friction for a wider range of excitations. Considering the strong interdependence between the operating road surface condition and the instantaneous forces and moments generated; this real time estimate of the tire-road friction coefficient is expected to play a pivotal role in improving the performance of a number of vehicle control systems. In particular, this paper focuses on the possibility of enhancing the performance of the ABS control systems. In order to achieve the aforementioned objectives, the design and implementation of a fuzzy/sliding mode/proportional integral (fuzzy-SMC-PI (FSP)) control methodology is proposed. The results show significant improvements in the stopping distance of a vehicle equipped with an intelligent tire based FSP controller as compared to a vehicle equipped with a standard ABS.


Author(s):  
J. O. Hahn ◽  
R. Rajamani ◽  
L. Alexander

Vehicle control systems such as collision avoidance, adaptive cruise control and automated lane-keeping systems as well as ABS and stability control systems can benefit significantly from being made “road-adaptive”. The estimation of tire-road friction coefficient at the wheels allows the control algorithm in such systems to adapt to external driving conditions. This paper develops a new tire-road friction coefficient estimation algorithm based on measurements related to the lateral dynamics of the vehicle. A lateral tire force model parameterized as a function of slip angle, friction coefficient, normal force and cornering stiffness is used. A real-time parameter identification algorithm that utilizes measurements from a differential GPS system and a gyroscope is used to identify the tire-road friction coefficient and cornering stiffness parameters of the tire. The advantage of the developed algorithm is that it does not require large longitudinal slip in order to provide reliable friction estimates. Simulation studies indicate that a parameter convergence rate of one second can be obtained. Experiments conducted on both dry and slippery road indicate that the algorithm can work very effectively in identifying a slippery road. Two other new approaches to real-time tire road friction identification system are also discussed in the paper.


Author(s):  
L Li ◽  
J Song ◽  
H-Z Li ◽  
D-S Shan ◽  
L Kong ◽  
...  

The contact friction characteristic between a tyre and the road is a key factor that dominates the dynamics performance of a vehicle under critical conditions. Vehicle dynamics control systems, such as anti-lock braking systems, traction control systems, and electronic stability control systems (e.g. Elektronisches Stabilitäts Programm (ESP)), need an accurate road friction coefficient to adjust the control mode. No time delay in the estimation of road friction should be allowed, thereby avoiding the disappearance of the optimal control point. A comprehensive method to predict the road friction is suggested on the basis of the sensor fusion method, which is suitable for variations in the vehicle dynamics characteristics and the control modes. The multi-sensor signal fusion method is used to predict the road friction coefficient for a steering manoeuvre without braking; if active braking is involved, simplified models of the braking pressure and tyre force are adopted to predict the road friction coefficient and, when high-intensity braking is being considered, the neural network based on the optimal distribution method of the decay power is applied to predict the road friction coefficient. The method is validated through a ground test under complicated manoeuvre conditions. It was verified that the comprehensive method predicts the road friction coefficient promptly and accurately.


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