HAPTIC STEERING SUPPORT FOR DRIVING NEAR THE VEHICLE’S HANDLING LIMITS; SKID-PAD CASE

• Published in: International journal of automotive technology 2014, 15(1), 75, pp.151-163
• Main Authors: D. I. KATZOURAKIS, E. VELENIS, E. HOLWEG, R. HAPPEE
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 자동차공학
• ISSN: 1229-9138; 1976-3832
• DOI: 10.1007/s12239−014−0017−7

Current vehicle dynamic control systems from simple yaw control to high-end active steering support systemsare designed to primarily actuate on the vehicle itself, rather than stimulate the driver to adapt his/her inputs for better vehiclecontrol. The driver though dictates the vehicle’s motion, and centralizing him/her in the control loop is hypothesized topromote safety and driving pleasure. Exploring the above statement, the goal of this study is to develop and evaluate a hapticsteering support when driving near the vehicle’s handling limits (Haptic Support Near the Limits; HSNL). The support aimsto promote the driver’s perception of the vehicle’s behaviour and handling capacity (the vehicle’s internal model) by providinghaptic (torque) cues on the steering wheel. The HSNL has been evaluated in (a) driving simulator tests and (b) tests with avehicle (Opel Astra G/B) equipped with a variable steering feedback torque system. Drivers attempted to achieve maximumvelocity while trying to retain control in a circular skid-pad. In the simulator (a) 25 subjects drove a vehicle modelparameterised as the Astra on a dry skid-pad while in (b) 17 subjects drove the real Astra on a wet skid-pad. Both the drivingsimulator and the real vehicle tests led to the conclusion that the HSNL assisted subjects to drive closer to the designated pathwhile achieving effectively the same speed. With the HSNL the drivers operated the tires in smaller slip angles and henceavoided saturation of the front wheels’ lateral forces and excessive understeer. Finally, the HSNL reduced their mental andphysical demand. KCI Citation Count: 5