On robust controllers for active steering systems of articulated heavy vehicles

Abstract

This paper examines the robustness of different controllers for active steering systems (ASSs) of articulated heavy vehicles (AHVs) in terms of the directional performance. Controllers based on the linear quadratic regulator (LQR) technique were designed for ASSs. The success of the LQR-based controllers is dependent on the accuracy of linear models for AHVs. When designing ASS controllers, linearisation of the AHV models is usually necessary; this results in model inaccuracy and un-modelled dynamics, and the robustness of the LQR-based controllers may be degraded. ASSs for AHVs are assessed in the time-domain, which may lead to an incomplete performance evaluation. This paper assesses the robustness of the ASS controllers designed with the techniques of sliding mode control (SMC), nonlinear sliding mode control (NSMC), and mu-synthesis (MS). The ASS controllers are evaluated using numerical simulation in terms of the trade-off between the manoeuvrability and the lateral stability at high speeds.