A new design concept of vehicle dynamics based on active control.

Abstract

The application of an active control, such as four-wheel steering and active suspension, to cars has changed not only the vehicle dynamics design, but also the dynamic characteristics of cars. Active four-wheel steering reduces the sideslip angles of the wheels, so that the unnecessary yawing motion of cars decreases and the time lag in the dynamic response to handling also decreases. An active roll control of the car body makes use of tyre properties to the best advantage. The four-wheel steering and active suspension upgrade the dynamic performance of cars, and expand the limit performance of dynamics. An adaptive control, integrated control and intelligent control will be introduced to cars, completely changing vehicle dynamics of cars in the near future. (7 Refs.)