Abstract
Driveline, steering, and chassis systems mainly define the drivability and the vehicle performance. Moreover, electronically controlled systems optimize performance according to the actual driving situation. For example, active chassis systems allow for the trade-off between hard sportive and softer comfortable chassis tuning to be solved.
The networking of active driveline and chassis systems has at least two main aspects: On the one hand, networking provides new functionality which cannot be realized with the single systems only (1 + 1 = 3). For instance, networking active front steering and braking system reduces brake distance and simplifies vehicle handling in µ-split braking situations (yaw moment control). On the other hand, networking can avoid undesired system interactions.
In this paper, we will demonstrate the whole spectrum of networked driveline, steering, and chassis systems both from an intelligent actuator and from a vehicle dynamics point of view. Intelligent actuators allow the high level strategy functionality to be separated from actuation of the systems. In this way, standardized suppliers´ actuators can be combined with brandspecific calibrations of driving behavior.
For each of the three vehicle dynamics domains (lateral, longitudinal and vertical), we shall give an example of networked systems. In the lateral domain, we shall discuss electric power steering and active steering systems and their contribution to networked vehicle dynamics. In the longitudinal domain, we shall give examples of networked functionality including torque vectoring systems such as torque on demand 4WD and lateral torque distribution. Finally in the vertical domain, we shall elucidate the benefit of combining variable dampers and active roll stabilization to optimize driving comfort.
The increasing complexity caused by networking is still a challenge both for OEMs and suppliers. More efforts are needed in order to guarantee a high quality of the networked functionalities. We shall present a new hardware-in-the-loop test bench for networked driveline, steering, and chassis systems. This is a way of achieving better quality even in the face of ever increasing complexity.
Keywords: Torque Vectoring, Active Steering, Variable Damping Control, Active Roll Stabilization