Integrated Vehicle Dynamics Control —state-of-the art review

Chassis control systems have evolved dramatically over the past two decades and their impacts on vehicle dynamics can be usefully separated into the three directions, i.e. lateral, longitudinal and vertical directions. Accordingly, the state survey of chassis control systems can be reviewed in following sub-system areas, i.e. steering, driveline/braking and suspension. The developments within each of these areas have progressed at different rates and each has had different impacts on improving vehicle behavior in relation to safety, ride, handling dynamics or economy. However, the biggest challenge is in the whole chassis integration of these sub-systems to avoid their interventions and thus to improve overall vehicle dynamics performance. Hence, a hot research topic, named integrated vehicle dynamics control (IVDC) or integrated chassis control, arose. Based on the published literatures in the recent twenty years, this paper presents a comprehensive state of the art survey on IVDC. First, the roadmap and methodologies of IVDC are reviewed, and then the control strategies of coordination between the subsystems are summarized. At present, integration technique between steering and braking/traction has been most concerned, and is being researched and developed intensively both in academic and industrial aspects. It can be expected that once X-by-Wire technology and actuator hardware are further developed, more potential benefits of IVDC can be obtained.