Haptic Steering Support for Driving Near the Vehicle´s Handling Limits: Test-Track Case

Current vehicle dynamic control systems from simple yaw control to high-end active steering support systems are designed to primarily actuate on the vehicle itself, rather than stimulate the driver to adapt his/her inputs for better vehicle control. The driver though dictates the vehicle´s motion, and centralizing him/her in the control loop is hypothesized to promote safety and driving pleasure. Exploring the above statement, the goal of this paper is to develop and evaluate a haptic steering support when driving near the vehicle´s handling limits [Haptic Support near the Limits (HSNL)]. The support aims to promote the driver´s perception of the vehicle´s behavior and handling capacity (the vehicle´s internal model) by providing haptic cues on the steering wheel. The HSNL has been evaluated in a test track where 17 test subjects drove around a narrow-twisting tarmac circuit, a vehicle (Opel Astra G/B) equipped with a steering system able to provide variable steering feedback torque. The drivers were instructed to achieve maximum velocity through corners while receiving haptic steering feedback cues related to the vehicle´s cornering potentials. The test-track tests led to the conclusion that haptic support reduced drivers´ mental and physical demand without affecting their driving performance.