Vehicle performance evaluation test method and apparatus

• US 6,736,003 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Takeda, Junichi, Sakamoto, Shigeru, Takenaka, Osamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAVIS, OCTAVIA L
• Application Number:
  US10/097,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20020134169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• Field of Search: 731/32, 731/21, 73/40, 731/26, 701/70, 701/76, 180/273, 602/45, 123/204.23
• US Class Current: 73/132
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 19/02 Measuring coefficient of friction between materials testing of tyres G01M17/02; determinations of friction coefficient used in vehicle braking or traction control systems B60T8/172
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0025 Shearing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0676 Force, weight, load, energy, speed or acceleration

Abstract

A method and apparatus conduct a performance evaluation test for a vehicle in which an actuator that applies a depressing force to a control member to be operated by a vehicle operator is controlled by a controller. The controller controls the actuator to automatically apply the depressing force to the control member for conducting a performance evaluation test for the vehicle, and changes control of the actuator in accordance with an actual state of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a performance evaluation test for a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing an actuator that applies a depressing force to a control member to be operated by a vehicle operator, and a controller that controls the actuator; and

controlling the actuator to automatically apply the depressing force to the control member for conducting a performance evaluation test for the vehicle;

wherein controlling the actuator comprises controlling the actuator by;

a feed-forward control amount obtained on basis of a predetermined state of the vehicle; and

then by

the feed-forward control amount obtained on the basis of the predetermined state of the vehicle, and a feedback control amount on a basis of a deviation between the predetermined state and an actual state of the vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the feedback control amount includes a proportional control amount and a integral control amount.

3. A method of conducting a performance evaluation test for a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing an actuator that applies a depressing force to a control member to be operated by a vehicle operator, and a controller that controls the actuator; and

controlling the actuator to automatically apply the depressing force to the control member for conducting a performance evaluation test for the vehicle;

wherein controlling the actuator comprises controlling the actuator by;

a feed-forward control amount obtained on a basis of predetermined state of the vehicle; and

then by

the feed-forward control amount obtained on the basis of the predetermined state of the vehicle and a proportional control amount of a feedback control obtained on a basis of a deviation between the predetermined state and an actual state of the vehicle; and

then subsequently by

the feed-forward control amount obtained on the basis of the predetermined state of the vehicle, and the proportional control amount and an integral control amount of the feedback control obtained on the basis of the deviation between the predetermined state and the actual state of the vehicle.

4. A performance evaluation test apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an actuator that presses a control member to be operated by a vehicle operator; and

a controller that controls the actuator so as to automatically press the control member for conducting a performance evaluation test for the vehicle;

wherein the actuator is controlled by a feed-forward control amount obtained on a basis of a predetermined state of the vehicle, and the actuator is then controlled by the feed-forward control amount on the basis of the predetermined state of the vehicle, and a feedback control amount on a basis of a deviation between the predetermined state and an actual state of the vehicle.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the feedback control amount includes a proportional control amount and an integral control amount.

6. A performance evaluation test apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an actuator that presses a control member to be operated by a vehicle operator; and

a controller that controls the actuator so as to automatically press the control member for conducting a performance evaluation test for the vehicle;

wherein the actuator is controlled by a feed-forward control amount obtained on a basis of a predetermined state of the vehicle, then the actuator is controlled by the feed-forward control amount obtained on the basis of the predetermined state of the vehicle and a proportional control amount of a feedback control on a basis of a deviation between the predetermined state and an actual state of the vehicle, and subsequently the actuator is controlled by the feed-forward control amount obtained on the basis of the predetermined state of the vehicle, and the proportional control amount and an integral control amount of the feedback control on the basis of the deviation between the predetermined state and the actual state of the vehicle.