Driver model and assistance function evaluation apparatus and method for vehicle dynamics control system in which driver model is equipped

• US 7,413,267 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Katayama, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez; Pam
• Application Number:
  US11/124,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20050275284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 303/165, 701/70, 701/71, 701/77
• US Class Current: 303/165
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

In assistance function evaluation apparatus and method for a vehicle dynamics control system, the vehicle dynamics control system being an object to be evaluated, a simulator is provided to obtain a data base when the vehicle dynamics control system is operated, a vehicle model, a road surface environment model, and a driver model that calculates a steering angle imposed on the vehicle model to trace a target course are provided, the simulator comprises a driver intention quantity detecting section that detects an intention quantity of a vehicle driver to move the vehicle in a lateral direction and a system function detecting section that detects a function quantity of the vehicle dynamics control system and evaluates that the assistance function of the vehicle dynamics control system is in conformity to the driver when the system function quantity and the driver intention quantity are balanced without excess or deficiency.

Claims

1. A driver model apparatus used to reproduce a travel along a set target course through a simulation, comprising:

a calculating section that detects a positional deviation quantity as a deviation between a vehicular lateral displacement which would be developed in a case where the vehicle is advanced to a forward gaze point with a present vehicle posture maintained, the forward gaze point being a location point separated from the vehicle by a predetermined forward gaze distance and a location on the set target course which would develop in a case where the vehicle is advanced on the target course, detects a yaw angle deviation quantity as a deviation of a yaw angle displacement and a target yaw angle and calculates a steering angle imposed on a vehicle model through a feedback control using the positional deviation quantity, a positional deviation gain, the yaw angle deviation quantity and a yaw angle deviation gain.

2. A driver model apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined forward gaze distance is set according to a distance at which the vehicle would be present after a set time in a case where a present vehicle speed is maintained.

3. An assistance function evaluation apparatus for a vehicle dynamics control system, the vehicle dynamics control system being an object to be evaluated and the assistance function evaluation apparatus comprising:

models modeled for vehicle elements other than the vehicle dynamics control system, the models comprising;

a vehicle model that is architected with parameterized characteristics of parts of a vehicle;

a road surface environment model that prescribes a target course; and

a driver model that calculates a steering angle imposed on the vehicle model to trace the target course; and

a simulator configured to obtain a data base when the vehicle dynamics control system is operated, the simulator comprising;

a driver intention quantity detecting section that detects an intention quantity of a vehicle driver to move the vehicle in a lateral direction; and

a system function detecting section that detects a function quantity of the vehicle dynamics control system, and

wherein the simulator is configured for evaluating that an assistance function of the vehicle dynamics control system is in conformity to the driver when the system function quantity and the driver intention quantity are balanced without excess or deficiency.

4. An assistance function evaluation apparatus for a vehicle dynamics control system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the driver intention quantity detecting section of the simulator obtains a grip limit vehicle speed and a passage limit vehicle speed by an execution of a simulation in which the target course is traced using the driver model and calculates a steering increment quantity according to a difference between a second steering quantity at the time of the passage limit vehicle speed and a first steering quantity at the time of the grip limit vehicle speed.

5. An assistance function evaluation apparatus for a vehicle dynamics control system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the system function detecting section obtains a grip limit vehicle speed and a passage limit vehicle speed by an execution of a simulation in which the target course is traced using the driver model and calculates an assistance rate according to a division of the passage limit vehicle speed by the grip limit vehicle speed.

6. An assistance function evaluation apparatus for a vehicle dynamics control system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the system function detecting section:

executes the simulation in which the prescribed target course is traced with a vehicle speed raised by a unit of a set vehicle speed width using the driver model, the vehicle model, and the road surface environment model,

defines the vehicle speed immediately before a front road wheel slip angle is in excess of a predetermined grip limit determination threshold value as the grip limit vehicle speed, and

defines the vehicle speed immediately before the vehicle goes out of the target course as the passage limit vehicle speed.

7. An assistance function evaluation apparatus for a vehicle dynamics control system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the simulator includes a first assistance function evaluation map setting section in which a first assistance function evaluation map with a first axis as the driver intention quantity, with a second axis as the system function quantity, and with the first axis and the second axis mutually intersected is set,

when, on the first assistance function evaluation map, an evaluation point determined according to the detected driver intention quantity and system function quantity falls in a first region in which both of the driver intention quantity and the system function quantity are larger than those of a third region in which the driver intention quantity and the system function quantity are smaller than those of the first region or falls in the third region, the simulator evaluates that the assistance function of the vehicle dynamics control system is in conformity to the driver, and

when the evaluation point falls in either a second region or a fourth region in which one of the driver intention quantity and the system function quantity is larger than that of the third region and the other thereof is smaller than that of the first region, the simulator evaluates that the assistance function of the vehicle dynamics control system has excess or deficiency and is not in conformity to the driver.

8. An assistance function evaluation apparatus for a vehicle dynamics control system as claimed in claim 7, wherein an intersecting point between the first axis and the second axis on the first assistance function evaluation map is a point indicating the driver intention quantity on the first axis at a grip limit of a front wheel tire and a point indicating the system function quantity on the second axis at which the vehicle dynamics control system exhibits the assistance function without excess or deficiency.

9. An assistance function evaluation apparatus for a vehicle dynamics control system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the intersecting point between the first axis and the second axis on the first assistance function evaluation map is set to a position moved in a direction in which, as a wheel base or tread of the vehicle becomes larger, the driver intention quantity on the first axis becomes smaller.

10. An assistance function evaluation apparatus for a vehicle dynamics control system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the intersecting point between the first axis and the second axis on the first assistance function evaluation map is set to a position moved in a direction in which, as a steering gear ratio of the vehicle becomes quicker, the driver intention quantity on the first axis becomes smaller.

11. An assistance function evaluation apparatus for a vehicle dynamics control system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the intersecting point between the first axis and the second axis on the first assistance function evaluation map is set to a position moved in a direction in which, as a potential of a base model vehicle becomes higher, the system function quantity on the second axis becomes smaller.

12. An assistance function evaluation apparatus for a vehicle dynamics control system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the intersecting point between the first axis and the second axis on the first assistance function evaluation map is set to a position moved in a direction in which, as a coefficient of friction of a running road surface becomes lower, the system function quantity on the second axis becomes smaller.

13. An assistance function evaluation apparatus for a vehicle dynamics control system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the intersecting point between the first axis and the second axis on the first assistance function evaluation map is set to a position moved in a direction in which, as an entry vehicle speed to the target course becomes higher, the system function quantity on the second axis becomes smaller.

14. An assistance function evaluation apparatus for a vehicle dynamics control system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the simulator includes a second assistance function evaluation map setting section in which a second assistance function evaluation map with a first axis as the driver intention quantity and a second axis as the system function quantity is set,

on the second assistance function evaluation map, a belt-like region in which the driver intention quantity and the system function quantity are proportionally varied is set to be a conformity zone, and

when an evaluation point determined according to the detected driver intention quantity and the system function quantity is present in the conformity zone, the simulator evaluates that the assistance function of the vehicle dynamics control system is in conformity to the driver, and, when the evaluation point is out of the conformity zone, the simulator evaluates that the assistance function of the vehicle dynamics control system has excess or deficiency and is not in conformity to the driver.

15. An assistance function evaluation apparatus for a vehicle dynamics control system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the simulator includes a third assistance function evaluation map setting section in which a third assistance function evaluation map with a first axis as the driver intention quantity and a second axis as the system function quantity is set,

on the third assistance function evaluation map, a belt-like region in which an allowable width with respect to a reference characteristic which is already conformed to be a conformity evaluation is set to be a conformity zone,

when an evaluation point determined according to the detected driver intention quantity and the system function quantity is present in the conformity zone, the simulator evaluates that the assistance function of the vehicle dynamics control system is in conformity to the driver, and, when the evaluation point is out of the conformity zone, the simulator evaluates that the assistance function of the vehicle dynamics control system has excess or deficiency and is not in conformity to the driver.

16. An assistance function evaluation method for a vehicle dynamics control system, the vehicle dynamics control system being an object to be evaluated and the assistance function evaluation method comprising:

providing models modeled for vehicle elements other than the vehicle dynamics control system, the models comprising;

a vehicle model that is architected with parameterized characteristics of parts of a vehicle;

a road surface environment model that prescribes a target course; and

a driver model that calculates a steering angle imposed on the vehicle model to trace the target course; and

a simulator configured to obtain a data base when the vehicle dynamics control system is operated, the simulator is configured to perform the steps of;

detecting an intention quantity of a vehicle driver to move the vehicle in a lateral direction,

detecting a function quantity of the vehicle dynamics control system, and

evaluating that an assistance function of the vehicle dynamics control system is in conformity to the driver when the system function quantity and the driver intention quantity are balanced without excess or deficiency.