A Comparison of Two Optimal Preview Driver Models for Automobile Directional Control

A systematic comparison between the two position preview driver models, the optimal preview acceleration model and the optimal preview control model for directional control has been carried out in this paper by means of the theoretical analysis and the digital simulation. The comparison results indicate that the optimal preview control model belongs essentially to the second order following control system, and its following performance is not so good as the optimal preview acceleration model in which the order number is greater than 2. Also, the results from the double-lane-change experiment of the closed-loop system show that the control strategy of most real drivers is basically corresponding to the so-called second-and-half-order optimal preview acceleration model.