A Generic Fuzzy Pilot and Path Planning for Vehicle Handling Dynamics Simulation Studies

Computer simulation has been used in vehicle dynamics studies for decades. Advances in the science of vehicle dynamics and far more improved computer technology now enable automobile manufacturers to get closer to zero-prototype production than ever before. From the computer simulation point of view, having a general path generator can present researchers with great flexibility in defining vehicle handling dynamics tests. The process used for generating the vehicle's path in this study is referred to as ‘path planning’ because of some distinctive approaches used. A vehicle model is used in conjunction with a fuzzy pilot model to generate the vehicle's path through a number of specified points through which the vehicle must pass. The simulation is carried out in the Matlab^© programming environment using a Simulink^© vehicle model under Fuzzy logic control intended to imitate how a real driver would steer the vehicle to create a path through the specified points. The complexity of the path is defined by the specified points and their spacing, which can be used to describe road features such as corners, chicanes etc. The ability of a vehicle to negotiate the defined road features can therefore be simulated by testing how accurately the vehicle model/fuzzy pilot combination can create a path through the specified points.