Application of a driver model in computer simulation of a car motion

The paper presents a driver model, which can be used in a computer simulation of a curved ride of a car. A computer simulation of the curved ride and directional control of the car plays a significant role in a study of vehicle active safety, as the cheapest and safest investigation method. An analysis based on an advanced dynamic vehicle model only is not satisfactory in many cases, when an interaction between the driver and the vehicle is not to neglect. The double lane change maneuver (ISO/TR 3888) is an example of the typical test procedure in which the vehicle-driver- environment model should be taken into consideration.

In elaborated driver model it is assumed that the visual signal is most important for a directional control of the car. The driver model is described by three parameters: aim point distance, response delay and steering angle gain.

The driver model can be used in studies of vehicle handling and stability when closed-loop procedures are needed. Examples of the model application in computer simulations of such test procedures as the double lane change maneuver and the wind gust maneuver are presented in the paper. It is shown that the use of the driver model in computer simulation of the car motion allows adapting better the car construction and its dynamic properties to the psychophysical characteristics of the driver and thus can contribute to improve the active safety of the car.