Browse Topic: Comfort

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New generation Natural Rubber-Based Bump Stopper with Improved NVH Characteristics2026-26-0292To be published on 01/16/2026
In automotive suspension systems, components like bump stoppers and jounce bumpers play critical roles in controlling suspension travel and enhancing ride comfort. Material selection for these components is driven by functional demands and performance criteria. Traditionally, Natural rubber (NR) has traditionally been favoured for bump stopper applications due to its excellent vibration absorption, tear resistance, cost-effectiveness, and biodegradability. However, in more demanding environments, it has been largely replaced by microcellular polyurethane (PU) elastomers, which offer superior durability, environmental resistance, and enhanced noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) performance. PU's high compressibility, low lateral expansion, and low compression set make it the material of choice across automotive, aerospace, and industrial sectors. Other materials like thermoplastic elastomers (TPE/TPU) and EPDM rubber are also used, offering advantages such as recyclability, ease of
Murugesan, Annarajan, Hingalaje, Abhijeet, Perumal, Mathavan, Pawar, Rohit
The Impact of Color Correlated Temperature (CCT) on Automotive Headlights Performance and Driver Perception2026-26-0130To be published on 01/16/2026
Automotive lighting has been evolved from simple incandescent lamps to advanced LED based AFS and ADB functions. These lighting play crucial role in road traffic enhancing better visibility and safety to driver as well as other road users. Today’s Automotive Headlights use different light sources viz., Halogen, HID (Xenon), LED, and Laser each emitting light at different correlated color temperatures (CCT), measured in Kelvin (K). Color temperature not only influences visibility but also impacts the amount and perception of glare experienced by other drivers. The study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of correlated color temperature of automotive headlamps on driver visibility and comfort during night driving conditions. The experiment was conducted in a controlled laboratory environment using headlamps with different CCTs ranging from 3000K to 6500K. Participants from various age groups and genders were involved to capture diverse perceptions. Studies confirm that both CCT and
Patil, Mahendra G., Kirve, Jyoti, Parlikar, Padmakumar
Addressing Safety Belt Discomfort Among Female Driving Population Through Data Collection and Simulation2026-26-0016To be published on 01/16/2026
The rate of female drivers in India is increasing alongside the rapid growth of the Indian automotive industry. A driving comfort survey conducted among female drivers revealed that many experiences dis-comfort when wearing Safety belts-whether while driving or as front-seat passengers. This discomfort is primarily due to a phenomenon referred to as "neck cutting." The root cause of neck cutting is likely related to vehicle design, which is traditionally based on Anthropometric Test Devices (ATD's) representing the 5th, 50th & 95th percentile (%tile) of the global population. However, a literature review indicated that the anthropometric dimensions of the Indian populations are generally smaller than those of the global for the respective candidate. This highlighted the need to collect region-specific anthropometric data for India. To validate the neck-cutting issue, various female candidates were asked to sit in the Driver's seat for physical measurements trials. Accordingly
Kulkarni, Nachiket A, Chitodkar, Vivek V, Eknath Chopade, Santosh, Mahajan, Rahul, Yamgar, Babasaheb S
A Scientific approach to identify the source of intermittent steering rattle noise and implementing the design solutions2026-26-0346To be published on 01/16/2026
Body-on-frame vehicles are well-regarded for their durability and off-road capabilities, but their structural design often makes them more vulnerable to noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) issues. Vibrations originating from uneven roads are transmitted through the suspension and steering assemblies, sometimes resulting in rattles or other disturbances. These vibrations can be amplified by the inherent flexibility in the body-to-frame mounting system. In such vehicles, the steering system plays a critical role in driver comfort and is highly sensitive to vibrational inputs from the road surface, especially on coarse or uneven terrain. Occasionally, these inputs result in subtle rattle noises that are perceptible only to the driver and may not be detected under controlled testing environments. This poses a challenge for engineers trying to isolate and resolve such intermittent NVH phenomena. Identifying the source requires a combination of real-world driving evaluations, structural
Ramesh Chand, Karan Kumar, Gopinathan, Haridoss, Kabdal, Amit
Refinement of Road Induced Steering Wheel Vibration in Electric Vehicle2026-26-0337To be published on 01/16/2026
Nowadays, customers expect excellent cabin insulation and superior ride comfort in electric vehicle. OEMs focuses on fine tuning the suspension system in electric vehicle to isolate the road shocks which finally offers superior ride quality. This paper focuses on the enhancing the ride comfort by reducing the steering wheel vibration which mainly originates due to road inputs. Higher steering wheel vibrations are perceived on the test vehicle when driven on rough road at the speed of 50 kmph. To determine the predominant force transfer path, Multi reference Transfer Path Analysis (MTPA) is performed on the front and rear suspension. Based on the finding from MTPA, various recommendations are explored and the effect of each modification is discussed. Apart from this, Operational Deflection Shape (ODS) analysis is carried out on the entire steering system to identify the deflection shape at the operating condition. Based on ODS findings, recommendations like dynamic stiffness
S, Nataraja Moorthy, Rao, Manchi, Selvam, Ebinezer, Raghavendran, Prasath
Modelling and Simulation of Key Vehicle Dynamics Parameters for a Conceptual Race Car2026-26-0085To be published on 01/16/2026
Abstract Vehicle dynamics is a vital area of automotive engineering that focuses on analysing how a vehicle responds to driver inputs and external factors like road conditions and environmental influences. Achieving optimal performance, safety, and ride comfort requires a detailed understanding of longitudinal, lateral, and vertical dynamic behaviour. The objective of this paper is to develop and validate the model of a concept Race car and evaluate its vehicle dynamics behaviour using IPG CarMaker, a high-fidelity virtual testing environment widely used in industry. The model incorporates a range of vehicle parameters, including suspension parameters like spring and damper characteristics, mass distribution, tire properties and powertrain parameters. The evaluation is done using standard ISO test manoeuvres, including Constant Radius turn test (ISO 4138), Sine Steer test (ISO 8725) and other standard tests like Acceleration, Braking along with Ride and Comfort classification (as per
Agrewale, Mohammad Rafiq B., Vaish, Ujjwal
Development of a GUI-Based Pitch Sequence Optimization Tool for Tyre Noise Reduction2026-26-0330To be published on 01/16/2026
Minimizing tyre noise is essential for enhancing ride comfort, especially in electric vehicles where the absence of engine noise makes tyre-generated sound more prominent. This work presents the development of a GUI-based pitch sequence optimization tool to support tyre design engineers in generating acoustically optimized tread sequences. The tool operates in two modes: without constraints, where the pitch sequence is optimized freely to reduce tonal noise levels; and with constraints, where specific design rules are applied to preserve pattern consistency and manufacturability. This tool plays a pivotal role in the tire development process, serving as one of the key evaluation criteria for tread pattern approval before mould fabrication. By enabling engineers to generate balanced, low-noise pitch sequences that align with both acoustic targets and engineering constraints, the tool facilitates faster design iterations and smooth integration with downstream processes. Its successful
Sampathraghavan, Lakshmi, Ramarathnam, Krishna Kumar, Mantripragada PhD, Krishna Teja, Ramachandran, Neeraj
Development of a High-Fidelity Vehicle Dynamics Model with Rear-Wheel Active Roll Control for Improved Stability2026-26-0093To be published on 01/16/2026
This work introduces a unified vehicle dynamics framework that combines detailed modeling and active control to enhance ride comfort and handling stability. A full 12-degree-of-freedom vehicle model is developed to simulate dynamic responses across a range of driving conditions. Unlike conventional approaches, this model incorporates both linear and nonlinear tire behavior, enabling more accurate prediction of vehicle motion. To further improve performance, an active roll control mechanism is proposed, utilizing rear-wheel suspension actuators to counteract undesired body roll and yaw instabilities. A novel co-simulation environment is established by coupling MATLAB/Simulink-based control strategies with high-fidelity multibody dynamics from ADAMS Car. The model is calibrated and validated using experimental data from an instrumented test vehicle. Results show that the integrated control system significantly reduces critical parameters such as roll angle, yaw rate deviation, and
Duraikannu, Dinesh, DUMPALA, GANGI REDDY
Experimental Evaluation of Tyre Vertical Dynamic Stiffness and Damping for Ride Model Applications Using Flat Trac2026-26-0607To be published on 01/16/2026
The damping and vertical dynamic stiffness of a tyre are critical to ride comfort and overall dynamics, particularly for low-frequency excitations in urban and highway driving. Accurate ride models depend on precise tyre parameterization, as tyres are the primary interface between the vehicle and the road, absorbing surface irregularities before the suspension engages. This study investigates an experimental methodology characterizing the vertical dynamic behaviour of pneumatic tyres using a Flat Trac test machine. Contrary to the conventional approaches that depend on intricate shaker rigs or frequency dependence function models, the proposed technique uses a realistic force displacement loop-based technology which is appropriate for ride model applications. Dynamic stiffness is calculated as the peak force divided by peak displacement during vertical sinusoidal excitation. Damping is derived from hysteresis energy loss per cycle. The tests were conducted under various conditions by
Duryodhana, Dasari, Sethumadhavan, Arjun, Tomer, Avinash, Ghosh, Prasenjit, Mukhopadhyay, Rabindra
Cabin Heat-up Thermal Assessment for Human Comfort in Passenger Car2026-26-0408To be published on 01/16/2026
The HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning) system is designed to fulfil the thermal comfort requirement inside vehicle cabin. Thermal comfort is significantly subjective which predominantly dependent on occupant’s physiological condition. Vehicle AC performance is evaluated by air flow and local temperature thus, thermal comfort assessment is carried out by mapping of velocity and temperature at various places inside cabin. There is need to have Simulation methodology for heating cabin during cold climate to assess ventilation system effectiveness. Thermal comfort modelling involves human manikin, complex cabin material along with environmental condition in expensive transient simulation. Present study employed with LBM (Lattice-Boltzmann Method) based PowerFLOW solver coupled with finite element based PowerTHERM solver to simulate the cold soaking and heating up of cabin. Thermal comfort is subjective to human physiological modelling thus in-built Berkeley human comfort
Baghel, Devesh Kumar, Kandekar, Ambadas, Kumar, Ravi, Dimble, Nilesh
Comprehensive Evaluation of Bolster Behavior: Field Data Insights for Design Modifications2026-26-0497To be published on 01/16/2026
Bogie suspension systems are increasingly being used in tipper vehicles to enhance their performance and durability, especially in demanding environments like construction and mining areas. Bolsters play a very crucial role in the bogie suspension systems of tipper vehicles, contributing significantly to their overall performance and durability. Bolsters help in evenly distributing the load across the suspension system, reducing stress on individual components and enhancing the vehicle’s stability. They act as shock absorbers, mitigating the impact of rough terrains and heavy loads, which is essential for maintaining the structural integrity of the vehicle. By dampening vibrations, bolsters improve ride comfort and reduce wear and tear on the vehicle’s components, leading to longer service life. Bolsters assist in maintaining proper alignment of the suspension system, ensuring optimal performance and safety. This study focuses on the comprehensive testing and evaluation of bolsters to
V Dhage, Yogesh, Kolage, Vikas
Quantifying Naturalistic Changes in Occupant Postures in Belt-Positioning Booster Seats Utilizing Pressure Mats2025-22-0008To be published on 12/02/2025
Belt-positioning booster seats (BPBs) help promote proper seat belt fit for children in vehicles. The effectiveness of BPBs depends on occupant posture, which can be influenced by BPB design features. This study aimed to quantitatively describe how children's postures naturally change over time in BPBs, using pressure mats. Thirty children aged 5 to 12 participated in two 30-minute trials using randomly assigned seating configurations. Five configurations were studied by installing two backless BPBs in vehicle captain’s chairs, varying booster profile (high, low, or no BPB) and armrest presence (with or without BPB/vehicle seat armrests). TekScan 5250 pressure mats were placed on the seating surfaces. Children began in an ideal reference posture, and center of force (COF) data were collected continuously. Additional observations on posture, behavior, and comfort were periodically collected. Mixed models, including effects of seating configuration, time, and volunteer characteristics
Connell, Rosalie, Baker, Gretchen H., Mansfield, Julie A.
Hydro-Pneumatic Suspension Optimization for Mining Explosion-Proof Vehicles in Underground Coal Mines2025-99-010611/11/2025
This study investigates the critical factors influencing the performance of hydro-pneumatic suspension systems (HPSS) in mining explosion-proof engineering vehicles operating in complex underground coal mine environments. To address challenges such as poor ride comfort and insufficient load-bearing capacity under harsh mining conditions, a two-stage pressure HPSS was analyzed through integrated numerical modeling and field validation. A mathematical model was established based on the structural principles of the suspension system, focusing on key parameters including cylinder bore (195–255 mm), piston area (170–210 mm), damping orifice diameter (7–8 mm), check valve flow area, and accumulator configurations (low-pressure: 1.2 MPa, high-pressure: 6 MPa). Experimental trials were conducted in active coal mines, simulating typical mining scenarios such as uneven road surfaces (120 mm obstacles), heavy-load gangue transportation, and confined-space operations in thin coal seams (<1.5 m
Song, Yan, Liang, Yufang
Design Strategies for “Front Stabilizer Link Assembly” for Maximized Wheel Articulation in All Terrain for Passenger Car Application2025-28-030911/06/2025
The stabilizer link, also commonly referred to as the sway bar link or anti-roll bar link, plays a crucial role in the suspension system. It connects the sway bar to suspension components such as the knuckle, control arm, or strut. The primary function of the stabilizer link is to reduce body roll during cornering or when driving over uneven terrain. It helps stabilize the wheels during extreme articulation events and ensures smoother operation in terms of ride comfort and handling. Additionally, it is designed to assist in distributing forces across the suspension system, particularly in off-road or rugged terrain applications. This case study presents the failure of a stabilizer link assembly during extreme articulation events. The front stabilizer link failed during vehicle-level durability and functional testing across multiple terrains. Based on the root cause analysis, design strategies were developed to prevent such failures and to ensure reliable operation during demanding off
S, Praveen Kumar, Chilakala, Raghavendra, Senthil Raja, T, Jadhav, Prashant, Kundan, Lal, J, Akhil, Pawar, Sandip
Enhancing Tractor Operator Comfort and Safety Through Advanced Drive Assistance Features2025-28-021611/06/2025
Operating tractors on inclined & uneven terrains for prolonged operations presents safety and ergonomic challenges. Applications such as shuttle operations, loader use, or long-duration implement usage prove to be highly critical based on field observations across Mahindra tractor platforms and it requires skill & experience for maneuvering at ease across usage. We identified the need to offload these repeatable tasks from the operator to improve control & offer comfort. This paper explains the role of Advanced drive assistance features developed for Mahindra tractors suited for all prime mover types – ICE, Alternate Fuels including electric. These features include Hill Hold, Electronic parking brake, Cruise control & Creep mode. Each feature is designed to offload frequent manual tasks from the operator and ensure smoother, safer operation. Hill hold and electronic parking brake work in tandem to offer unparalleled safety by eliminating the fear of tractor roll back in uneven terrain
M, Rojer, Sundaram, Pavithra, Natarajan, Saravanan, Devakumar, Kiran, Muniappan, Balakrishnan
Attribute Optimization of Multi-Zone Climate Control System for Indian Applications2025-28-042410/30/2025
Single-zone cabin climate control systems have been standard for decades in passenger cars. Looking at the technology trend, which is transitioning from single-zone to multi-zone automatic control systems, it is now possible to provide zonal comfort tailored to the individual requirements of each passenger. In current single-zone climate control systems, maintaining the cabin temperature as stated by the passenger has been straightforward and can be achieved with slight calibration efforts using the present set of parameters and sensors until now. In this work, a multi-zone climate system highlighting the importance of individual calibration parameters in improving cabin comfort when transitioning from a single-zone to a multi-zone climate control system is proposed. As multi-zone climate systems are based on passenger set temperature requests for individual zonal comfort, appropriate controller fine-tuning is challenging when an input is taken from various sensed parameters, including
Varma, Mohit, Swarnkar, Sumit Kumar, BHOSALE, KRISHNA, Patil, Prashant, Sardesai, Suresh
Risk Assessment of Delayed MAC Compressor Engagement on Occupant Thermal Comfort2025-28-039910/30/2025
Mobile air conditioning (MAC) systems play a critical role in ensuring occupant thermal comfort, particularly under extreme ambient conditions. Any delay in compressor engagement directly affects cabin cooldown performance, impacting both perceived and measured comfort levels. This study assesses the thermal comfort risks associated with compressor engagement delays of 6.5 seconds and 13 seconds under varying ambient conditions. A comprehensive frontloading approach was employed, integrating 1D CAE simulations with objective and subjective experimental testing. Initial simulations provided insights into transient cabin heat load behavior and air distribution effectiveness, enabling efficient test case selection. Physical testing was conducted in a controlled climatic chamber under severe (>40°C) ambient condition, replicating real-world scenarios. Objective metrics, including cabin air temperature, vent temperature and cooldown rates, were measured to quantify thermal performance
Kulkarni, Shridhar, Deshmukh, Ganesh, Joshi, Gaurav, Shah, Geet, Jaybhay, Sambhaji
Integral–Derivative-Tilted Controller for Semi-Active Magnetorheological Truck Suspension System Using Combined Multi-Objective Ant Colony Optimization Algorithm02-19-02-000910/29/2025
This study proposes a novel control strategy for a semi-active truck suspension system using an integral–derivative-tilted (ID-T) controller, developed as a modification of the TID controller. The ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm is employed to tune the controller parameters. Performance is evaluated on an eight-degrees-of-freedom semi-active suspension system equipped with MR dampers. The objective is to minimize essential dynamic responses (displacement, velocity, and acceleration) of the sprung mass, cabin, and seat. The controller also considers the nonlinear effects including suspension travel, pitch dynamics, dynamic tire loads, and seat-level vibration dose value (VDV). System performance is assessed under both single bump and random road excitations. The ACO-tuned ID-T controller is compared against passive suspension, MR passive (OFF/ON), and ACO-tuned PID and TID controllers. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed controller achieves superior performance in
Gad, S., Metered, H., Bassiuny, A. M.
Research on Automotive Vibration Comfort Based on Psychological Indicators2025-99-004610/17/2025
In recent years, the vibration comfort of automobiles has become a key consideration for consumers when purchasing vehicles. This study introduces human electrocardiogram (ECG) signals and blood pressure, and proposes a comfort prediction model based on physiological indicators. The research steps include: obtaining riding indicators and subjective feelings on flat and bumpy roads, and analyzing the differences in heart rate variability indicators and blood pressure under different road conditions through paired sample tests; playing different sound signals on bumpy roads, and using repeated measures analysis of variance to explore their impacts on physiological indicators and subjective evaluations; conducting data validity tests on the subjective evaluation results, and constructing a comfort prediction model based on correlation analysis and support vector regression algorithm. The results show that there are significant differences in indicators such as the average RR interval and
Hu, Li, Chen, Hao, Wan, Yeqing, Tian, Ruili, Xu, Jiahao
Numerical Analysis of Deformation Adjustment on Wide Subgrade in Permafrost Region by Prefabricated Bridge-Type Pavement2025-99-005710/17/2025
Uneven thawing of frozen soil in the subgrade of wide highway leads to settlement difference of the pavement, which affects the driving comfort. The prefabricated bridge-type pavement mitigates the disease of wide subgrade in permafrost region by applying prefabricated slabs in the subgrade. In order to verify the deformation adjustment effect on wide subgrade of prefabricated bridge-type pavement, earth-filled pavement and prefabricated bridge-type pavement numerical models were established and subgrade mechanical behaviors were analyzed under frozen soil thawing in active layer, frozen soil thawing in localized deteriorated zone and vehicle loading. Comparative analysis of pavement settlement of earth-filled pavement and prefabricated bridge-type pavement under various cases is carried out. The results show that the maximum settlement of prefabricated bridge-type pavement decreases by about 32%~48%, and the settlement difference decreases by about 45%~65%, which has a good adjustment
Yu, Yuanqing, Zhang, Li, Wang, Shan, Cheng, Litao
Motion Planning Algorithm for Autonomous Driving Based on Trajectory Prediction2025-99-004710/17/2025
To solve the problems of trajectory prediction and obstacle avoidance of self-vehicles in autonomous driving, a obstacle avoidance algorithm that combines trajectory prediction and vehicle motion planning is proposed. Firstly, in this paper, Unscented Kalman filter and constant acceleration model, namely UKF + CA, as well as Hidden Markov model, namely HMM, are combined together. Predict the trajectory of the vehicle in front and integrate the prediction results obtained by these two methods, which can improve the accuracy of the prediction. Then, in the Frenet coordinate system, this paper adopts the methods of dynamic programming and quadratic programming to generate the planning trajectory of the self-aircraft. After that, this paper conducts collision detection between the fusion trajectory of the preceding vehicle and the planning trajectory of the self-vehicle. If there is a risk of collision, a virtual obstacle will be generated and the path will be re-planned to avoid the
Cao, Zheng, Shen, Yong-Feng, Hu, Hao-Dong, Ouyang, Le-Wen
BEV Powertrain Analytics: Network Pulse Ringing – Ripple Currents - NVH Topics2025-24-013409/07/2025
The interaction of electric, electronic (E/E) and mechanical components defines the quality of a BEV’s powertrain. Component selection, their integration and calibration aim at meeting legal requirements for EMC and safety as well as competitive targets for efficiency, NVH and driving comfort. These tasks in particular need attention on electromagnetic events on the DC bus, the high-power electronics of inverters, the e-motors, and the drive shaft. Each component within this environment is defined by its electromechanical features with variabilities selected from a large set of operating parameters. Consequently, a complete powertrain and its controllers give rise to endless combinations for powertrain operation. How to understand and avoid risk laden and ineffective parameter options, how to find powertrain control parameters for safe, efficient and comfortable operation? And how to find solutions within competitive development timeframes? Particular issues include high voltage risks
Winklhofer, Ernst, Berglez, Manuel, Kiss, Gergely, Platzer, Thomas
‘Exergames’ Aim to Make Working Out EnjoyableTBMG-5371709/01/2025
Virtual reality (VR) video games that combine screen time with exercise are a great way to get fit, but game designers face a major challenge — adherence to ‘exergames’ is low, with most users dropping out once they start to feel uncomfortable or bored.
Comprehensive Analysis of Aero-Thermal Flow Characteristics in an Agricultural Tractor Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation05-19-02-001408/01/2025
This study employs computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to analyze airflow and thermal characteristics within an agricultural tractor, focusing on operator comfort and component safety. Initial simulations identified hotspots, such as the brake pedals, operator platform, and hand throttle, where temperatures exceeded acceptable limits (rise over ambient, ROA). A multi-step approach—including sealing air leaks, adding heat insulation materials, and optimizing the deflector guard—was implemented to mitigate excessive heat. While these modifications significantly improved temperature conditions on the right platform, the left brake pedal remained problematic. Further enhancements, such as sealing an electrical socket and modifying the shroud design, effectively reduced heat exposure. The improved shroud also led to a slight decrease in static pressure (2.21%) and an 8.61% reduction in power consumption, improving airflow efficiency. Although an alternative ring fan design reduced power
Mohan, Anand, Soni, Peeyush, Sethuraman, Sriraman, Govindan, Senthilkumar, Sakthivel, Ananth, Babu, Rathish Maller
Deep Reinforcement Learning–Based Control Strategy for Electro-Hydrostatic Active Suspension15-18-03-001607/09/2025
A DRL (deep reinforcement learning) algorithm, DDPG (deep deterministic policy gradient), is proposed to address the problems of slow response speed and nonlinear feature of electro-hydrostatic actuator (EHA), a new type of actuation method for active suspension. The model-free RL (reinforcement learning) and the flexibility of optimizing general reward functions are combined with the ability of neural networks to deal with complex temporal problems through the introduction of a new framework called “actor-critic”. A EHA active suspension model is developed and incorporated into a 7-degrees-of-freedom dynamics model of the vehicle, with a reward function consisting of the vehicle dynamics parameters and the EHA pump–valve control signals. The simulation results show that the strategy proposed in this article can be highly adapted to the nonlinear hydraulic system. Compared with iLQR (iterative linear quadratic regulator), DDPG controller exhibits better control performance, achieves
Wang, Jiawei, Guo, Huiru, Deng, Xiaohe
Data-Driven Analysis of Vehicle Lateral Control in the Country Road Domain2025-01-026807/02/2025
The optimization and further development of automated driving functions offer significant potential for reducing the driver's workload and increasing road safety. Among these functions, vehicle lateral control plays a critical role, especially with regard to its acceptance by end customers. Significant development efforts are required to ensure the effectiveness and reliability of this aspect in real-world conditions. This work focuses on analyzing lateral vehicle control using extensive measurement data collected from a dedicated vehicle fleet at the Institute of Automotive Engineering at the Technical University of Braunschweig. Equipped with state-of-the-art measurement technology, the fleet has driven several hundred thousand kilometers, allowing for the collection of detailed information on vehicle trajectories under various driving conditions. A total of 93 participants, aged between 20 and 43 years, contributed to the dataset. These measurements have been classified into
Iatropoulos, Jannes, Panzer, Anna, Arntz, Martin, Prueggler, Adrian, Henze, Roman
Theory behind a Novel Method for the Quantification of Subjective Ride Comfort Phenomena2025-01-026707/02/2025
In the automotive development process objective criteria are commonly used to evaluate the full vehicle ride comfort of vehicles. Based on these characteristics, vehicle concepts can be evaluated and compared at an early stage without using physical prototypes. Usually, these characteristics are determined in subjective studies using real vehicles. However, limitations in the implementation of vehicle variants, the controllability of external influences and longer intervals between the individual assessments have a negative impact on the quality of results using these approaches. Therefore, this paper presents an improved method to transfer the subjective perception and evaluation of ride comfort phenomena to objective characteristics. The corresponding procedure is shown on the basis of a one-dimensional, periodic phenomenon that is transferred to a frequency-dependent weighting function. In this process, a 6-degree of freedom driving simulator is used to overcome the limitations
Stroesser, Simon, Angrick, Christian, Zwosta, Tobias, Neubeck, Jens, Wagner, Andreas
Fiber Computer Allows Apparel to Run Apps and “Understand” the WearerTBMG-5344407/01/2025
What if the clothes you wear could care for your health? MIT researchers have developed an autonomous programmable computer in the form of an elastic fiber, which could monitor health conditions and physical activity, alerting the wearer to potential health risks in real time. Clothing containing the fiber computer was comfortable and machine washable, and the fibers were nearly imperceptible to the wearer, the researchers report.
Development of the Central Coordinated Motion Control System for Pure Electric Vehicles2025-01-018806/16/2025
The article introduces the air springs, CDC, rear-wheel steering system, braking system, front-wheel steering system, and electric drive system in the vehicle’s central coordinated motion control system. It explores achieving more comfortable shock absorption by adjusting the CDC (Continuously Variable Damping system) damping and other means. By combining open-loop and closed-loop rear-wheel steering control, the turning radius in small-radius steering mode is reduced by up to 10%, enabling crab-walking, optimizing the moose test entering speed up to 90.9 kph, and improving vehicle behavior on split-friction surfaces. Through the cooperation of IBS (Intelligent Brake System) and VMC, an extremely comfortable braking process is achieved.
Zhou, Yuxing, Li, Wen
No fear of loading: Driving the 2025 Ram Heavy Duty25TOFHP06_1206/01/2025
The desert landscapes of the western United States have changed since Mr. Duke and Dr. Gonzo blazed a trail across them in a drug-infused haze. But their advice to buy the ticket and take the ride is still a wise mantra - especially in the serene comfort of a modern full-size pickup. As inhospitable as southern Nevada can be outside Sin City, the amenities within the climate-controlled and leather-lined cabin of the latest Ram pickups insulate you from those realities. SAE Media was invited to sample the latest heavy haulers in Ram's portfolio, including the new 2500 and 3500 models with the high-output version of the Cummins B6.7 diesel.
Wolfe, Matt
Letter from the Guest Editors10-09-02-000905/19/2025
Letter from the Guest Editors
Wang, Zhenfeng, Zhang, Yunqing, Qi, Ronghuai, Lu, Yukun
Evaluating Powertrain Mount Decoupling: Insights from Simulation, Experimental Results, and Analytical Calculations2025-01-002205/05/2025
Powertrain mounts are vital for isolating vibrations and enhancing vehicle ride comfort and performance, making their dynamic behavior critical for effective design. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of powertrain mount decoupling by integrating virtual simulations, physical testing, and analytical calculations. In our approach, we first derived stiffness data through analytical calculations, which were validated through multi-body dynamics (MBD) simulations that modeled interactions within the powertrain mounts. By adjusting bush stiffness parameters within the MBD framework, we predicted decoupling frequencies and analyzed kinetic energy distribution. The iterated stiffness values from simulations were then confirmed through physical testing, ensuring consistency in decoupling frequencies and energy distribution. This alignment between virtual and experimental data enhances the reliability of our findings and helps identify overlapping frequencies across vehicle systems
Shende, Kalyani, Shingavi, Shreyas, Rane, Vishesh, Hingade, Nikhil
A Study on Active Sound Design and Control Method for Vehicle Interior Hybrid Noise to Enhance Sound Quality2025-01-001105/05/2025
With the current popularity of new energy vehicles and the continuous development of intelligent cabin technology, the demand for acoustic comfort within automotive cockpit is increasing. A multi-channel feedforward active sound design and control method was proposed to improve the sound quality of the hybrid broadband road and narrowband order noise inside the test vehicle. The method selectively designed the target amplitudes for broadband noise and narrowband noise in the vehicle to satisfy passengers comfort, mainly including the sound design phase and the control phase. During the sound design phase, objective sound quality parameter analysis was first conducted on the noise of the prototype vehicle, followed by an subjective evaluation of the sound quality with rating scale method. An active acoustic design strategy focusing on comfort, motivation sense were proposed, including a formula for the target amplitude of adjustment order and sound pressure level. The sound quality was
Liu, Xuexian, Xu, Wenxuan, Li, Rubin, Lu, Lu
Investigation and Application of Tire Model to Optimize Road Noise2025-01-011105/05/2025
Tires have a significant impact on vehicle road noise. The noise in 80~160Hz is easily felt when driving on rough roads and has a great relationship with the tire structural design. How to improve the problem through tire simulation has become an important issue. Therefore, this paper puts forward the concept of virtual tire tuning to optimize the noise. An appropriate tire model is crucial for road noise performance, and the CDtire (Comfort and Durability Tire) model was used in the article. After conducting experimental validation to get an accurate tire model, adjust the parameters and structure of the tire model to generate alternative model scenarios. The transfer function of the tire center was analyzed and set as the evaluation condition for tire NVH (Noise, vibration, and harshness) performance. This enabled a comparison among various model scenarios to identify the best-performing tire scenario in focused frequency whose transfer function needed to be lowest. Manufacture the
Zhang, Ben, Yu Sr, Jing, Chen, Qimiao, Liu, Xianchen, Gu, Perry
Application of AI/ML in Hydrobush Tuning to Enhance Overall Value Proposition2025-01-013205/05/2025
In the highly competitive automotive industry, optimizing vehicle components for superior performance and customer satisfaction is paramount. Hydrobushes play an integral role within vehicle suspension systems by absorbing vibrations and improving ride comfort. However, the traditional methods for tuning these components are time-consuming and heavily reliant on extensive empirical testing. This paper explores the advancing field of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in the hydrobush tuning process, utilizing algorithms such as random forest, artificial neural networks, and logistic regression to efficiently analyze large datasets, uncover patterns, and predict optimal configurations. The study focuses on comparing these three AI/ML-based approaches to assess their effectiveness in improving the tuning process. A case study is presented, evaluating their performance and validating the most effective method through physical application, highlighting the potential
Hazra, Sandip, Khan, Arkadip Amitava
Study of Sound and Cabin Touchpoint Contributions to Subjective Perception of Secondary Ride2025-01-006005/05/2025
Subjective perception of vehicle secondary ride is dependent on simultaneous touchpoint vibrations and audible inputs to the occupants. Standards such as ISO 2361 provide guidelines for objective assessments of human body thresholds to vibration [1]. However, when a human experiences vibration inputs at multiple touchpoints, as well as aural inputs, it becomes complicated to judge each individual contribution to the overall subjective perception [2]. Additional factors, such as ambient conditions, ergonomics, age, gender etc. also play a role. Secondary ride, which is defined as energy in the 10-30 Hz frequency range, is one such event that affects the customers’ perception of ride comfort and quality. The goal of this work is to develop a sound and vibration simulator model and execute a secondary ride jury study of vehicle driving over cleats. The aim of the study is to rank the contributions of each touch point vibration input, as well as sound to the overall subjective perception
Jayakumar, Vignesh, Joodi, Benjamin, Geissler, Christian, Pilz, Fernando, Lynch, Luke, Conklin, Chris, Weilnau, Kelby, Hodgkins, Jeffrey
Vibration Refinement of Two Wheeler Sub Chassis and Aesthetic Parts Due to Engine Unbalanced Excitation Forces2025-01-011305/05/2025
Two wheeler is important and essential transportation mode in many of the countries across the globe. Designing a motorcycle with better riding comfort and minimal vibration are thus a major challenge for engineers now a day. Engine and road excitations are two source of vibration acting on motor bike or scooter both. These vibrations are transmitted to the chassis, sub chassis, aesthetic parts and then to the rider and pillion. Unwanted vibrations will create discomfort to the rider/pillion and produce noise. Hence, these need to be minimized. This study is focus on diagnosis and control of output vibration response of sub chassis/aesthetic parts due to engine unbalanced excitation force. There are numerous parameter of motor bike/scooter that governs the vibration response of sub chassis/aesthetic parts. Engine unbalanced inertia force characteristics and their transmission to rider and pillion has been studied and reported here. Environmental benefit demands for a complete noise
Khare, Saharash
Ultrasonic Welding: Key Considerations for Designing Medical WearablesTBMG-5316505/01/2025
Not only the use, but also the wearing time of medical wearables continues to increase in modern healthcare. However, to ensure that wearable products do not cause skin irritation, product designers must consider the moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) during development. It plays an important role in skin compatibility and wearing comfort — and can be decisively influenced by the right joining technology.
On-the-Market Air Suspension Systems for Passenger Cars10-09-02-001604/28/2025
This article conducts a thorough review of contemporary air suspension systems on the market for passenger cars. The evolution of suspension structures and control methodologies are briefly discussed. The layout of air suspension systems is introduced in detail, with each component receiving a comprehensive description and analysis. The open-loop and closed-loop arrangements are explained. Various types of air springs are discussed and compared. The sensory system, special working conditions, and failure analysis are also elaborated. In the case studies, some example models are listed to show a complete guide of how air suspension is implemented on passenger cars, which includes functionalities, air spring configurations, control methods, signal flow, service modes, and diagnostic messages. The major sources are OEMs’ official websites and previously released documents, such as user manuals and maintenance manuals, which are valid up to April 2023. Finally, the article concludes with a
Ma, Changye, Lu, Yukun, Zhen, Ran, Liu, Yegang, Pan, Bingwei, Khajepour, Amir
Pursuit of Realistic Vehicle Acceleration Sounds Based on Discomfort Index2024-32-005504/18/2025
Contemporary Japanese society relies heavily on vehicles for transportation and leisure. This has led to environmental concerns owing to vehicle emissions, prompting a shift toward environmentally friendly alternatives, such as clean diesel and electric vehicles. Clean diesel vehicles aim to reduce harmful emissions, whereas electric vehicles are favored because of their minimal emissions and quiet operation. However, the lack of engine noise in electric vehicles can make it difficult for drivers to perceive speed changes, potentially increasing the risk of accidents, and simply amplifying all sounds is not viable because it may cause discomfort. Therefore, this study explored how deviations from expected engine sounds affect the perceived sound quality and vehicle performance assessment. Unlike traditional gasoline-powered and clean diesel vehicles, electric vehicles produce very little running noise, which makes road surface noise more prominent. Given the novelty of electric
Nitta, Misaki, Ishimitsu, Shunsuke, Fujikawa, Satoshi, Iwata, Kiyoaki, Niimi, Mayuko, Kikuchi, Masakazu, Matsumoto, Mitsunori
Dynamic Nonlinear Viscoelastic Measurements of Vehicle Seat Components for Ride Comfort Evaluation2024-32-005104/18/2025
Ride comfort is an important factor in the development of vehicles. Understanding the characteristics of seat components allows more accurate analysis of ride comfort. This study focuses on urethane foam, which is commonly used in vehicle seats. Soft materials such as urethane foam have both elastic and viscous properties that vary with frequency and temperature. Dynamic viscoelastic measurements are effective for investigating the vibrational characteristics of such materials. Although there have been many studies on the viscoelastic properties of urethane foam, no prior research has focused on dynamic viscoelastic measurements during compression to simulate the condition of a person sitting on a seat. In this study, dynamic viscoelastic measurements were performed on compressed urethane foam. Moreover, measurements were conducted at low temperatures, and a master curve using the Williams–Landel–Ferry (WLF) formula (temperature–frequency conversion law) was created.
Kamio, Chihiro, Yamaguchi, Takao, Maruyama, Shinichi, Hanawa, Kazuto, Iwase, Tsutomu, Hayashi, Tatsuo, Sato, Toshiharu, Mogawa, Hajime
Sensory-Driven Design Method for Personalizing Ride Comfort Tailored to Individual Vibration Perception2025-01-827304/01/2025
This study aims to develop a design method that tailors the ride comfort and design variables of vehicle components according to individual differences in vibration perception. In conventional development, variations in vibration perception have been recognized; however, quantification methods remain undeveloped, preventing designs from being adapted to individual driver perceptions. The two unresolved problems include the uniformization of vibration perception in sensory performance modeling, which predicts sensory scores from vehicle vibrations, and design approaches that focus on minimizing vehicle vibrations without considering vibration perception. First, the authors’ previous study quantified the existence of individual differences in vibration perception through sensory scores obtained from ride simulator experiments involving 24 non-expert drivers using vibrations derived from a uniform vibration perception. Hierarchical clustering identified four perception groups; however
Kikuchi, Hironobu, Inaba, Kazuaki
The Model Predictive Control of Dual-Chamber Active Air Suspension Based on Road Preview2025-01-878904/01/2025
Adverse weather conditions such as rain and snow, as well as heavy load transportation, can cause varying degrees of damage to road surfaces, and untimely road maintenance often results in potholes. Perception sensors equipped on intelligent vehicles can identify road surface conditions in advance, allowing each wheel’s suspension to actively adjust based on the road information. This paper presents an active suspension control strategy based on road preview information, utilizing a newly designed dual-chamber active air suspension system. It addresses the issue of point cloud stratification caused by vehicle body vibrations in onboard LiDAR data. The point cloud is processed through segmentation, filtering, and registration to extract real-time road roughness information, which serves as preview information for the suspension control system. The MPC algorithm is applied to actively adjust the nonlinear stiffness and damping of the suspension’s dual-chamber air springs, enhancing
Dong, Fuxin, Shen, Yanhua, Wang, Kaidi, Liu, Zuyang, Qian, Shuo
Real-Time PMV Thermal Comfort Index Observer Based on Artificial Neural Networks for Infrared Heating Panel Control2025-01-813904/01/2025
Improving electric vehicles’ range can be achieved by integrating infrared heating panels (IRPs) into the existing Heating Ventilation and Air-Conditioning system to reduce battery energy consumption while maintaining thermal comfort. Localized comfort control enabled by IRPs is facilitated by thermal comfort index feedback to the control strategy, such as the well-known Predicted Mean Vote (PMV). PMV is obtained by solving nonlinear equations iteratively, which is computationally expensive for vehicle control units and may not be feasible for real-time control. This paper presents the design of real-time capable thermal comfort observer based on feedforward artificial neural network (ANN), utilized for estimating the local PMV extended with IRP radiative heating effects. The vehicle under consideration is equipped with 12 heating panels (zones) organized into six controller clusters that rely on the average PMV feedback from its respective zone provided by a dedicated ANN. Each of six
Cvok, Ivan, Yerramilli-Rao, Isha, Miklauzic, Filip
A Deep Learning Framework for Time Series Prediction of Passenger Motion Sickness Based on Vehicle Dynamics Data2025-01-810404/01/2025
Technology development for enhancing passenger experience has gained attention in the field of autonomous vehicle (AV) development. A new possibility for occupants of AVs is performing productive tasks as they are relieved from the task of driving. However, passengers who execute non-driving-related tasks are more prone to experiencing motion sickness (MS). To understand the factors that cause MS, a tool that can predict the occurrence and intensity of MS can be advantageous. However, there is currently a lack of computational tools that predict passenger's MS state. Furthermore, the lack of real-time physiological data from vehicle occupants limits the types of sensory data that can be used for estimation under realistic implementations. To address this, a computational model was developed to predict the MS score for passengers in real time solely based on the vehicle's dynamic state. The model leverages self-reported MS scores and vehicle dynamics time series data from a previous
Kolachalama, Srikanth, Sousa Schulman, Daniel, Kerr, Bradley, Yin, Siyuan, Wachsman, Michael Ben, Pienkny, Jedidiah Ethan Shapiro, Jalgaonkar, Nishant M., Awtar, Shorya
Artificial Intelligence Technique Applied to Semi-Active Vibration Control in Vehicle Suspension System2025-01-827004/01/2025
This study investigates the influence of magnetorheological (MR) dampers in semi-active suspension systems (SASSs) on ride comfort, vehicle stability, and overall performance. Semi-active suspension systems achieve greater flexibility and efficacy by combining MR dampers with the advantages of active and passive suspension systems. The study aims to measure the benefits of MR dampers in improving ride comfort, vehicle stability, and overall system performance. The dynamic system model meets all required performance criteria. This study demonstrates that the proposed artificial intelligence approach, including a fuzzy neural networks proportional-integral-derivative (FNN-PID) controller, significantly enhances key performance criteria when tested under various road profiles. The control performance requirements in engineering systems are evaluated in the frequency and time domains. A quarter-car model with two degrees of freedom (2 DOF) was simulated using MATLAB/Simulink to assess the
M.Faragallah, Mohamed, Metered, Hassan, Abdelghany, M.A., Essam, Mahmoud A.
Fuzzy Sliding Mode Control of Intelligent Electric Vehicles Based on Phase Plane Stability Domain Boundaries2025-01-880204/01/2025
In order to effectively improve the chassis handling stability and driving safety of intelligent electric vehicles (IEVs), especially in combing nonlinear observer and chassis control for improving road handling. Simultaneously, uncertainty with system input, are always existing, e.g., variable control boundary, varying road input or control parameters. Due to the higher fatality rate caused by variable factors, how to precisely chose and enforce the reasonable chassis prescribed performance control strategy of IEVs become a hot topic in both academia and industry. To issue the above mentioned, a fuzzy sliding mode control method based on phase plane stability domain is proposed to enhance the vehicle’s chassis performance during complex driving scenarios. Firstly, a two-degree-of-freedom vehicle dynamics model, accounting for tire non-linearity, was established. Secondly, combing with phase plane theory, the stability domain boundary of vehicle yaw rate and side-slip phase plane based
Liao, Yinsheng, Wang, Zhenfeng, Guo, Fenghuan, Deng, Weili, Zhang, Zhijie, Zhao, Binggen, Zhao, Gaoming
Impact of Connected and Automated Vehicles on Longitudinal and Lateral Performance of Heterogeneous Traffic Flow in Shared Autonomy on Two-Lane Highways2025-01-809804/01/2025
Intelligent transportation systems and connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) are advancing rapidly, though not yet fully widespread. Consequently, traditional human-driven vehicles (HDVs), CAVs, and human-driven connected and automated vehicles (HD-CAVs) will coexist on roads for the foreseeable future. Simultaneously, car-following behaviors in equilibrium and discretionary lane-changing behaviors make up the most common highway operations, which seriously affect traffic stability, efficiency and safety. Therefore, it’s necessary to analyze the impact of CAV technologies on both longitudinal and lateral performance of heterogeneous traffic flow. This paper extends longitudinal car-following models based on the intelligent driver model and lateral lane-changing models using the quintic polynomial curve to account for different vehicle types, considering human factors and cooperative adaptive cruise control. Then, this paper incorporates CAV penetration rates, shared autonomy rates
Wang, Tianyi, Guo, Qiyuan, He, Chong, Li, Hao, Xu, Yiming, Wang, Yangyang, Jiao, Junfeng
Optimal Torque Vectoring Control for Autonomous Electric Vehicles Considering Ride Comfort2025-01-831004/01/2025
This study introduces an innovative torque vectoring control strategy designed to enhance ride comfort in autonomous electric vehicles. The approach seamlessly integrates steering and rear axle force control within a model predictive control (MPC) framework, enabling real-time optimization of comfort and handling performance. The proposed control method is applied to a two-rear-motor vehicle model, where the MPC algorithm adjusts steering angles and tire forces to minimize discomfort caused by yaw rate and lateral acceleration. Simulation results from a lane-change scenario demonstrate significant improvements in comfort metrics compared to conventional torque vectoring control strategies. The findings highlight the ability of the proposed method to significantly enhance ride comfort without compromising vehicle dynamics. This integrated and adaptive control strategy offers a promising solution for improving passenger satisfaction in autonomous electric vehicles, with potential
Zhao, Bolin, Lou, Baichuan, He, Xianqi, Xue, Wanying, Lv, Chen
Study of Indian Population’s Eye Point to Adapt Indian Vehicle Design to Indian Anthropometry for Accident Risk Mitigation2025-01-866504/01/2025
India has one of the highest accident rates in the world. Quite a few accidents have been attributed to poor driver visibility. Driver visibility is an important factor that can help mitigate the risk of accidents. The optimal visibility of in-vehicle controls is also essential for improving driver experience. Optimized driver visibility improves driving comfort and gives confidence to the driver, ensuring the safety of drivers and subsequently that of pedestrians. Driver visibility is an important consideration for vehicle occupant packaging and SAE has defined various standards and regulations for the same. These guidelines are defined considering American anthropometry, helping OEMs create global vehicles with uniform checkpoints. However, due to anthropometric differences, a need was felt to capture and analyze Indian-specific eyellipse and eye points. To measure the eye point of the user in a controlled environment, the interiors of a passenger vehicle were simulated using a
P H, Salman, Kalra, Prerita, Rawat, Ashish, Sharma, Deepak, Singh, Ashwinder
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