Research on Vehicle Control Technology Using Four-Wheel Independent Steering System

The enhancement of vehicle handling stability and maneuverability through active and independent rear wheels control is presented. Firstly, the configuration of four-wheel independent steering prototype vehicle is introduced briefly. Then the concrete overall design of the electronic controllers of four wheel independent steering system (4WIS) is formulated in details. Under the control strategy of zero sideslip angle at mass center, the mathematical model of 4WIS is established to deduce the equations of separated rear wheel steering angles. According to these equations, simulation analysis for 4WIS vehicle performances is finished to show that 4WIS vehicle can improve the maneuverability greatly at low speed and increase the handling stability at high speed. Finally, the road test of 4WIS vehicle has performed to verify the correctness of simulation and show that compared with the conventional four wheel steering (4WS) vehicle, the 4WIS vehicle not only improves the kinematical harmony but also decreases steering resistance and lighten abrasion of tires.