Object-oriented modelling and simulation of a motorcycle

The design of a control oriented motorcycle model for the simulation of two-wheeled vehicles is widely recognized to be a very challenging task, as a complete analytical model is not directly available, due to its complexity and its high sensitivity to parameters' variations. Accordingly, a reliable model should be based on multibody modelling tools endowed with automated symbolic manipulation capabilities. This paper presents a simulation model for the dynamic behaviour of a motorcycle based on the object-oriented modelling paradigm developed in Modelica, within the Dymola environment. Specifically, we illustrate the modular approach to motorcycle modelling and discuss the tire-road interaction model, which is the crucial part of the proposed model. The validity of the proposed simulation model is assessed on real data, measured on an instrumented test vehicle. Further, to perform the verification phase a virtual driver model has been implemented, which allows to track both a roll angle and a target speed profile during different maneuvers. In particular, the behaviour of the driver is modelled as an inverse pendulum, with a rotational degree of freedom along the forward axis. This allows accounting for the driver lean angle, which is necessary to fully capture the real driving behaviour and its effects on the overall vehicle dynamics.