Anti-lock brake system control for buses based on fuzzy logic and a sliding-mode observer

In this paper, an anti-lock brake system (ABS) for commercial buses is proposed based on a fuzzy-logic controller and a sliding-mode observer of the vehicle speed. The brake controller generates pulse width modulated (PWM) control inputs to the solenoid valve of each brake, as a function of the estimated wheel slip ratio. PWM control inputs at the brakes significantly reduce chattering in the brake system compared with conventional on-off control inputs. The sliding-mode observer estimates the vehicle speed with measurements of wheel speed, which is then used to compute the wheel slip ratio. The effectiveness of the proposed control algorithm is validated by a series of computer simulations of bus driving, where the 14-DOF bus model is used.