A Fault-Tolerant Integrated Vehicle Stability Control Using Adaptive Control Allocation

Abstract

The focus of this paper is an integrated, fault-tolerant vehicle supervisory control algorithm for the overall stability of ground vehicles. Vehicle control systems contain many sensors and actuators that can communicate with each other over communication networks. The proposed supervisory control scheme is composed of a high-level controller that creates a virtual control input vector and a low-level control allocator that distributes the virtual control effort among redundant actuators. Virtual control input incorporates the required traction force, yaw, pitch, and roll moment corrections, and the lateral force correction to ensure stability while following a maneuvering reference initiated by the driver. Based on the virtual control input vector, the allocation module determines front steering angle correction, rear steering angle, traction forces at each tire, and active suspension forces. The proposed control framework distinguishes itself from earlier results in the literature by its ability to adapt to failures and uncertainties by updating its parameters online, without the need for fault identification. The control structure is validated in the simulation environment using a fourteen degree of freedom nonlinear vehicle model. Our results demonstrate that the proposed approach ensures that the vehicle follows references created by the driver despite the loss of actuator effectiveness up to 30% higher longitudinal maneuver velocity and approximately 35% lower roll and pitch angles during steering with representative driving scenarios.