Vehicle dynamics and control represent one of the core technologies for vehicle safety. Our research focuses on the dynamic mechanisms of complex mechatronic coupling systems in vehicles and novel technologies for their efficient and safe operational control. Over the past five years, the following innovative achievements have been made:
(1) The concept of the vehicle instability critical region and its mechanistic model were proposed and developed. A quantitative model for vehicle steering feel was established, providing a quantitative analysis tool for nonlinear dynamics issues in high-speed vehicles.
(2) A mechatronic system coupling dynamics model for the transient mode-switching process of hybrid powertrains and its smoothness control method were proposed, ensuring the ultra-high-efficiency operation of the entire vehicle.
(3) Vehicle dynamics stability-enhancement control technology was proposed. This effectively extends the scope of international vehicle dynamic stability control from the quasi-linear marginally stable region into the transient, highly nonlinear instability critical region, and expands the dimensionality of stability control from a two-dimensional plane to three-dimensional space.
Significant outcomes have been achieved in tackling core key technologies within the fields of vehicle dynamics and chassis electronic control: During the 11th Five-Year Plan period, China's first automotive Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) was successfully developed, marking the first electronically controlled technology achievement to receive a First Prize in the China Automotive Industry Science and Technology Progress Award. In the 12th Five-Year Plan period, an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system based on road feel tracking was developed, supporting the development of the domestic automotive industry. A human-like Automatic Mechanical Transmission (AMT) control method based on machine self-learning was proposed, and an AMT parallel hybrid electromechanical coupling system was developed, capturing over 70% of the market share for similar products in China.
The aforementioned achievements stand as prominent representative accomplishments in China's automotive chassis electronic control domain in recent years, with the overall level reaching internationally advanced standards. They have been recognized with two National Science and Technology Progress Second Prizes and three provincial/ministerial-level First Prizes.
In the area of intelligent chassis design, breakthrough technologies have been achieved for extreme driving condition control of electric intelligent chassis. Representative vehicle models demonstrate superior safety distance in T-junction collision avoidance scenarios and higher passing speeds in moose tests compared to internationally representative counterparts. Cross-system failure operation technology for electric intelligent chassis has been conquered, filling the gap in cross-system redundancy during severe braking and steering failures. An intelligent chassis technology platform for electric vehicles has been established, leading the independent development of redundant braking, redundant steering, chassis domain controllers, and integrated drive-brake units. These technologies have seen large-scale application in chassis component products from companies such as HiRain Technologies, KOMI, Bethel Automotive Safety Systems, and Honeycomb, as well as in chassis platforms from BYD, Geely, and Great Wall Motors, generating significant economic benefits.
