Path tracking coordinated control strategy for autonomous four in-wheel-motor independent-drive vehicles with consideration of lateral stability

How to enhance and ensure the vehicle yaw/lateral stability and safety performance is a crucial and worthy research problem for the autonomous four in-wheel-motor independent-drive vehicle. In this paper, a hierarchical path tracking control strategy coordinated with the direct yaw moment control for autonomous four in-wheel-motor independent-drive vehicle is proposed with consideration of the lateral stability. In the upper controller, a novel model predictive control method based on the vehicle 7-degree-of-freedom dynamic model is presented to obtain the front wheel steering angle and two virtual generalized forces, the traction and yaw moment. A dynamic adjustment method of target weight based on variance adjustment factor is proposed to realize multi-objective cooperative control of maneuverability, path tracking accuracy, and yaw stability. Moreover, the tire stability margin and its standard deviation are put forward in the objective function of the lower optimal generalized force distributor, making full use of the road adhesion of each wheel. Carsim–Simulink joint simulation results illustrate that the proposed coordinated control strategy could prosper the multi-objective coordinated control. In addition, the path tracking coordinated control strategy could further improve the lateral stability and safety of the vehicle compared with the mere path tracking control strategy, when autonomous four in-wheel-motor independent-drive vehicle is placed under extremely dangerous road conditions.