The stability analysis using Lyapunov exponents for high-DOF nonlinear vehicle plane motion

The Lyapunov exponents method is an excellent approach for analyzing the vehicle plane motion stability, and the researchers demonstrated the effectiveness under 2-DOF vehicle model. However, whether the Lyapunov exponents approach can effectively reveal the characteristics of high-DOF nonlinear vehicle model is the key problem at present. In this paper, the Lyapunov exponents is applied to quantitatively analyze the stability of the nonlinear three and five degree of freedom vehicle plane motion system. The different characteristics between 2-DOF and high-DOF model are revealed and explained by using Lyapunov exponents. It illustrates the feasibility of using Lyapunov exponents to analyze the stability of high-DOF vehicle models, which supplements and perfects the existing quantitative analysis conclusion.