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Active Trailer Steering Control of an Articulated System with a Tractor and Three Full Trailers for Tractor-track Following
International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems (2007)
  • K Rangavajhula, San Jose State University
  • Jacob Tsao, San Jose State University
Abstract

We examine several control strategies to minimise off-tracking of a multi-axle steering system with a tractor and three full trailers, described by a linear yaw-plane model. Given any arbitrary tractor track desired real-time by the driver, control inputs are the steering angles of front axles of the trailers. A minimum Rearward Amplification Ratio (RWA), as a surrogate for minimum off-tracking, is used as the control criterion to arrive at an optimal LQR controller, which is remarkably robust to tyre-parameter variations. Actively steering trailers 1 and 2 is most cost-effective in achieving acceptable levels of RWA, with off-tracking practically eliminated.

Publication Date
2007
Citation Information
K Rangavajhula and Jacob Tsao. "Active Trailer Steering Control of an Articulated System with a Tractor and Three Full Trailers for Tractor-track Following" International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems Vol. 14 Iss. 3 (2007)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jacob_tsao/15/