Application of predictive control strategies to the motorcycle riding task

Model predictive control (MPC) techniques have been applied to the modelling of a motorcycle rider, believed to offer more realistic representation of the riding strategy compared with previous methods, notably optimal control. The results from the MPC model have been compared with the optimal control results, showing good similarities and also some notable differences. The results of the application of MPC techniques to the simulation of a motorcycle rider suggest that the approach has wider applicability to rider modelling, and allows greater scope for the definition of the rider's control approach. Notably, for limited rider preview, shortcomings using the optimal control approach are overcome using the MPC method. Furthermore, the approach is believed to more accurately reflect the control actions taken by a human motorcycle rider.