Time-Varying Parameter Adaptive Vehicle Speed Control

This paper presents a novel approach for time-varying parameter adaptive throttle and brake control for vehicle speed tracking. A control algorithm has been developed based on a linearized longitudinal vehicle model with characteristic lumped parameters. The lumped parameters are slowly time varying, except when a vehicle experiences gear shift. Combined parameter adaptation and throttle/brake control algorithm have been developed. The performance of the proposed control algorithm has been evaluated via simulations and vehicle tests. Since the proposed control algorithm has been designed using a generic form of the vehicle model, it can be implemented for different classes of vehicles with no information about the vehicle powertrain and the brake system. It has been shown from both simulations and vehicle tests that the vehicle speed tracking performance is robust to external disturbance.