Adaptive coordination control strategy for path-following of DDAEV with neural network based moving weight coefficients

This paper presents an adaptive coordination control strategy for path-following of distributed drive autonomous electric vehicles (DDAEV). A model predictive control (MPC) algorithm is used to realize path-following through autonomous steering, where the prediction time is adaptive in relation to different driving conditions. Due to the dynamic characteristic of distributed drive vehicle, the differential torque control is also utilized based on the deviation of path to realize path-following. In order to make full use of the advantages of these two path-following methods, coordination control of autonomous steering and differential steering is adopted to improve the transient response speed, flexibility of steering system and path-following performance by setting moving weight coefficients based on neural network. Results of CarSim-Simulink co-simulation and real vehicle experiment both verify that the proposed coordination control can obtain steering flexibility, as well as tracking accuracy and reliability under various driving conditions.