Abstract
This paper deals with an evaluation of the driver characteristics using a steering torque simulator with a multibody vehicle model. The simulator developed by the authors can reproduce visual information and a steering torque from vehicle dynamic analysis. In reproducing the steering torque, it is desirable to consider the steering geometry such as the position of the steering shaft and the universal joint. From this background, a multibody vehicle model was developed for vehicle dynamic analysis. In multibody dynamics, the layout of the mechanical link and the joint type of each body are considered as the constraint equations. Furthermore, the improvement of vehicle dynamic performance by control devices such as the active suspension can be taken into consideration in detail by the multibody vehicle model, because the effects of the force generated by actuators and their mounting position can be precisely considered. Therefore, the high reality can be realized by applying the multibody dynamic analysis to the steering torque simulator. In order to evaluate the driver characteristics, the single lane change tests were conducted. From the viewpoint of the steering feeling, the indices proposed on a past literature was also examined, and the relationship between the caster angle and the characteristics of the driving operation was evaluated. In addition, the influence of the road friction coefficient to the driving operation was evaluated.
