Proposal for objective evaluation criteria for steering feel by steering torque sinusoidal input

Abstract

The steering feel is an important technical problem for handling and drivability of driver-vehicle system and various kinds of studies have been conducted. The objective evaluation is a key factor to construct model base design process for the steering feel. Many kinds of objective evaluation criteria for the steering feel have been proposed using steering-angle input. However, these objective evaluation criteria for the steering feel should be based on driver's steering operation. The steering responses using steering torque sinusoidal input are similar to the minimum-jerk model of human operation. This study proposes objective evaluation criteria for the steering feel using steering responses by steering-torque sinusoidal input test. From the characteristics of steering torque and steering angle, and the characteristics of steering torque and yaw velocity, the objective evaluation criteria for the steering feel are proposed. For example, the increasing characteristics and the decreasing characteristics for steering torque, hysteresis and linearity of steering angle and yaw-velocity response are evaluation criteria. The objective evaluation criteria by steering torque input shows another aspect of steering characteristics because of changing steering angle response under the influence of vehicle dynamics and steering system dynamics.