This document reports on the developrent of a cciputer-based model of driver steering control wihich can be used to represent and predict realistic steering responses of human operators during path-following and obstacle-avoidance maneuvers. The model is intended to be used for controlling different types of land vehicles over a range of operating conditions. The model was validated through direct comparison with experimental measurements of driver-vehicle systems collected during this study. For conventional steering maneuvers, the model was shown capable of replicating most observed steering control behavior patterns through simple adjustment 6f two basic parameters. In addition, a set of special tests, conducted under unusual nonlinear operating conditions, oroduced new experimental results showing how drivers can stabilize and control vehicles operating beyond conventional boundaries ordinarily used to define the limits of vehicle directional stability. (Author/publisher)
Abstract