Experiments were performed to investigate the effects of free control variables on driver/vehicle performance, using the melbourne university variable characteristic car (VCC). Lane tracking, disturbance regulation and lane change manoeuvres were used. The steering wheel torque gradient (nm/g), damping and effective inertia were varied with one fixed control vehicle configuration. Objective performance measures and subjective driver ratings were used to assess the effects of the free control variables. Free control characteristics appear to have a significant effect on vehicle handling. Steering wheel torque gradient appears to have less effect on handling performance, but drivers showed a distinct subjective preference for torque gradients in the range 10 - 20 nm/g. Many of the results obtained lack statistical significance, most likely because of the small number of subjects and the short record lengths available for data analysis. (Author/publisher) This report was also issued as Australian Road Research Internal Report AIR 252-3.
Abstract