Watanabe_Sayers-BMD2016.pdf (3.52 MB)
The Effect of a New Stability Control on the Simulated Cornering Behavior of Motorcycles
journal contribution
posted on 2016-10-21, 20:30 authored by Yukio WatanabeYukio Watanabe, Michael W. SayersMotorcycles sometimes experience stability problems related to oscillations that are associated with vibration modes called weave, wobble, and chatter. Weave is typically a lightly damped vibration around 2.5-4 Hz that becomes unstable at high speed (>180 km/h) on high-friction surfaces. However, weave can become unstable at lower speeds under low-friction conditions, especially during steady cornering.
This paper presents a method for using electronic stability control (ESC) to reduce or prevent weave instabilities. In this method, an “intended yaw rate” is predicted from a simple math model, using measurements of vehicle lean and steering. When the actual yaw rate (measured) shows an oscillation, both front and rear brakes are applied briefly at one part of the oscillation cycle.
The dynamic weave behavior is shown through simulation using the commercial BikeSim ® software tool, along with a controller added with MATLAB/Simulink. Results are shown for time-domain simulated tests and with root-locus plots.
This paper presents a method for using electronic stability control (ESC) to reduce or prevent weave instabilities. In this method, an “intended yaw rate” is predicted from a simple math model, using measurements of vehicle lean and steering. When the actual yaw rate (measured) shows an oscillation, both front and rear brakes are applied briefly at one part of the oscillation cycle.
The dynamic weave behavior is shown through simulation using the commercial BikeSim ® software tool, along with a controller added with MATLAB/Simulink. Results are shown for time-domain simulated tests and with root-locus plots.