Preview Control with Dynamic Constraints for Autonomous Vehicles

In this paper, a preview theory-based steering control approach considering vehicle dynamic constraints is presented. The constrained variables are predicted by an error states system and utilized to adjust the control law once the established dynamic constraints are violated. The simulated annealing optimization algorithm for preview length is conducted to improve the adaptability of the controller to varying velocities and road adhesion coefficients. The theoretical stability of a closed-loop system is guaranteed using Lyapunov theory, and further analysis of the system response in time domain and frequency domain is discussed. The results of simulations implemented on Carsim–Simulink demonstrate the favorable performance of the proposed control in tracking accuracy and system stability under extreme conditions.