Vehicle-to-vehicle distance and speed control using an electronic-vacuum booster

A vehicle-to-vehicle distance and speed control algorithm using an electronic-vacuum booster (EVB) has been presented. The EVB has been used as a brake actuator. The performance characteristics of the EVB have been investigated via computer simulations and experiments, Mathematical models of the elect ro nic-vacuum booster developed in this study and a two-state dynamic engine model have been used in the simulations. Linear optimal control theory has been used to design optimal acceleration for the vehicle-to-vehicle distance control. A throttle/brake control law has been proposed. The throttle/brake controller forces the vehicle acceleration to converge to the desired acceleration. It has been shown via the simulations and vehicle tests that the control law can provide a vehicle equipped with the electronic-vacuum booster with good distance control performance in both high speed and low speed stop and go driving situations. (C) 2001 Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc. and Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.