Vehicular Optimal Control

Abstract

Chapter 9 deals with the solution of minimum-time and minimum-fuel vehicular optimal control problems. These problems are posed as fuel usage optimization problems under a time-of-arrival constraint, or minimum-time problems under a fuel usage constraint. The first example considers three variants of a simple fuel usage minimization problem under a time-of-arrival constraint. The first variant is worked out theoretically, and serves to highlight several of the structural features of these problems; the other two more complicated variants are solved numerically.The second example is also a multi-stage fuel usage minimization problem under a timeof- arrival constraint.More complicated track and vehicle models are then employed; the problem is solved numerically. The third problem is a lap time minimization problem taken from Formula One and features a thermoelectric hybrid powertrain. The fourth and final problem is a minimum-time closed-circuit racing problem featuring a racing motorcycle and rider.