The Dynamics and Optimal Control of Road Vehicles [Bookshelf

Abstract

This book, which consists of nine chapters, applies fundamental results from classical mechanics, tire mechanics, vehicle modeling, and optimal control theory to various kinds of road vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, and bicycles. The combination of vehicle modeling, dynamics, and optimal control presented in a unified manner makes this book stand out from others in this subject area. The assumed background of readers includes linear algebra, mechanics, linear systems, and classical control theory. Basic familiarity with the calculus of variations would also be helpful. The content of the book reflects the personal interests of the authors and summarizes much of their previously published research. The emphasis is more on dynamics and modeling and less on control theory. The point the authors are trying to make seems to be that, to apply optimal control effectively, a good model of the dynamics of the system is first needed. Readers working with control applications could be a little disappointed that more topics on road vehicle control are not included. A few minor errors in some of the equations are present, most of which can be easily spotted by readers. In some places, the prose is not as clear as it could be. However, the overall presentation is solid, and the shortcomings are few. The list of more than 400 references provides a good starting point for those who wish to delve deeper into the subject. The book is a valuable resource for students and researchers in the area of the dynamics and control of road vehicles. The book contains a wealth of material.