Driver-vehicle interaction during straight-line acceleration: A time-domain analysis

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental investigation of the behavior of the driver-vehicle-environment system during straight-line vehicle acceleration. Although the driver attempts to maintain the desired straight-line trajectory, small steering corrections and throttle pedal adjustments are continuously applied in response to vehicle motion disturbances and road surface irregularities. The objective of this study was to determine the relationships between the driver's control actions and the dynamic response of the vehicle in the time domain. Experimental tests were conducted on a heavy goods vehicle under real driving conditions. The steering wheel angle and vehicle speed were considered as input variables, whereas lateral acceleration and trajectory curvature radius were analyzed as output variables. The recorded signals were processed using correlation analysis and impulse response identification techniques. Cross-correlation coefficients and impulse responses were determined in order to quantify the dynamic interactions within the driver-vehicle system. The obtained cross-correlation coefficients revealed significant relationships among the analyzed variables, while the impulse responses provided insight into the transient characteristics of the system. The proposed approach proved suitable for identifying the dynamic properties of the driver-vehicle-environment system and for assessing directional stability during straight-line accelerated motion.