Vehicle-handling quality evaluation through model-based driver steering behaviour

This study proposes a method to evaluate vehicle-handling quality based on the steering characteristics that are identified by a simple driver model using measured time histories of steering behaviour and vehicle motion during lane change. On the basis that drivers adapt to the vehicle-handling characteristics during a manoeuvre, their steering behaviour reflects the vehicle-handling characteristics and plays an important role in the evaluation of handling quality. Thus, the handling parameters in the model indicate the handling quality of the vehicle. This method is applied successfully to investigate the effects of the active front-wheel steering and direct yaw moment control on driver's handling quality evaluation of the vehicles.