In this paper, a model for closed-loop simulation of a driver-vehicle-road system is suggested employing the visual data processing method. In the model of a human driver, the learning capability of the curved road is devised using a neural network technique. The learned network extracts an equivalent curvature from the viewing image of the frontal road and the equivalent curvature becomes a control cue for steering action. For computer simulation of the driver-vehicle-road system, a mathematical model of a vehicle with fifteen degrees of freedom is established using the suspension super-element concept which can deal with the three dimensional motion and suspension kinematics of a vehicle system very efficiently. To validate the model of the driver-vehicle-road system, a real driving test is performed and the results are compared with those from the computer simulation of the vehicle.
The constructed closed-loop system is also applied to solve the example problems such as the tunning of the vehicle design parameter and the development of the new chassis concept(4WS system).
