Car drivers can employ a number of strategies to negotiate curves. The tangent point strategy proposes the use of the angle between the tangent point of the inner lane markings and the car's current heading direction, which is proportional to the required steering angle. The gaze-sampling strategy proposes to fixate points on the future path and measure the curvature of optic flow vectors which...

For lifting entry vehicle, angle of attack is one of the most important trajectory control inputs. This paper aims to develop a practical and effective method for angle of attack design. First, the factors which impact angle of attack are analyzed. The entry flight is discussed as equilibrium glide phase and initial diving phase respectively. And the operation zone of angle of attack is obtaine...

The objectives of this memo are threefold. First, the antenna coordinate system used for antenna gain, steering computations and image time predictions is defined. Secondly, the look vector along the Doppler centroid (or locus of points of maximal gain at a specified range) is derived in terms of the yaw, pitch and roll of the platform, the antenna azimuth steering angle and the mounting angle ...

This paper proposes a multi-optimization approach to the autonomous parking of car-like vehicles. It uses a polynomial curve primitive — the η-spline — to build up intrinsically feasible path maneuvers over which to minimize with a weighted sum method the total length of parking paths and the moduli of the maximum path curvature and curvature derivative. The approach takes into account the mand...

In a typical automatic guidance system for agricultural machines, the guidance system controls only one degree of freedom; either the steering angle of the front wheels of the tractor or other steering equipment is used for steering. In a tractor with the multiple degrees of freedom, like four wheel steering, the guidance system may use both the degrees of freedom for path tracking. However, th...

In this paper, the effects of roll center height of McPherson suspension mechanism on dynamic behaviour of a vehicle are first studied, and then the optimum location of roll center of this suspension system is determined for a conceptual Class A vehicle. ADAMS/Car software was used for the analysis of vehicle dynamic behaviour in different positions of suspension roll center. Next, optimization...

This paper shows roll and pitch feedback control on a coaxial mini helicopter equipped with a center of gravity steering mechanism. The helicopter carries a minimal set of sensors to measure yaw rate, distance to ground and roll and pitch angle. While yaw rate and distance to ground control are already realized on the helicopter, roll and pitch control including the necessary signal filtering a...

Fade depth prediction on airborne line-of-sight communication links is considered in this paper. There is no specific model for this scenario at the moment. The two ray multipath model adapted to a realistic scenario of hilly or mountainous terrain was used to account for flight and terrain geometry, and antenna parameters. Surprisingly, it was found that (i) in many practically important cases...

Adaptive behaviors require sensorimotor computations that convert information represented initially in sensory coordinates to commands for action in motor coordinates. Fundamental to these computations is the relationship between the region of the environment sensed by the animal (gaze) and the animal's locomotor plan. Studies of visually guided animals have revealed an anticipatory relationshi...