Project Summary
This project aims to develop and test a novel, low-cost, and lightweight active rear-steering system, Brake-Actuated Steering, to improve the manoeuvrability of a wide range of vehicle types. The manoeuvrability improvements will unlock the use of higher capacity vehicles in many urban and rural areas, improving efficiency, reducing emissions, and operating costs. In addition, the system eliminates tire wear during cornering, enabling the use of fuel-efficient tyres.
Project Achievements
Activities • Developed HGV model of a tractor-semitrailer with multiple brake-actuated steered axles. • Modified brake protype hardware and controller to use for the steering actuation and to emulate the behaviour of commercial brake actuators. • Carried out controlled testing at HORIBA-MIRA of the full-scale prototype system for a variety of road surfaces, vehicle speeds, and a number of steered axles. • Assessed system performance with comparison to a conventional vehicle with fixed axles.
Conclusions
The technology has successfully reached TRL 5. • The BAS system is a viable technological solution that uses individually controlled brake actuators to steer the vehicle axles without any additional components. • Reduces swept path width by 25%, tail swing by 60% and trailer cut in by around 70%. • Reduces carbon emissions and tyre wear emissions, allowing operators to use fuel- efficient tyres and increase payload capacity, improving efficiency through the use of much more productive higher capacity vehicles.
Next Steps
• Live demonstration of the prototype BAS system to potential technological partners. • Develop control strategy can CAN bus network to control commercial brake actuators for the steering actuation. Three EBS units have been supplied to Cambridge University from ZF group. • Further testing of the system with commercial brakes and in reverse manoeuvring. • License the technology to a industrial partner and disseminate findings.
