Electric motor based steering for jackknife avoidance in large trucks

Electric motor steering systems have recently been introduced for passenger vehicles to improve handling stability under adverse road conditions. A new advanced steering system is examined where the handwheel angle is augmented by an electronically controlled electric motor. This is referred to as active front steering (AFS). Given the increased emphasis on developing hybrid electric-diesel trucks with electric driven accessories, this paper investigates AFS for large trucks to assist in avoiding jackknife and rollover conditions. In order to effectively deploy this technology in commercial fleet operations, emphasis is given to design aspects to minimize the tendency of AFS systems to interfere with the driver's perception of the truck dynamic response.