Jonas Kantic, M.Sc.

Summary:
Current vehicle dynamics control systems regulate various vehicle state variables using classic PID control methods by comparing desired and actual states. The quality of such a controller can only be improved to a limited extent through parameter optimization, as the control is based solely on measured actual states. A conventional approach to solving this problem involves using a highly complex physical model to predict the future behavior of a signal based on known input parameters, thereby improving controller performance.
However, as such a model far exceeds the hardware limitations of a vehicle control unit, an alternative solution is to make predictions using a machine learning model. This research aims to investigate the feasibility and quality of such machine learning predictions and the resulting control loop quality using the example of motorcycle traction control.

Methodology:
The proposed methodology involves developing a time-series prediction approach,
potentially utilizing sequence-to-sequence classification, e.g., to determine the road
surface, tire types, loading conditions and other parameters as input for time series
prediction. To achieve this, various suitable model architectures (e.g., LSTM, GRU,
Transformer, Reservoir Computing) will be identified in the literature, and appropriate signals and datasets will be selected from existing vehicle data. The models will then be verified as open-loop in simulation, and the most suitable method and relevant data will be identified. If the simulation results are positive, the model will be implemented in a real-time hardware environment to test closed-loop performance.

Research Questions:

• Is predicting sensor signals possible using time-series prediction in an open-loop system?
• What data and model are necessary to enable robust prediction?
• Is control based on prediction possible in a closed-loop system?