Determination and evaluation of a three-wheeled tilting vehicle prototype’s dynamic characteristics

Abstract

When a new vehicle is being developed, the parameters of the electric motor, battery modules, and control algorithms have a significant impact on its dynamic characteristics. This paper presents a method of determining the dynamic characteristics of a three-wheeled tilting vehicle created by AKO team. In order to achieve this, the acceleration values in theoretical calculations were determined and were verified by experimental field tests using a three-wheeled vehicle prototype. Theoretical calculations include the determination of speed, dynamic factor, air resistance, and traction force. The theoretical calculation of the above-mentioned dynamic factors also involves the experimental determination of the drag coefficient, which was performed in a wind tunnel using a scaled-down (1:16) three-wheeled vehicle model. Field tests were conducted to determine acceleration data using two accelerometers, one of which was used for the synchronization of the calculated acceleration data with experimentally obtained acceleration data. Obtained data from very sensitive accelerometer were filtered using a Butterworth second-order low-pass filter. Results show compliance between the calculated and measured accelerations, which means that theoretical calculations were verified by experimental measurements.