A quasi-steady-state minimum lap time simulation of race motorcycles using experimental data

Abstract

In this work, the minimum-lap-time problem is investigated using a quasi-steady-state model. The prior research approach has been modified by introducing experimentally based controls’ constraints to consider some effects of vehicle inertia and human physical limitations. The differences between the theoretical and recorded experimentally g-g diagrams are analysed, and a semi-empirical g-g diagram is proposed as an approximation for the usage of most motorcycle riders. The effect of the braking technique (optimum and using front brake only) is discussed on a variable radius ‘U’ trajectory example. A new system of OCP state equations is proposed, and optimal trajectories are computed for several test scenarios for open and closed-loop tracks. The simulation result for the closed-loop track is compared with the experimental data from a GPS-based data acquisition system. The standard and proposed approach are compared, and conclusions are drawn.

KEYWORDS:

• Lap-time optimisation
• optimal control
• g-g diagram
• motorcycle dynamics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).