Project Implementation Plan: Variable Dynamic Testbed Vehicle

McLellan, D. R.; Blessing, T. J.; Nyman, J. L. · 1997 · ROSA P / Environmental Research Institute of Michigan

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Summary

This document is a Project Implementation Plan for the Variable Dynamic Testbed Vehicle (VDTV) program, prepared by the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan (ERIM) for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in February 1997. The project supports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Intelligent Vehicle Highway System (IVHS) initiatives, specifically aiming to provide a vehicle platform capable of methodically varying control and handling characteristics. This capability is intended to support research into Automated Highway Systems, crash avoidance countermeasures, human factors, and the National Advanced Driving Simulator. The implementation strategy involves a multi-phase approach utilizing subcontractors Milliken Research Associates (MRA) and Mechanical Dynamics Inc. (MDI) for dynamics analysis, alongside hardware suppliers TRW, Delphi, Bosch, and Goodyear. The VDTV is based on a Ford Taurus SHO chassis modified with front and rear steer-by-wire systems, active anti-roll bars, brake-by-wire, and throttle-by-wire components. ERIM manages the software development, which includes a Master Processing Module (MPM) running on an Intel X86 processor under Windows95 or NT 4.0, communicating via CAN bus with electronic interface modules. The plan outlines specific tasks ranging from design concept definition and requirements analysis to subsystem acquisition, integration, and system testing. A rigorous software development process is established, involving incremental testing in a Systems Integration Laboratory (SIL) before vehicle installation. Key milestones are defined with specific deadlines, culminating in the delivery of the vehicle by April 1, 1998. Critical intermediate milestones include the completion of software design by January 31, 1997, and the completion of software testing in the SIL by August 1, 1997. The plan details the division of responsibilities, with ERIM overseeing program management and software, while Roush handles vehicle integration and fabrication. Safety protocols are integrated into the design phase, utilizing ADAMS simulation models to assess failure modes and safe operating envelopes, such as rollover risks during extreme maneuvers. The significance of this plan lies in its structured approach to creating a versatile research vehicle that can emulate the dynamic characteristics of the entire U.S. passenger car fleet. By standardizing the development process, including strict version control and interface protocols, the project aims to ensure reliable data collection for IVHS research. The document serves as the foundational management and technical guide for the VDTV program, ensuring alignment between ERIM, JPL, and NHTSA objectives through defined schedules, risk management strategies, and clear reporting structures.

Key finding

The document is a project implementation plan and does not contain completed experimental results or empirical findings.

Methodology

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• dms validation

Information type

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• Applied Guidance: standards test procedures
• Methodological Resource: tool software