Modeling and testing of an improved 8x8 scaled electric combat vehicle

Abstract

The current 8x8 combat vehicle pertaining to multi-wheeled vehicles indicates a lack of effort in developing advanced multi-steering electric drive vehicle. Therefore, novel steering scenarios for an 8x8 scaled electric combat vehicle that features maintaining individual wheel’s steering and speed are developed in this thesis using a scaled 8x8 compat vehicle to introduce a future steering control system for the current combat vehicles. This thesis explains the mechanical improvement of the scaled vehicle compared to the previously developed model. In addition, validation of the scaled electric vehicle model in comparison with a full-size electric drive vehicle model in TruckSim is presented to prove the advantage of using the scaled vehicle in experimental test. Furthermore, development and validation of steering strategies including traditional, fixed 3rd axle, and all-wheel steering scenarios in the scaled vehicle in terms of both experiment and simulation results are conducted to enhance the limitations imposed by conventional vehicle’s steering control system. Active Steering Controller (ASC) is developed and simulated to overcome the limitations of the complete Ackermann steering condition when the scaled vehicle is driving at a relatively high speed. The outcome of this thesis research work is a novel future electric multi-drive and multi-steer combat vehicle.