ABSTRACT
Accelerator pedals with force feedback, also known as active accelerator pedals, are increasingly available in the car industry. The pedals can be used to assist the driver in observing speed limits, maintaining a safe distance to the car in front, and minimising energy consumption. A review of the published literature reveals that the action of these pedals is sometimes disliked by the driver, but there is limited theoretical understanding of the interaction between driver and active pedal. This paper proposes a mathematical game theoretical model of the interaction using model predictive control theory (MPC). Two control strategies are introduced: decentralised control and cooperative control. A brief parameter study demonstrates the influence of the adjustable parameters of the controllers. The work is directed towards the heavy goods vehicle application, where the potential of active accelerator pedals to reduce energy consumption is not yet fully explored.
