A Simple Curvature-Based Backward Path-Tracking Control for a Mobile Robot with N Trailers

Abstract

This paper introduces a two-tier feedback control law for the path tracking of a mobile robot equipped with N on-axle trailers. Initially, through a recursive design process, the curvature-tracking challenge is converted into stabilizing the joint angles at predefined reference values. This design approach is straightforward and can be easily extended to configurations with multiple trailers. Using input-to-state stability analysis, we demonstrate the asymptotic stability of the closed-loop system, which is structured in cascade form. Furthermore, we reformulate the path-tracking problem as a curvature-planning challenge and propose an algorithm to determine the desired curvature for the tail trailer. The simulation results validate the effectiveness of this novel algorithm in truck-trailer systems.

Keywords

• autonomous vehicles
• path-following control
• truck-trailer system
• nonlinear control
• <i>N</i> trailers