Comparison of dynamic models for a motorcycle during lowside fall

The controllers for active safety systems of motorcycles cannot be synthesized regardless by a suitable analytic dynamic model of the vehicle. Generally the analytical study and analysis of critical driving situations, falls and accidents is a complex task, since these events take place due to the simultaneity of different and complex phenomena. An analytical model able to capture the dynamics of a two-wheeled vehicle in curve is considered. In this paper the performance of the proposed model in describing the low side fall, a critical vehicle condition involving the safety of the rider, is investigated. The model has the minimum degree of complexity needed to describe complex dynamics and two different assumptions of accuracy have been made on it. The linearized version of the model has been compared with a nonlinearized version and the results have shown no substantial differences in the description of the lowside major dynamics. Key–Words: Motorcycle dynamic, active safety systems, model-based control systems