Analysis and control of vehicle dynamics under crosswind conditions

In more recent vehicle tests car's crosswind sensitivity is often determined. In this paper models of a Ford Explorer Sport and an Audi A4 Quattro are tested for crosswind sensitivity with the help of FASIM C++ (a vehicle dynamics simulation tool, developed in the Mechatronics Laboratory in Duisburg). Furthermore, the systematic design of a control unit for the Ford Explorer is described. The intention is to reduce the lateral offset of the vehicle due to the crosswind in order to reduce the number of vehicle accidents.