An adaptive control scheme for emergency braking of vehicles is designed based on a LuGre dynamic model for the tire-road friction. The wheel angular speed and longitudinal vehicle acceleration information are used to design a fast convergence observer to estimate the vehicle velocity and the internal state of the friction model. The unknown parameters of the dynamic friction model are estimated through a parameter adaptation law. A Lyapunov-based state estimator and a stabilizing braking controller are designed to achieve near to maximum braking capability of the vehicle. Underestimation of the maximum friction coefficient, a very desirable feature from the perspective of safety, is guaranteed by a proper choice of adaptation gains and initial values of the estimated friction parameters.

Transport systems are capable of contributing to the economic robustness of a geographic area and the well-being of its inhabitants via the supply of the necessary assets for the mobility of people and goods. However, transport projects have the capacity to produce several negative externalities such as water pollution, air pollution, barrier effects, noise, and ecological impact, which affect the quality of people’s life. Considering these facts, the main purpose of this study is to indicate methodologically how the negative externalities of transport are interlinked, so that to promote sustainable mobility development. This paper reveals via the method of structural analysis, the interrelations between the negative externalities of transport, firstly to organize them hierarchically and secondly to evaluate the potential of sustainable mobility strategies concerning the co-benefits generated by their implementation for society. The results show that the negative externalities of transport are not isolated phenomena; on the contrary, they are interlinked and can be organised hierarchically according to the relationships between them so that certain public policies can be prioritized and the negative impacts of transport can be tackled more effectively. The most critical negative externalities are the invasion of public space for the construction of more roads, along with road accidents, congestion, and local air pollution. On the other hand, the most important group of strategies for sustainable mobility are the ones oriented to urban design, and more specifically to transit-oriented development.

A scheme for real-time identification of a wind turbine power coefficient curve is presented. Knowledge of this curve is important to maximize the generated electric power. The precise shape of this curve is difficult to predict as it depends on several factors: air density, humidity, temperature, wind speed and tip speed. Once the power coefficient curve is found, it is possible to propose optimal operation points for the turbine that are fed to a controller for the electric generator. Simulation results show good performance of the identification scheme