A driving cycle is a time series of a vehicle’s speed, reflecting its movement in real road conditions. In addition to certification and comparative research, driving cycles are used in the virtual design of drive systems and embedded control algorithms, traffic management and intelligent road transport (traffic engineering). This study aimed to develop an adaptive driving cycle for a known route to optimize the energy consumption of an electric vehicle and improve the driving range. A novel distance-based adaptive driving cycle method was developed. The proposed algorithm uses the segmentation and iterative synthesis procedures of Markov chains. Energy consumption during driving is monitored on an ongoing basis using Gaussian process regression, and speed and acceleration are corrected adaptively to maintain the planned energy consumption. This paper presents the results of studies of simulated driving cycles and the performance of the algorithm when applied to the real recorded driving cycles of an electric vehicle.

This article presents the results of seismic shear wave velocity (V_S) measurements using the CSWS/SAWS (Continuous Surface Wave System/Spectral Analysis of Surface Waves) and SDMT (seismic flat dilatometer) methods, as well as BET (Bender Elements Test), on an experimental test site (and samples taken from it). The test site, a geologically relatively uniform alluvial sand formation area, was carefully chosen and checked for uniformity by means of drillings and soundings. The research aimed to determine how results from indirect, non-invasive surface geophysical tests (SASW and CSWS) correspond with those from SDMT penetration tests as well as the BET laboratory seismic method, and how some methodological aspects can influence them. Different wave sources and frequency were examined as the main factors for interpretation. The influence of other examined factors is also discussed.

Sciendo provides publishing services and solutions to academic and professional organizations and individual authors. We publish journals, books, conference proceedings and a variety of other publications.

This article presents the results of measurements of the braking efficiency of vehicles adapted to be operated by drivers with motor dysfunctions. In such cars, the braking system is extended with an adaptive device that allows braking with the upper limb. This device applies pressure to the original brake in the car. The braking force and thus its efficiency depend on the mechanical ratio in the adapting device. In addition, braking performance depends on the sensitivity of the car’s original braking system and the maximum force that a disabled person can exert on the handbrake lever. Such a person may have limited power in the upper limbs. The force exerted by the driver can also be influenced by the position of the driver’s seat in relation to the handbrake lever. This article describes the research aimed at understanding the influence of the above-mentioned factors on the car braking performance. As a part of the analysis of the test results, a mathematical function was proposed that allows a parametric description of the braking efficiency index on the basis of data on the braking system, adaptation device, driver’s motor limitations, and the position of the driver’s seat. The information presented in this article can be used for the preliminary selection of adaptive devices to the needs of a given driver with a disability and to the vehicle construction.

Article Car braking effectiveness after adaptation for drivers with motor dysfunctions was published on January 1, 2021 in the journal Open Engineering (volume 11, issue 1).