Currently, since the model of a driverless bus is not clear, it is difficult for most traditional path tracking methods to achieve a trade-off between accuracy and stability, especially in the case of driverless buses. In terms of solving this problem, a path-tracking controller based on a Fuzzy Pure Pursuit Control with a Front Axle Reference (FPPC-FAR) is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the reference point of Pure Pursuit is moved from the rear axle to the front axle. It relieves the influence caused by the ignorance of the bus’s lateral dynamic characteristics and improves the stability of Pure Pursuit. Secondly, a fuzzy parameter self-tuning method is applied to improve the accuracy and robustness of the path-tracking controller. Thirdly, a feedback-feedforward control algorithm is devised for velocity control, which enhances the velocity tracking efficiency. The proportional-integral (PI) controller is indicated for feedback control, and the gravity acceleration component in the car’s forward direction is used in feedforward control. Finally, a series of experiments is conducted to illustrate the excellent performances of proposed methods.

A framework of path planning for autonomous electric bus is presented. ArcGIS platform is utilized for map-building and global path planning. Firstly, a high-precision map is built based on GPS in ArcGIS for global planning. Then the global optimal path is obtained by network analysis tool in ArcGIS. To facilitate local planning, WGS-84 coordinates in the map are converted to local coordinates. Secondly, a double-layer finite state machine (FSM) is devised to plan driving behavior under different driving scenarios, such as structured driving, lane changing, turning, and so on. Besides, local optimal trajectory is generated by cubic polynomial, which takes full account of the safety and kinetics of the electric bus. Finally, the simulation results show that the framework is reliable and feasible for driving behavior planning and trajectory generation. Furthermore, its validity is proven with an autonomous bus platform 12 m in length.