Evaluation of Motorcycle Maneuverability With the Optimal Maneuver Method

This paper deals with the application of the optimal maneuver method to the assessment of motorcycle maneuverability.

The optimal maneuver method is a novel approach to the analysis of vehicle performance. The essence of this method is the solution of an optimal control problem which consists in moving the vehicle, according to holding trajectory constraints, between two given endpoints in the “most efficient way”. The concept of “most efficient” is defined by a proper penalty function defined to express maneuverability.

In this paper we briefly outline the method and give examples of its application to three classical maneuvers commonly used to test motorcycle handling: a slalom test, a lane change maneuver and a U-curve.