A multisteering trailer system: conversion into chained form using dynamic feedback

This paper examines the kinematic model of an autonomous mobile robot system consisting of a chain of steerable cars and passive trailers, linked together with rigid bars. The state space and kinematic equations of the system are defined, and it is shown how these kinematic equations may be converted into a multiinput chained form. The advantages of the chained form are that many methods are available for the open-loop steering of such systems as well as for point-stabilization; some of these methods are discussed here. Dynamic state feedback is used to convert the system to this multiinput chained form. It is shown how the dynamic state feedback that is used in this paper corresponds to adding, in front of the steerable cars, a chain of virtual axles which diverges from the original chain of trailers. Two different example systems are also presented, along with simulation results for a parallel-parking maneuver.