Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Vehicle Systems: Modeling, Control Optimization and Fault Diagnosis

A special issue of Machines (ISSN 2075-1702). This special issue belongs to the section "Vehicle Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 660

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute of Rail Transit, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
Interests: rail transit; operation control; safety and reliability; test and validation

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Guest Editor
Logistics Engineering College, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, China
Interests: nonlinear control; mechanical engineering; intelligent vehicle; marine engineering equipment

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Logistics Engineering College, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai, China
Interests: nonlinear control; mechanical engineering; intelligent vehicle; marine engineering equipment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have opened new frontiers in the design, optimization, and monitoring of intelligent vehicle systems. Recent developments have demonstrated AI’s remarkable potential to enhance vehicle dynamics modeling, optimize control strategies, and improve fault detection and diagnosis, significantly boosting the performance and reliability of transportation systems.

This Special Issue invites original research articles, review papers, and case studies focusing on cutting-edge applications of AI in vehicle system modeling, control optimization, and fault diagnosis. We encourage contributions addressing theoretical advancements, algorithm development, innovative simulation approaches, and practical implementations across various vehicle domains, including autonomous ground vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, maglev trains, rail transit, marine vehicles, and related intelligent transportation platforms.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

  • AI-based vehicle dynamics modeling and nonlinear system analysis;
  • Intelligent and autonomous vehicle control strategies;
  • Machine learning techniques for fault detection, isolation, and system health monitoring;
  • Reinforcement learning for optimal control and decision-making;
  • Digital twins and their applications in intelligent vehicle systems;
  • Predictive maintenance and intelligent operation management;
  • Sensor fusion and advanced data analytics for vehicle systems;
  • AI-driven safety validation and system reliability;
  • Human–machine interactions in autonomous vehicle environments;
  • Edge computing and distributed AI solutions for real-time control.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions to help drive progress in this exciting interdisciplinary research field.

Dr. Yougang Sun
Dr. Hongliang Pan
Dr. Haiyan Qiang
Prof. Dr. Daofang Chang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • artificial intelligence
  • vehicle dynamics modeling
  • intelligent control
  • fault diagnosis
  • reinforcement learning
  • predictive maintenance
  • rail transit systems
  • digital twin
  • intelligent vehicles
  • system optimization

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

24 pages, 7084 KB  
Article
Dimensional Synthesis and Optimization of Leading and Mixed-Leading Double Four-Bar Steering Mechanisms: A Comparative Metaheuristic Approach
by Yaw-Hong Kang and Da-Chen Pang
Machines 2026, 14(4), 445; https://doi.org/10.3390/machines14040445 - 16 Apr 2026
Viewed by 259
Abstract
This study investigates the dimensional synthesis and optimization of multi-link steering mechanisms—namely, the leading and mixed-leading double four-bar configurations—for front-wheel-drive vehicles. To overcome the accuracy limitations of conventional steering at large angles (up to 70°), a comparative metaheuristic approach is employed, utilizing two [...] Read more.
This study investigates the dimensional synthesis and optimization of multi-link steering mechanisms—namely, the leading and mixed-leading double four-bar configurations—for front-wheel-drive vehicles. To overcome the accuracy limitations of conventional steering at large angles (up to 70°), a comparative metaheuristic approach is employed, utilizing two popular metaheuristic optimizations, Improved Particle Swarm Optimization (IPSO) and Differential Evolution with golden ratio (DE-gr), to optimize the geometric parameters of these complex eight-bar steering systems. Using a track-to-wheelbase ratio of 0.5, the optimization minimizes a mean-squared structural-error objective function integrated with Grashof mobility constraints. The optimized mechanisms are validated via ADAMS kinematic simulations and further analyzed in MATLAB R2021 regarding steering accuracy, transmission angles, and mechanical advantage. The results reveal a distinct performance trade-off: mixed-leading configurations achieve superior geometric precision and mass reduction due to shorter link lengths, with IPSO yielding the highest accuracy. Conversely, leading-type mechanisms provide a more linear and stable mechanical advantage, ensuring predictable force transmission. While DE-gr exhibits faster convergence across both variants, both algorithms effectively exploit the complex parameter space of multi-link systems. Ultimately, this metaheuristic optimization-based approach offers a superior and robust framework for the dimensional synthesis of high-performance multi-link steering mechanisms, surpassing the constraints of traditional gradient-based methods. Our findings recommend the mixed-leading configuration for precision-focused applications and the leading configuration for scenarios requiring consistent mechanical performance. Full article
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