Introduction (problem statement and relevance). The paper is devoted to systematization and analysis of the international standards being developed and adopted ones (UN Regulations and UN Global Technical Regulations) in the field of vehicle tyres having a direct impact on the wheeled vehicles safety due to the road resistance (wheels rolling resistance) limitation, sound level decrease when driving on asphalt pavement, increase in tyre adhesion with bearing surfaces with low adhesion coefficients – wet asphalt, packed snow and ice.

The scientific novelty consists in the research aimed at limitation of tyre tread abrasive wear, development of test methods to evaluate the tyre wear during road and bench tests, quantitative uncertainty and possible systematic and random errors occurring during tyre testing, neglecting which can negatively affect the results of supervision at the market of tyre products released on the basis of type approvals.

 The practical significance consists in the recommendations on application of advanced standards for the tyre safety parameters, including the tyre environmental safety, in the Russian national legislation via the voluntary standards system, taking into account the difficulties of coordination and approval of the draft amendments to the compulsory Technical Regulation “On wheeled vehicles safety” by the Eurasian Economic Union member countries.

Introduction (problem statement and relevance). One of the major challenges of our age is to decrease the greenhouse emissions produced by motor vehicles. There is some practice of imposing a number of restrictions on operation of vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines (ICEs), which is aimed to reduce the amount of fuel burnt and emissions into the atmosphere. Despite this, ICE vehicles will still make up a significant proportion of the European vehicle fleet. Electric powertrain vehicles have been proposed as a replacement, but their limited cruising range is one of the reasons for their slow spread. Both of these problems can be solved by energy-efficient control of the motion process.

The purpose of the study is to test the system of energy-efficient control of longitudinal motion of the connected highly automated vehicles in the modern megalopolis environment, considering the terrain, speed modes and traffic lights operation modes.

 Methodology and research methods. Laboratory testing of the developed mathematical model has been performed on a digital twin of a test road section reproduced using high-accuracy navigation data based on the example of an ICE passenger car.

 Scientific novelty and results. The laboratory testing results show that the proposed system of energy efficient control of vehicle longitudinal motion is by 4.5% more energy-efficient than that of a vehicle with cruise-control. The system developed can be integrated into the connected highly automated vehicles to increase their energy efficiency.

Introduction (problem statement and relevance). Intensive development and improvement of automobile design dictated by the increasing level of requirements and expectations on the part of the consumer is followed by development and introduction into production of new structural materials having higher corrosion resistance and anti-corrosion protection, as well as extension of the declared durability (service life) of standard products up to 8–12 years. This causes emergence of tasks of ensuring of accelerated assessment of efficiency of protective properties of the body as a whole and of its individual panels considering their location on the object, availability of interface (contact) with other elements, nature and intensity of external influence.

 The purpose of the study is to develop and improve methods of accelerated corrosion tests allowing, already at the initial stage of testing, prediction of further corrosion behavior and expected parameters of corrosion damage with the given operating time of the product.

Methodology and research methods. Experimental and instrumental methods of study of corrosion behavior, as well as mathematical modeling methods were applied. Scientific novelty and results. The scientific novelty of the study consists in the following: peculiarities of corrosion behavior on outer panels of a complete vehicle body were identified; a procedure was developed to determine expected parameters of corrosion damage of body panels within a complete vehicle with the given operating time; calculated dependencies to determine numerical values of parameters used in the developed procedure were experimentally proved.

The result of the study is providing the possibility of predicting parameters of corrosion damage of metal elements of a vehicle body with the given operating time under various conditions of external influence.

 Practical significance. The results of the study can be applied for planning corrosion tests; prompt introduction of necessary corrections in test programs; assessment of compliance of anti-corrosion protection of a particular component on a complete object; comparative assessment of efficiency of different types of anti-corrosion protection of body elements; prompt introduction of design and technological changes in terms of corrosion protection during testing following intermediate results without waiting for the tests to end.

Introduction (problem statement and relevance). A comparative study was performed regarding two most common approaches to vehicle loading simulation: dynamic approach and quasistatic approach. The purpose of the study is a comparative analysis of procedures to simulate vehicle loading, including multi-axial vehicles and articulated vehicles, in order to determine their applicability limits, labor costs and conduct a comparative analysis of the results, as well as substantiate feasibility of using the quasistatic simulation procedure for different vehicle types at the initial design stages through performance assessment.

 Methodology and research methods. The following methods were applied: simulation mathematical modeling; statistical data processing; formalization and specification of design or calculation loading modes based on the vehicle theory formulas.

 Scientific novelty and results. The results are shaped in the form of a descriptive part of comparison of quasistatic and dynamic loading simulation procedures. Some results of approbation indicating suitability of use at the initial stages of design and relative efficiency of the quasistatic simulation procedure are also presented. The scientific novelty consists in application of the procedure to simulate multi-axial vehicle loading according to the “loading-unloading-statics” principle considering simultaneous influence of inertia loads and loads in the tyre-to-road contact patch which are calculated by means of the developed algorithm with feedback based on the data on the grip and brake properties of the vehicle, and also on the necessary acceleration values. Upon that, the multi-link model preserves a quasistable balance state. Using the quasistatic simulation method allows to reduce the solution time by more than tens of times, and in case of covering the full cycle of model preparation and calculations, efficiency increases from 4 to 40% depending on the quantity of the necessary loading modes. At the same time, increase of the loading modes quantity leads to increase of efficiency with the use of the quasistatic simulation procedure.

 Practical significance. This paper demonstrates the limits of applicability of the procedure of quasistatic simulation of vehicle loading for driving modes with acceleration. A comparative analysis of efficiency in terms of simulating loads on the running gear elements of a multi-axle vehicle has also been carried out.

Introduction (problem statement and relevance). When generating a driverless vehicle (DV) path or trajectory, the standard practice is to split the process in 2 stages – graph search and multi-objective optimization with obstacle avoidance. Before launching the second stage, the trajectory obtained through graph search needs to be smoothed preliminary in order to reduce contradiction between curvature significance and reference path following error significance.

The purpose of the study is to develop an algorithm for driverless vehicle path smoothing with possibility of intuitively clear adjustment of such parameters as deviation from reference path, path curvature and curvature change speed.

 Methodology and research methods. To solve the problem, the method of analytical design is used for the path smoothing algorithm, which is based on using necessary function minimization conditions in order to synthesize the smoothing law.

 Scientific novelty and results. An algorithm was developed for driverless vehicle path smoothing, which allows adjustment of deviation from the reference path, output path curvature and curvature change speed.

Practical significance. The proposed algorithm can be used to smooth the path obtained as a result of graph search for further use in path generation taking into account obstacle avoidance.

Introduction (problem statement and relevance). In the process of refining or modernizing vehicles, changes in vehicle packaging or unit composition are inevitable. At the same time, the process of redesigning the load-carrying system shall be time-efficient and shall include minimum number of changes, while maintaining the required safety margin, durability and stiffness levels in the design. Combined application of topological optimization method and additive technologies (e.g. metal casting in 3D printed sand molds) can ensure that such requirements are met without significantly increasing weight of the load-carrying system.

 The purpose of the study is estimation of labour intensity of the process of modernization of load-carrying systems under conditions of frequent changes of packagings and units by means of combined application of topological optimization method and additive technologies, as well as comparison of this process with traditional designing based on manual construction of load-carrying systems with the use of assortment (sheets, profiles) and assembly operations (riveting, welding, etc.).

 Methodology and research methods. The object of research is a load-carrying frame of a driverless load trolley designed by topological optimization method. Some units of the load trolley – steering gear and drive systems – were changed, which required refinement of the load-carrying system to adapt to the new packaging of the vehicle. A method was developed and described for quick refinement of the load-carrying system to adapt to the new packaging space using topological optimization and taking into account additive manufacturing – casting of aluminum alloy AK7ch into 3D-printed sand molds.

 Scientific novelty and results. Results of checking calculations of strength, stiffness and stability were presented for the newly designed and initial frames. Comparative analysis was carried out for the initial and modernized frame geometry. Advantages and peculiarities were listed for combined application of topological optimization method and additive technologies compared to manual design for traditional technologies. Practical significance of the study is that the developed procedure for refinement of load-carrying systems allows considerable acceleration of the process of design adaptation for frequently changing packaging. It is shown that the designs obtained using this method do not degrade or worsen the weight and strength characteristics of load-carrying systems, while their geometry has no global changes in terms of the loading pattern.

Introduction (problem statement and relevance). Steady growth of the number of electronic units within modern vehicles generates a complex of new hazards and risks, which were not previously considered at the vehicle life cycle stages. This circumstance obliges the developers and manufacturers to develop and search for new methods or their combination able to ensure the design parameters of vehicle systems safety levels to the fullest extent. Purpose of the study. The study suggests using the System Theoretical Process Analysis (STPA) method at the early stages of procedures for ensuring functional safety of electronic and electric systems of highly automated vehicles.

 Methodology and research methods. The paper analyzes joint application of the safety analysis methods specified in GOST R ISO 26262-3 and the STPA method.

 The scientific novelty consists in synthesis of these approaches within the highly automated vehicle systems study.

 Practical significance. The results of application of the combined safety analysis form the basis of existing and promising developments of new electronic systems of highly automated vehicles and can also be used when modernizing and upgrading existing electronic systems being operated.

Introduction (problem statement and relevance). The main disadvantages limiting extended application of special-purpose road trains are reduced off-road performance, maneuverability, handling and stability as compared to single wheeled chassis. One of the ways to solve the above problems is activization, i.e. equipping of the trailer wheels with a torque transmission system. However, despite the fact that the active road train concept has existed for already three quarters of a century, there is still no generalized theory for calculation of torque distribution between the active road train links.

The purpose of the study is to increase the mobility of a road train by using rational parameters of the semitrailer electromechanical transmission, obtained using the developed mathematical model, which takes into account various characteristics of the mechanical transmission with an internal combustion engine on the truck and the traction electric drive on the semitrailer.

Methodology and research methods. The study uses analytical review and analysis, computer simulation and virtual test methods.

 Scientific novelty and results. Offering basic principles for calculation of a semi-trailer electric traction drive based on traditional traction and dynamic calculation.

 Practical significance. The proposed approach allows obtaining preliminary estimated technical characteristics of a semi-trailer traction drive using simple mathematical calculations, which is needed for further design of the power unit and transmission of an active road train. The developed calculation procedure is applicable for various road conditions.

Introduction (problem statement and relevance). In recent decades, special attention has been paid to reducing the so-called “carbon footprint”, which in relation to automobile transport means reducing consumption of oil and gas fuels and switching to new types of energy carriers such as electricity and hydrogen. The issue of assessing and regulating fuel economy of heavy-duty vehicles has been dealt with globally since 2018, with many countries having joined this process, as a result of which standards for fuel consumption per unit of run and/or CO2 emissions are currently in effect or are planned to be introduced in the coming years in the European Union countries, the United Kingdom, the USA, Canada, China, India, and Japan. In 2019, the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA) initiated a series of meetings within the Working Party on Pollution and Energy (GRPE) of the UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) which were aimed at analysis of existing methods of assessment and standards of fuel economy of heavy-duty vehicles in order to find ways to harmonize those requirements among the global community.

 The purpose of the study is to review current trends in improving methods of assessing and regulating fuel economy of heavy-duty vehicles within the activity of the Working Party on Pollution and Energy (GRPE) of the UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations.

Methodology and research methods. Analysis of published documents and reports made at GRPE working party meetings. Scientific novelty and results. The paper presents results of analysis of modern approaches and trends in assessing fuel economy of heavy-duty vehicles.

 Practical significance. The results of the analysis will help to understand the key issues of assessing fuel economy of heavy-duty vehicles and improve the regulatory framework applied in the Russian Federation.

. Introduction (problem statement and relevance). For further development of low-flow turbines (LFT) used, in particular, in aerial vehicles (AV), increase in their efficiency and specific power is required. This paper presents the results of experimental studies of LFT designs known as birotary with the rotating nozzle set (RNS). The main advantage of the specified turbines is provision of compactness and high efficiency of corresponding power units.

 The purpose of the study is to select new promising design schemes or arrangements of LFT with contrarotating spools and to obtain characteristics of such turbines in different operation modes.

 The methodology consists in development of models of birotary turbines (BT) and corresponding experimental units; development of the experimental study algorithm; creation of the measurement and experimental data processing procedures.

 Scientific novelty and results. The paper has considered principally new design schemes of LFT, namely the birotary turbines (BT) with the rotating nozzle set (RNS) created on the basis of turbine stages designed by the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute (LPI) intended for low-power turbines and low flow rate of the working medium. In order to conduct the experimental studies of the BT, the methods and algorithm of experimental data processing have been developed. Following the study results, recommendations were formulated, which allowed improvement of the design and increase in the efficiency of the BT.

 Practical significance. According to the data obtained, conclusions were made on prospects of development of BT for AV from the point of view of the internal EF (efficiency factor) and weight and dimensional parameters.

Introduction (problem statement and relevance). Rapid growth of the vehicle automation level, including that of systems providing comfort for occupants, leads to increase of risk of occupant injuries. Therefore, developers and manufacturers have to create more complicated safety mechanisms or search for their combinations in the related fields to ensure the required vehicle safety level.

 The purpose of the study is to analyze the methods used to detect pinching of window lift systems and other electrically-actuated systems in order to select the most rational pinch detection method for the retractable running boards system.

 Methodology and research methods. Russian and foreign literature describing pinch detection methods of window lift systems and other electrically-actuated systems has been analyzed.

 Scientific novelty and results. A review of various anti-pinch systems for vehicle body actuators has been presented. As a result of the analysis of the existing obstacle detection methods for the electrically-actuated window lift system, it was concluded that in order to provide anti-pinch protection within the vehicle running boards systems, application of only one method would not allow achievement of the required indicators of reliability of the system on the whole.

 Practical significance. The proposed method could be checked within vehicles of current projects; for this purpose, it was suggested to assemble a test setup and conduct a number of tests of the updated running boards system at FSUE “NAMI” facilities.

Introduction (problem statement and relevance). Testing of acoustic materials depends on the standards used by the manufacturer: the supplier independently selects the methods by means of which it will further classify the new material. This paper describes the acoustic materials testing methods applied by FSUE “NAMI”: bench tests of vibration dampening or cushioning (shock-absorbing) materials, flat and moulded acoustic materials, and parts with distinct acoustic properties to determine noise transmission loss.

 The purpose of the study is to create a full complex of FSUE “NAMI” methods for testing and classification of acoustic materials of various types.

 Methodology and research methods. The selected research methods based on the standards related to acoustic materials testing.

Scientific novelty and results. In reliance on the complex of methods collected in this paper, one can carry out full efficiency analysis and classification of noise-insulating, noise-absorbing (noise-attenuating) and vibration dampening (shock-absorbing) vehicle materials and products. Previously, such a full list of FSUE “NAMI” research methods has not been covered in the public domain in one publication.

 Practical significance. The test methods specified in the paper have been applied in FSUE “NAMI” for several years within work performance under various projects.