Minimization of curvature with cubic spline interpolation for optimal racing line

In motor sports, racing line optimization is important since different race line can result in different speed and time taken to complete a race track. In competitive motor sport events such as NASCAR cup, Formula 1 and WRC, the lap time of top racers can differ in mere milliseconds. Hence, it is im...

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Main Authors: Chen, Chuei Yee, Kai, Zen Cheong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia 2024
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118347/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118347/1/118347.pdf
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author Chen, Chuei Yee
Kai, Zen Cheong
author_facet Chen, Chuei Yee
Kai, Zen Cheong
author_sort Chen, Chuei Yee
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description In motor sports, racing line optimization is important since different race line can result in different speed and time taken to complete a race track. In competitive motor sport events such as NASCAR cup, Formula 1 and WRC, the lap time of top racers can differ in mere milliseconds. Hence, it is important to formulate a racing strategy to achieve the best possible lap time. Optimizing the lap time requires one to minimize the curvature around the corner, and this in turn can be formulated as a variational problem. This study proposes cubic spline interpolation as a strategy to find the curvature and time taken for a race car to complete a corner at the race track, bounded by physical limits of the race car and the radius of turn of the race track. The strategy, which allows one to explore different points on the Cartesian plane, is illustrated through an example on a simple corner.
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spelling upm-1183472025-07-08T06:18:49Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118347/ Minimization of curvature with cubic spline interpolation for optimal racing line Chen, Chuei Yee Kai, Zen Cheong In motor sports, racing line optimization is important since different race line can result in different speed and time taken to complete a race track. In competitive motor sport events such as NASCAR cup, Formula 1 and WRC, the lap time of top racers can differ in mere milliseconds. Hence, it is important to formulate a racing strategy to achieve the best possible lap time. Optimizing the lap time requires one to minimize the curvature around the corner, and this in turn can be formulated as a variational problem. This study proposes cubic spline interpolation as a strategy to find the curvature and time taken for a race car to complete a corner at the race track, bounded by physical limits of the race car and the radius of turn of the race track. The strategy, which allows one to explore different points on the Cartesian plane, is illustrated through an example on a simple corner. Universiti Putra Malaysia 2024 Article PeerReviewed text en cc_by_nc_4 http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118347/1/118347.pdf Chen, Chuei Yee and Kai, Zen Cheong (2024) Minimization of curvature with cubic spline interpolation for optimal racing line. Menemui Matematik, 47 (1). pp. 91-104. ISSN 2231-7023 https://persama.org.my/images/Menemui_Matematik/2025/MMv471_91_104.pdf
spellingShingle Chen, Chuei Yee
Kai, Zen Cheong
Minimization of curvature with cubic spline interpolation for optimal racing line
title Minimization of curvature with cubic spline interpolation for optimal racing line
title_full Minimization of curvature with cubic spline interpolation for optimal racing line
title_fullStr Minimization of curvature with cubic spline interpolation for optimal racing line
title_full_unstemmed Minimization of curvature with cubic spline interpolation for optimal racing line
title_short Minimization of curvature with cubic spline interpolation for optimal racing line
title_sort minimization of curvature with cubic spline interpolation for optimal racing line
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118347/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118347/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/118347/1/118347.pdf