Method and apparatus for predicting minimum stopping distance required

Abstract

A method of predicting a minimum stopping distance required to stop a subject vehicle by a braking system thereof, including: (a) a step of obtaining measurement data for each of at least one sample vehicle which is braked by a braking system thereof operated with its full braking capacity, the measurement data including a weight and a running speed of the sample vehicle, a stopping distance through which the sample vehicle has run to be stopped, a tire radius of the sample vehicle, and optionally a tire width of the sample vehicle; (b) a step of obtaining at least one predicting equation on the basis of the measurement data in a statistical manner, the equation providing a predicted value of the minimum stopping distance on the basis of a weight, a running speed and a tire radius of the subject vehicle, and optionally a tire width of the subject vehicle; and (c) a step of calculating the predicted value of the minimum stopping distance, by substituting the weight, the running speed, the tire radius of the running vehicle, and optionally the tire width of the subject vehicle, into one of the at least one predicting equation, so that the equation provides the predicted value of the minimum stopping distance.