Integration and implementation of a priori knowledge for dynamics modelling and control

Neural networks have been employed in a range of automotive modelling and control tasks. This paper discusses the recently introduced local model network structure. The structure can be viewed as a hybrid model which smoothly combines local models (of linear or nonlinear form) by interpolation. Interpolation of local models is implemented in the form of a basis-function network. The benefits of this structure include: existing knowledge can be directly integrated, and the model can be fully analysed and interpreted in a local manner. The author describes the local model network and discusses its relevance for automotive modelling and control tasks