Steering control system of a multi-unit vehicle

A multi-unit vehicle having a plurality of vehicle parts movably connected to one another and a plurality of steerable axle units, and having a steering control system for controlling steering of the multi-unit vehicle, wherein the steering control system comprises:

• a first axle control unit that is arranged in conjunction with a first steerable axle unit;
• at least one second axle control unit that is arranged in conjunction with at least one second steerable axle unit;
• and
• a central control module that is connected to the axle control units via a common data line for the exchange of steering angle data, with the axle control units each having a data interface for communication via the data line, said data interfaces being configured for transfer of mutually identical data formats, whereby the steering control system is set up in a modular manner with a variable number of axle control units that can be integrated, wherein the central control module has a software-based vehicle-specific movement model that is configured to determine axle-specific desired steering angle data for outputting to each of the axle control units on a basis of the vehicle-specific movement model, with the vehicle-specific movement model being based on vehicle data, the vehicle data comprising dimensions and/or mass of the vehicle.

A method of setting up a steering control system that is adapted to control steering of a multi-unit vehicle having a plurality of vehicle parts movably connected to one another and a plurality of steerable axle units, the method comprising:

• a modular arrangement of a first axle control unit in conjunction with a first steerable axle unit;
• and
• a modular arrangement of at least one second axle control unit in conjunction with at least one second steerable axle unit;
• wherein the axle control units are configured as exchangeable with one another with respect to a connection of each of the axle control units to a data line;
• and
• wherein a central control module is configured that exchanges steering information with the axle control units over the data line;
• wherein on the putting into operation of the steering control system, the axle control units are operated independently of one another and independently of their number in that they communicate with the central control module over the common data line, wherein the central control module has a software-based vehicle-specific movement model that is configured to determine axle-specific desired steering angle data for outputting to each of the axle control units on a basis of the vehicle-specific movement model, with the vehicle-specific movement model being based on vehicle data, the vehicle data comprising dimensions and/or mass of the vehicle.