Guess the Drift with LOP-UKF: LiDAR Odometry and Pacejka Model for Real-Time Racecar Sideslip Estimation

The sideslip angle, crucial for vehicle safety and stability, is determined using both longitudinal and lateral velocities. However, measuring the lateral component often necessitates costly sensors, leading to its common estimation, a topic thoroughly explored in existing literature. This paper introduces LOP-UKF, a novel method for estimating vehicle lateral velocity by integrating Lidar Odometry with the Pacejka tire model predictions, resulting in a robust estimation via an Unscendent Kalman Filter (UKF). This combination represents a distinct alternative to more traditional methodologies, resulting in a reliable solution also in edge cases. We present experimental results obtained using the Dallara AV-21 across diverse circuits and track conditions, demonstrating the effectiveness of our method.