The suspension system, as a critical component of vehicle chassis, connects body
frame and wheels, therefore affecting the ride comfort and handing stability of
vehicles. To prevent high-frequency oscillations from large control increments
of traditional algorithms, an ideal reference model is introduced to ensure a
more smooth and efficient suspension responses that align with actual physical
characteristics. The ideal skyhook, ideal groundhook, and ideal
skyhook-groundhook models are evaluated with respect to their frequency
response. As a result, the optimal configuration-ideal skyhook-groundhook model,
exhibits the best overall performance and is incorporated with wheelbase preview
mechanism as reference model (WP-SHGH). Further, a wheelbase-preview controller
based on MPC framework (WPMPC-SHGH) is developed to regulate the responses of
semi-active suspension. The Adams/Car-Simulink co-simulation platform is built
for validation and comparison on the impact and ISO-B random roads. Compared to
the passive suspension and the similar controller without reference model, the
proposed WPMPC-SHGH significantly reduces vertical acceleration and pitch
acceleration of vehicle body, which thereby enhances vehicle ride comfort. In
addition, while maintaining suspension performances, the WPMPC-SHGH anticipates
less control forces and leads to a reduction in energy consumption of
semi-active suspension.