Model Reference Control for Active Suspension System

The objective of this study is to develop a Model Reference Control (MRC) strategy for active suspension System. The MRC strategy employs both the suspension look-ahead preview and wheelbase preview concepts, and the methodology of the MRC based on the ideal hybrid skyhook-groundhook concept. The study performed using a 13 degree-of-freedom (DoF) vehicle vertical dynamics model including the active suspension actuators masses. The engine mass, driver seat and anti-roll bar are considered in the model. The MRC strategy uses eight Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controllers for both body and wheel control. A gradient-based optimization algorithm is applied to obtain the controller parameters using a cost function including both ride comfort and road holding performance. Comparison between the active suspension system provided with proposed MRC strategy, the ideal hybrid skyhook-groundhook suspension system, and the passive suspension system in terms of ride comfort and road holding is performed. The obtained results showed that, the proposed MRC strategy with the PID controllers are able to track the performance of the ideal hybrid skyhook-groundhook system, and provided significant improvements in both ride comfort and road holding.