Optimized Proportional Integral Derivative Controller of Vehicle Active Suspension System Using Genetic Algorithm

Proportional integral derivative (PID) control method is an effective, easy in implementation and famous control technique applied in several engineering systems. Also, Genetic Algorithm (GA) is a suitable approach for optimum searching problems in science, industrial and engineering applications. This paper presents the usage of GA for determining the optimal PID controller gains and their implementation in the active quarter-vehicle suspension system to achieve good ride comfort and vehicle stability levels. The GA is applied to solve a combined multi-objective (CMO) problem to tune PID controller gains of vehicle active suspension system for the first time. The active vehicle suspension system is modeled mathematically as a two degree-of-freedom mechanical system and simulated using Matlab/Simulink software. The performance of the proposed suspension system controlled using the optimized PID GA is compared to both controlled system using the classical PID (C PID) controller and the passive suspension systems. Systems performance criteria are evaluated in both time and frequency domains, in order to quantify the success of the proposed suspension system. The theoretical results reveal that the proposed optimized PID GA controller of the active vehicle suspension provides a vital enhancement of ride comfort and vehicle stability levels.