Optimal control design with preview for semi-active suspension on a half-vehicle model

A design of optimal semi-active suspension control system applied to half-vehicle model is presented in this paper. The model has 4-degree of freedom (DOF) without involving the passenger seat. The optimal control strategy with constraints is used in designing the control, which involves six parameters representing comfort and safety. The obtained control signal has to be limited by constraints from the actuator (variable damper). The formulation of the problem and its solution are given as such that, in general, it is applicable to any vehicle system. Simulation results for seven chosen frequencies at vehicle speed of 60 km/h, illustrate the applicability of the proposed control strategy. Moreover, the results were also compared with the passive suspension system with regard to the comfort and safety criteria. It is found that the designed system shows a better safety factor than the passive suspension system