A new semi-active suspension control strategy through mixed H₂/H_∞ robust technique

Abstract

A new semi-active suspension control strategy through mixed H₂/H_∞ robust technique was developed due to its flexibility and robustness to model uncertainties. A full car model with seven degrees of freedom was established to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new control approach. Magneto-rheological (MR) dampers were designed, manufactured and characterized as available semi-active actuators in the developed semi-active suspension system. The four independent mixed H₂/H_∞ controllers were devised in order to perform a distributed semi-active control system in the vehicle by which the response velocity and reliability can be improved significantly. The performance of the proposed new approach was investigated in time and frequency domains. A good balance between vehicle’s comfort and road holding was achieved. An effective and practical control strategy for semi-active suspension system was thus obtained. This new approach exhibits some advantages in implementation, performance flexibility and robustness compared to existing methods.

Keywords

mixed H₂/H_∞ control / semi-active suspension / magneto-rheological (MR) damper / linear matrix inequality (LMI)

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