Control of an automotive semi-active suspension

Two controllers for an automotive suspensions with Magneto-Rheological (MR) dampers are proposed. One is a model-based using the Linear Parameter Varying (LPV) approach, and the other is a model-free controller with a Frequency Estimation Based (FEB) principle. The LPV controller includes an experimental nonlinear model of an MR damper using only one scheduling parameter. A comparison with a several semiactive controllers for comfort and road holding is discussed. The FEB controller is the best option based on frequency and time response analysis for comfort (1020), suspension deflection (3050), and road holding (15). © 2012 Jorge de Jesús Lozoya-Santos et al