Optimum response of a stochastic model of a tractor-semitrailer vehicle. Part II. Ride control of an actively suspended vehicle

This is the second part of a two-part paper. In this part, a systematic approach based on the stochastic optimal control and estimation theories for the optimal design of active suspension systems for a tractor-semitrailer vehicle is presented. The vehicle-road system dynamics combined with the human perception of random vibrations are cast in the standard linear Quadratic Gaussian format. The time delays of the stochastic excitation process of the multi-axled vehicle are represented by a first order Pade approximation. The optimal controller/observer is derived which minimizes the mean-squared values of performance variables reflecting the human comfort, cargo safety, suspension working space, road holding ability and control forces. The advantages of the optimally controlled suspension systems over their passive counterparts are indicated.King Saud Universit