Semi-Active Suspension Control Design for Vehicles

Semi-active suspension systems promise simpler designs, weight efficiencies, and cost savings compared to the active and adaptive suspensions currently in use. With the growing emphasis on fuel economy, reduced CO2 emissions, and cost reductions for all vehicles, these semi-active systems will be a growing part of overall vehicle design. Savaresi provides a comprehensive overview and treatment of semi-active suspension systems with an emphasis on performance analysis and control design. Several different approaches, using different control theories (either LPV or non-linear), are presented and evaluated. A methodology is presented to analyze and evaluate suspension performances while identifying optimal performance bounds. Two innovative semi-active suspension strategies to enhance either comfort or road-holding performances are highlighted and analyzed.