Abstract

The objectives of this study are to obtain a mathematical model for the passive and active suspensions systems for quarter car model and to construct an active suspension control for a quarter car model subject to excitation from a road profile using PID controller. Current automobile suspension systems using passive components only by utilizing spring and damping coefficient with fixed rates.

Vehicle suspensions systems typically rated by its ability to provide good road handling and improve Passenger comfort. Passive suspensions only offer compromise between these two conflicting criteria. Active suspension poses the ability to reduce the traditional design as a compromise between handling and comfort by directly controlling the suspensions force actuators.

In this study, the active suspension system is synthesized based on PID control for a quarter car model. Comparison between passive and active suspensions system are performed using road profile. The performance of the controller is compared with PID controller, and the passive suspension system. The performance of this controller is determined by performing computer simulations using SIMULINK toolbox.