Integrated vehicle ride and roll control via active suspensions.

This paper presents a novel idea on how to design an active suspension system to improve vehicle ride comfort and to actively tilt the vehicle inwards when it is subject to steering manoeuvres. Firstly, the motivations for active vehicle tilting via active suspensions are identified. Secondly, the mathematical models for the vehicle with active suspensions are built up and the link between active suspensions and vehicle roll characteristics is analysed. Thirdly, the control objectives of vehicle ride comfort and active tilting are incorporated into a standard robust-control framework and an H-infinity controller satisfying both objectives is designed. Finally, the integrated suspension control system is evaluated by computer simulations, in comparison to a passive suspension system and a traditional active one. The integrated control strategy not only improve vehicle ride comfort, but also actively tilt the vehicle inwards to act against vehicle steering manoeuvres. The active tilting reduces lateral acceleration experienced by passengers and reduces the possibility of vehicle rollover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]