Developing and Analyzing an ActiveSuspension System of an AutomobileUsing (PID) Controller

Abstract

Recent huge progression in science and technology upshots in an effective designs and newly advanced ways of manufacturing in order to fulfill the customers’ needs and expectations and to provide them better life experiences. Alongside those massive developments the technological innovation in automobiles sector has improved the ride performance through many aspects that include suspension systems, which has the responsibility of safety of both the vehicle and its occupants by providing stability and comfort ride during driving maneuvers. Without the help of suspension system, it would have been extremely hard for the driver to control a vehicle since all the shocks and vibrations would have been directly transmitted to steering chamber without any damping. The main objective of this thesis is to build up a computerized mathematical and physical model of a PID controller by utilizing MATLAB Simulink / SimMechanics programs that will upgrade a quarter car passive suspension system of a passenger car into an active suspension system in order to improve the performance of the vehicle while facing different road profile. The Dynamic system used is imported from a Solidwork CAD model. The simulation system can capture the basic performances of the vehicle suspension such as body acceleration, body displacement and settling time. Performance of suspension system is determined by the ride comfort and vehicle handling. Two types of road profiles are used as inputs for the system such as step and sinusoidal signal. The results obtained show that the active suspension system oscillation time reduced compare to passive suspension systemas well asboththe body vertical displacement and acceleration.