Reachability based Model Predictive Control for Semi-active Suspension System

Abstract

This paper proposes a Model Predictive Control (MPC) framework for control of a quarter car semi-active suspension system based on reachable sets approach. The proposed approach provides the flexibility of systematically including the information on the bounds of future road disturbances over the prediction horizon onto the MPC problem formulation by means of reachable sets. This inclusion of future bounds into control design leverages the efficiency of the operation of suspension system. Firstly, a unique Linear Parameter Varying (LPV) model is formulated for control design, which implicitly accounts for the dissipativity constraint of semi-active suspension system. Secondly, an efficient online computation of the reachable sets with the available disturbance information at the current instant for the MPC problem is developed. The proposed methodology is an integration of the preceding steps into a single MPC problem. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is validated through simulations and the results exhibit better performance of the proposed controller compared to skyhook controller in terms of satisfaction of objective and constraint requirements.