The sliding model-following control for semi-active MR-vehicle suspension

In this paper, a robust strategy utilized the sliding model-following control scheme is proposed for controlling the semi-active suspension system. Based upon a two-degree of freedom magneto-rheological (MR) quarter-vehicle model, in view of variations in the vehicle load, a modified skyhook-based reference model is used to force the tracking error dynamics between the reference model and the plant in an asymptotically stable sliding model and a rate exponent approach is employed to reach the sliding surface quickly. The responses of the vehicle in time and frequency domain are studied and enhanced robustness for the variations in operating load, and improved performance of the vehicle suspension are thoroughly investigated.