Reducing off-road vehicle seat vibrations using hydraulic piston and fuzzy logic controller

This paper examines the capabilities of fuzzy logic based controllers in the process of active suspension of a heavy vehicle seat vibrations. The hydraulic cylinder is used as an active element, while the damper and the air spring are used as passive elements for reducing vibrations. MATLAB and Simulink are used as tools for developing the simulation model of the driver seat. The mathematical model was created according to the physical setup of the vehicle seat at the testing laboratory. Description of the seat, including its mechanical characteristics and mathematical model, is given in the paper. Control system description and implementation on the experimental setup using dSPACE module, is also explained. The SEAT value is used for the validation of control quality. The obtained simulations show that the developed suspension controllers provide superior passenger comfort for different types of road.