Potentialities of active suspensions for the improvement of handling performances

Active and semi-active suspension systems are widely diffused into the automotive industry and several control strategies have been proposed in the literature both concerning ride comfort and handling. The capability of several suspension active control systems in enhancing the vehicle handling performances are compared in this paper. In particular, a low-bandwidth active suspension (actuator in series with the suspension spring), an active antiroll bar, an active camber suspension and a semi-active high-bandwidth suspension (closed loop damper control) are considered. The benchmark is represented by an ideal vehicle which does not present any load transfer and has no yaw moment of inertia. The possibility of combining more than one active/semi-active suspension system is also discussed.