Descriptions of practical implementations of various suspension control schemes are seldom documented. However, most major car manufacturers experimented during the 1980's with what might now be called "first generation" fully active systems of the type pionered by Lotus. This class of system has not been pursued to the stage of commercial development. Other systems have been pursued further and description of prototype and commercial developments have begun to appear in the published literature. These systems include various versions of: (a) limited bandwith active systems, typically based on hydropneumatic components; (b) adaptive or switchable systems, usually with the damper being the switchable device; the switchable device; and (c) of anti-roll schemes. Developments of these systems are reviewed with particular emphasis on the performance of the practical components involved.
Abstract