Preview suspension control studies have mostly been theoretical and have assumed linear system properties and a quadratic cost function, containing body acceleration, tyre load variation, suspension workspace usage and the controlled variable. Half-car and full car studies have largeley been extensions of the sigle wheel station ones. Thus, any discussion of fundamental knowledge and understanding preview suspension control is necessarily conditioned by this framework, within which the problem has been considered. The whole problem can be broken down into a number of sub-problems: What is the best way of using preview information ? How much benefit can be obtained ? What is the nature of the benefit ? How does a good preview suspension negotiate an obstacle like a step or a cosine shaped bump ? If preview distances (and times) are quite restricted for practical reasons, is the information still of significant value ? Within the framework described, answers to these and other questions can be given.
Abstract