Energy recuperation in automotive active suspension systems with linear electric motor

In the paper, energy recuperation and management in automotive suspension systems with linear electric motors controlled using a proposed H. controller to obtain a variable mechanical force for a car damper is presented. Vehicle suspensions in which forces are generated in response to feedback signals by active elements obviously offer increased design flexibility compared to the conventional suspensions using passive elements such as springs and dampers. The main advantage of the proposed solution using a linear AC motor is the possibility to generate desired forces acting between the unsprung and sprung masses of the car, providing good insulation of the car sprung mass from the road surface disturbances. In addition, under certain circumstances using linear motors as actuators enables to transform mechanical energy of the vertical car vibrations to electrical energy, accumulate it, and use it when needed. Energy flow control (management) enables to reduce or even eliminate the demands concerning the external power source.