Investigation of Energy Recovery Potential and Control Performance in Energy-Regenerative Suspension Systems with Inter-Axle Preview Control

This paper studies a novel active control method for vehicle energy-regenerative suspension systems. The suspension system can absorb road impacts to enhance vehicle comfort and safety. In conventional suspension systems, dampers dissipate kinetic energy during shock absorption. By employing a linear motor as the vibration energy harvester, the proposed system enables energy recovery while functioning as an active actuator to improve performance when required. This research designs an Inter-Axle Preview-Enhanced Model Predictive Control for Energy-Regenerative Suspension Systems based on inter-axle preview theory. A Four-Degree-of-Freedom 1/2 vehicle Suspension Dynamics Model is established for the energy-regenerative suspension system. The Model Predictive Control is enhanced using the inter-axle preview method. An analysis is conducted on the two control modes. In Active Control Mode, the system generates active actuation force to enhance suspension dynamics performance. In Self-Powered Control Mode, the front axle system operates as a vibration energy harvester to power the rear axle active actuator. Simulation analyses evaluate the control strategy's dynamic performance and application potential in suspension systems. The results show that the system studied in this paper can improve the vehicle system dynamics performance. It has development potential and application value in active control and energy regeneration.