Electrified automotive suspension systems are advancing rapidly due to improvements in hardware and software, essential for both comfort and driving dynamics. While initially limited to high-end vehicles, these systems are now more accessible due to reduced production costs. However, market products still lag behind academic research, highlighting the need for cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions. This study focuses on an active hydraulic suspension system, developing control strategies to optimize performance while minimizing energy consumption, using Matlab, Simulink, and Simscape simulations applied on a quarter car model. The system utilizes an innovative rotary valve prototype developed at Polytechnic of Turin, Italy, which modulates actuator force by adjusting flow rates and pressure drops. A road recognition algorithm using an augmented Kalman filter reconstructs the road profile and vertical velocity, enabling a two-level adaptive control system for actuator force and rail pressure. The system shows improved vertical acceleration behavior when the control strategy is set in a comfort-oriented mode, reducing its RMS value by 24.14%, without compromising vehicle handling when set in a sport-oriented mode. Simulations also suggest that optimizing rail pressure regulation could enhance energy efficiency. While promising, the algorithm¿s real-world performance may differ due to road and environmental complexities. The study offers new contributions, including the rotary valve design and the advanced road recognition algorithm, proposing an energy-efficient control system that could lead to cost-effective, high-performance suspension solutions for real-world applications.
