A robust active control scheme for automotive engine vibration based on disturbance observer.

Area of Science:

• Automotive Engineering
• Control Systems Engineering
• Vibration Analysis

Background:

• Automotive driver comfort is significantly impacted by engine-induced vibrations.
• Existing active engine mount systems face challenges with parametric uncertainty and unobserved disturbances.
• Improving vibration isolation is crucial for enhancing the overall driving experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a robust active controller and disturbance observer for automotive active engine mounts.
• To enhance driver comfort by minimizing engine vibrations.
• To demonstrate the effectiveness of the combined control and observer strategy.

Main Methods:

• Design of a robust controller using μ-synthesis to address parametric uncertainty in the engine mounting system.
• Development of a disturbance observer to estimate system states and unknown disturbance forces.
• Integration of the observer's estimated disturbances as control signals for active cancellation.

Main Results:

• The μ-controller demonstrated robust stability and performance under parametric uncertainty.
• The disturbance observer successfully estimated system states and disturbance forces.
• The combined system showed significant performance improvements in vibration control across various engine speeds.

Conclusions:

• The combination of a robust active controller and a disturbance observer is an effective strategy for active engine mounts.
• This approach significantly improves vibration control and driver comfort in automotive vehicles.
• The disturbance observer plays a key role in enhancing system performance by actively canceling unwanted vibrations.