DOI: https://doi.org/10.15368/theses.2011.5
Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/451
Date of Award
1-2011
Degree Name
MS in Mechanical Engineering
Department/Program
Mechanical Engineering
Advisor
Hemanth Porumamilla
Abstract
An Advanced Controller for a Semi-Active Wheelchair Suspension was designed, built and tested. The suspension consisted of a Goodyear 1S3-011 air spring, IQ Valves high speed proportional solenoid valve, and a custom made accumulator. Several controller designs specific to semi-active suspensions were designed and tested. The controllers investigated were skyhook, acceleration driven damping, and a combined control law employing both a dual and single sensor version. The implementation of skyhook control suffered performance degradation from the idealization due to particular elements of hardware, however acceleration driven damping showed a marked and statistically significant improvement over skyhook control, in hardware, by 14%. The combined control laws exhibited as yet unexplained transient behavior that produced results with low confidence in their veracity. All controllers proposed performed better than a conventional oil damper and spring type suspension.