This paper presents a novel, simple and reliable control strategy for an active seat suspension, intended for use in a vehicle, which attenuates the harmful low frequency vertical vibration at the driver's seat. An advantage of this strategy is that it uses measurable preview information from the vehicle suspension. The control force is calculated from this preview information and controller gains obtained by optimising an objective function using a genetic algorithm approach (GA). The

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... function optimises ride comfort in terms of the Seat Effective Amplitude Transmissibility (SEAT) factor, taking into account constraints on both the allowable seat suspension stroke and actuator force capacity. This new controller is evaluated using both simulation and experimental tests in both the frequency and time domains. The simulation model is based upon a linear quarter vehicle model (QvM) and a single degree of freedom seat suspension. Experimental tests are performed using a multi-axis simulation table (MAST) and an active seat suspension. Finally, the performance of the active seat suspension Page 2 of 31 is analysed and compared to a passive system, demonstrating significant acceleration attenuation of more than 10 dB across a broad frequency range. Consequently, this has the potential to improve ride comfort and hence reduce driver's fatigue using a reliable and costeffective control method. Keywords: active seat suspension, preview controller, genetic algorithm, quarter vehicle model.