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The topic of this paper is the identification of a high-precision model for Magneto-Rheological (MR) dampers. A semi-active MR-damper can be seen as a non-linear system, where the inputs are the stroke-velocity and the command current; the current is the control input which modulates at high-bandwidth the damping characteristic through the variation of a magnetic field. The output is the force delivered by the damper. Among the broad set of applications where MR-dampers can be used, this work mainly focuses on MR-dampers for the control of vehicle dynamics (trains, road vehicles, tractors, etc.). High-precision models of MR dampers can be designed using two different model classes: gray-box models (also called semi-physical models) and black-box models. Both approaches are considered in this work.

In the last few years, extended research has been performed by car manufacturers in order to improve the handling, safety and comfort of ground vehicles. As a results, modern cars are equipped with many electronic automatic control devices. Among them the yaw-control system is probably the most critical and challenging. Road vehicles are complex non-linear dynamic systems, and the control of some of their motions needs the development of adequate full-vehicle models. In this paper a complete dynamic model of a road vehicle is derived and discussed, which can be suitably used to develop the new concept of “performance-oriented” yaw-control system.