Semi-active and Active Control of an ERF Embedded in Pneumatic Vibration Isolator

In the paper, the Electrorheological fluid(ERF) is embedded in the pneumatic vibration isolator and three kinds of control systems are designed, which experimental results are also compared. The first kind of the control system is the semi-active control system, which is designed for ERF controllable damper. The second kind of the control system is the active control system, which is designed for the air servo position control of the platform of the pneumatic vibration isolator. The third kind of vibration isolator control systems is the combination of the active air servo control system and the ERF controllable damper. The experimental results are shown and compared to those of the passive pneumatic vibration isolators, the transmissibility of a vibration source to the isolation platform can be reduced by the first control system. Using the second kind of the control system, the transmissibility of the system is less than that of the first kind of the control system. Using the third control system, the transmissibility becomes the least of these control systems.