Active Camber Control via Upper Arm Stroke Node Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional active electric suspensions face limitations in reducing actuator size while improving camber angle adjustment performance at low power consumption, compromising steering feeling, ride comfort, and turning stability, and fail to prevent tire wear.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control apparatus and method that adjusts the stroke node position of the upper arm based on vehicle speed and lateral acceleration values, allowing for automatic or manual control of camber angles to optimize turning posture control, reducing actuator size and power consumption while enhancing steering and ride comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the actuator size is reduced to miniaturize the active electric suspension, then the device complexity and power consumption are improved, but the camber angle adjustment performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuator sizeVSAvoidcamber angle adjustment performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by adjusting the stroke node position of the upper arm before the turning maneuver begins. The controller determines the target stroke node position based on detected steering angle or steering torque, and adjusts the upper arm position in advance during a pre-control period. This preliminary positioning enables the camber angle adjustment to start from an optimized initial state, improving adjustment performance while allowing the use of smaller actuators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamics by making the stroke node position adjustable and variable rather than fixed. The active camber device allows the stroke node position to be dynamically changed based on driving conditions (steering angle, steering torque, vehicle speed). This dynamic adaptability enables the system to optimize camber angle adjustment characteristics for different scenarios, maintaining high performance with compact actuators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the camber angle adjustment is improved with conventional active electric suspension, then the turning stability is improved, but the steering feeling and ride comfort deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveturning stabilityVSAvoidsteering feeling and ride comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by making different parts of the suspension system have different adjustable characteristics. Specifically, the stroke node position of the upper arm is locally adjusted independently to optimize camber angle behavior. This localized adjustment at the upper arm stroke node enables precise control over camber angle changes, improving turning stability while maintaining natural steering feel and ride comfort through targeted rather than uniform adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If the camber angle is adjusted during turning, then the turning stability is improved, but the tire wear increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveturning stabilityVSAvoidtire wear
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by continuously detecting steering angle or steering torque and using this information to adjust the stroke node position. The controller monitors the driver's steering input and automatically adjusts the upper arm position accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures camber angle adjustment is precisely matched to actual steering conditions, improving turning stability while avoiding excessive or inappropriate camber changes that would cause increased tire wear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3587150B1Vehicle control apparatus and vehicle control method
Publication Date: 2022.11.23 HL MANDO CORP
  • EP3587150B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3587150B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3587150B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are a vehicle control apparatus and a vehicle control method, a vehicle control apparatus including: a sensor configured to sense at least one of a vehicle speed value and a lateral acceleration value of a vehicle; an active camber device including a knuckle for supporting a wheel of the vehicle, an upper arm having one end rotatably connected to the knuckle to form a stroke node, and a actuator for rotationally shifting the stroke node of the upper arm with respect to a connection point with the knuckle in a vertical direction; and a controller configured to vary a position of the stoke node of the upper arm through the actuator on the basis of one of the sensed vehicle speed value and the sensed lateral acceleration value.