Active Chassis Inclination Compensation for Vehicle Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems fail to effectively compensate for inclination on inclined roadways, affecting vehicle stability and occupant comfort by not adequately adjusting to changes in road angles and orientations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that determine the inclination of a vehicle's body and chassis using sensors and transformation matrices, adjusting actuator lengths to align the vehicle body with the roadway's inclination, considering angles of pitch and roll, to maintain horizontal leveling and improve visibility and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the vehicle body is kept in a fixed horizontal position regardless of road inclination, then the vehicle structure remains simple and stable, but occupant comfort deteriorates and visibility is reduced on inclined roadways
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by proactively adjusting the vehicle body position in anticipation of occupancy needs. Before occupants experience discomfort or visibility issues, the control system detects road inclination and pre-adjusts the vehicle body orientation to compensate, thereby preventing discomfort rather than reacting to it.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces passive mechanical mounting with an active control system that uses sensors, transformation matrices, and actuators to dynamically adjust vehicle body orientation. This substitution enables the vehicle to actively compensate for road inclination rather than passively accepting it, improving comfort and visibility at the cost of increased system complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the vehicle body is adjusted to compensate for road inclination, then occupant comfort and visibility improve, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs multiple functions: it detects road inclination, calculates transformation matrices, determines actuator positions, and adjusts vehicle body orientation. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single integrated system, the patent manages complexity while achieving comprehensive inclination compensation for improved occupant comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system serves itself by using its own sensors to detect inclination, its own processors to calculate corrections, and its own actuators to implement adjustments. This self-contained approach eliminates the need for external control systems, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to improve occupant comfort.
3Measurement precision
If sensors and transformation matrices are used to determine vehicle inclination, then compensation accuracy improves, but the complexity of calculation and control increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the inclination detection and compensation process into distinct mathematical steps: first determining vehicle body inclination, then calculating chassis inclination through transformation matrices, and finally deriving actuator positions. This segmentation allows each calculation step to be optimized and implemented independently, managing complexity while maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The transformation matrix serves as an intermediary that bridges the gap between sensor measurements and actuator control. Rather than directly mapping sensor data to actuator positions, the matrix provides a mathematical intermediary that accurately transforms coordinate systems and accounts for vehicle geometry, enabling precise compensation while keeping the control logic structured and manageable.
4Reliability
If the vehicle actively compensates for road inclination, then vehicle stability and comfort improve, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system operates periodically, adjusting the vehicle body position in discrete steps based on detected inclination changes rather than continuously. This periodic operation reduces energy consumption by keeping actuators idle when no adjustment is needed, while still maintaining vehicle stability and comfort through timely corrections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial compensation rather than full compensation for road inclination. By adjusting the vehicle body position to a degree that provides sufficient comfort and stability without completely eliminating all inclination effects, the system achieves acceptable performance while minimizing energy consumption. The compensation is tailored to the specific needs of occupants rather than maximizing correction regardless of cost.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for compensating for an inclination of a vehicle in at least one spatial direction. The vehicle has a vehicle body and an active chassis with a plurality of wheels, which are in contact with the roadway. Each wheel is joined to the vehicle body by way of an actuator, which can be adjusted in terms of its length, at a suspension point associated with the wheel. An inclination of the vehicle body in the at least one spatial direction is determined. For at least two wheels, respectively, a vertical distance to the suspension point of the vehicle body that is associated with the particular wheel is detected. Via the at least two determined distances, an inclination of the chassis in the at least one spatial direction is calculated by transformation of the vertical distance of the at least two wheels to the vehicle body.