Active Damping System with Mode-Switching Electric Motor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional active damping systems with electrically controlled actuators consume excessive power and generate unnecessary heat, leading to reduced safety, comfort, and durability, especially when operating in passive modes during stable vehicle conditions.
Innovation Solution
An active damping system with sensors for detecting steering wheel angle, yaw rate, lateral, vertical, and roll angles, which determines control modes to selectively activate an electric motor and ball screw mechanism, allowing for passive operation to minimize power consumption and heat generation by using the motor's reactive force as damping force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electrically controlled actuator is constantly activated to maintain vehicle body stability, then the damping function is improved, but power consumption increases and heat is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between passive and active control modes based on vehicle operating conditions. The control unit determines whether to activate the electric motor based on detected vehicle state (straight line, cornering, acceleration, deceleration), making the system adaptable rather than statically active or passive
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the actuator by switching between different control modes. In passive mode, the motor is deactivated and only the ball screw mechanism operates; in active mode, the motor is activated to provide active damping control, thereby changing the system's energy consumption parameter
2Reliability
If the electrically controlled actuator is constantly activated to provide active damping control, then the ride comfort is improved, but heat generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electric motor is activated periodically or intermittently based on detected vehicle conditions rather than continuously. The control unit activates the motor only when active damping control is needed (during cornering, acceleration, deceleration), and deactivates it during stable straight-line travel, creating a periodic on-off action pattern
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potential harm of heat generation into a benefit by using passive mode during stable conditions. The passive ball screw mechanism provides sufficient damping without motor activation, eliminating unnecessary heat generation while maintaining adequate ride comfort
3Use of energy by moving object
If the passive damper operates alone during stable travel, then power consumption is reduced, but vehicle body stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously receives feedback from various sensors (steering angle sensor, yaw rate sensor, lateral acceleration sensor, vertical acceleration sensor) to monitor vehicle body behavior. Based on this feedback, the control unit determines whether to switch between passive and active control modes to maintain stability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach optimizes ride comfort and stability while significantly reducing power consumption and heat generation, thereby enhancing the system's durability and safety across various driving conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an electric motor which is mounted on the vehicle body of the vehicle and operated according to the control signal of the control signal generating unit
Implementation Method 2
a ball screw which is rotated in cooperation with a rotation shaft of the electric motor at one side, and is meshed with an axle of the vehicle at the other side to vary a distance between the vehicle body and the axle according to the rotation of the electric motor
Implementation Method 3
a steering wheel angle sensor configured to detect an angle of a steering wheel of a vehicle; a yaw rate sensor configured to detect a yaw rate of a vehicle body; a lateral acceleration sensor configured to detect lateral acceleration of the vehicle body; a vertical acceleration sensor configured to detect vertical acceleration of the vehicle body; a roll angle sensor configured to detect a roll angle of the vehicle body
Data Source
AI summary
An active damping system has an electrically controlled actuator including: a steering wheel angle sensor; a yaw rate sensor; a lateral acceleration sensor; a vertical acceleration sensor; a roll angle sensor; a control mode determining unit configured to receive the signals detected by the sensors, thereby determining a control mode; a control signal generating unit configured to generate a control signal depending upon the control mode determined by the control mode determining unit; an electric motor which is operated according to the control signal of the control signal generating unit; and a ball screw which is rotated in cooperation with a rotation shaft of the electric motor at one side, and is meshed with an axle of the vehicle at the other side to vary a distance between the vehicle body and the axle according to the rotation of the electric motor.