Active Roll Control With Variable Stiffness Spring Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle suspension systems face challenges in coordinating active roll control systems with variable stiffness springs to achieve consistent vehicle roll characteristics and efficient energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A control system that integrates an active roll control system with a variable stiffness spring system, using a controller to receive signals for total and non-active roll moments, adjusting the active roll control to compensate for changes in spring stiffness, thereby maintaining consistent roll moments and reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the variable stiffness spring system changes spring stiffness mode, then the spring comfort or handling characteristics are improved, but the vehicle roll characteristics become inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The control system receives feedback signals about the current spring stiffness mode from the variable stiffness spring system and uses this information to dynamically adjust the active roll control moment. The controller continuously monitors spring stiffness changes and compensates for them by adjusting the active roll control, maintaining consistent vehicle roll characteristics despite stiffness transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the control parameter (active roll control moment) based on the spring stiffness mode. When the spring stiffness changes between modes (soft, medium, firm), the controller adjusts the active roll control moment accordingly to compensate for the resulting roll characteristics changes, ensuring consistent overall vehicle behavior.
2Device complexity
If the active roll control system operates independently without considering spring stiffness, then the control system complexity is reduced, but the roll control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed to handle multiple functions: it monitors spring stiffness mode, determines the appropriate active roll control moment based on the current mode, and adjusts the active roll control accordingly. This multi-functional approach allows the system to maintain high roll control precision while managing complexity through a unified control strategy that adapts to different operating conditions.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the active roll control system compensates for all spring stiffness changes, then the roll control consistency is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system applies partial compensation rather than attempting to completely counteract all spring stiffness changes. The active roll control moment is adjusted to a degree that maintains acceptable roll control consistency while avoiding excessive energy consumption. The controller balances the need for consistency with energy efficiency by applying only the necessary level of active control.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system for a vehicle suspension system comprises one or more controllers and is configured to: receive a total roll signal indicative of a total roll moment of the vehicle, the roll moment determined in dependence on a lateral acceleration of the vehicle; receive a spring stiffness signal indicative of a non-active roll moment component of the vehicle, the non-active roll moment component dependent on a current spring stiffness mode of plural available spring stiffness modes of the variable stiffness spring system; determine a target active roll moment component of the vehicle, in dependence on the total roll moment and the non-active roll moment component; and output an active roll control signal indicative of the target active roll moment component to the active roll control system to control the roll moment of the vehicle.