Active Suspension Attitude Control for Underbody Battery Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems fail to prevent damage to components located at the bottom of the vehicle body when an object is present in the direction of travel, particularly when the vehicle is on a downhill slope and the throttle valve opening degree is 0, as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2022-158576 (JP 2022-158576 A).
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control device equipped with a detection unit to identify objects in the direction of travel and an attitude control unit that adjusts the vehicle's attitude by changing its height using an active suspension to reduce the distance between the component and the road surface, thereby preventing collision and potential damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle is controlled to assume an inclined attitude to protect the particular component, then the reliability of the particular component is improved, but the traveling performance of the vehicle deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The detection unit detects objects in advance before they become a threat, and the attitude control unit proactively adjusts the vehicle attitude to protect the particular component. This preliminary action allows the system to prevent potential damage while maintaining normal traveling performance until the object is detected, at which point the attitude adjustment is applied temporarily.
2Reliability
If the vehicle height is adjusted to change the inclined attitude, then the reliability of the particular component is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The active suspension system, which may already exist for other vehicle functions (comfort, stability, ground clearance), is made multi-functional by adding the capability to protect the particular component through attitude adjustment. This approach avoids adding a separate protection mechanism and leverages the existing suspension system's versatility.
3Reliability
If the vehicle is equipped with detection unit and attitude control unit, then the reliability of the particular component is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detection unit and attitude control unit are integrated into the existing vehicle control architecture, allowing the system to self-monitor and self-adjust without requiring external intervention or complex additional control systems. The control unit utilizes data from existing sensors and executes attitude adjustments autonomously when objects are detected.
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
The device effectively suppresses damage to components like batteries by controlling the vehicle's attitude to minimize impact, maintaining travel stability and improving aerodynamic performance.
Implementation Method 1
the vehicle is equipped with an active suspension configured to adjust vehicle height, and the attitude control unit controls the vehicle body so as to assume the inclined attitude, by changing the vehicle height of at least one of the side of the vehicle body in the direction of advance and the side opposite to the direction of advance, by the active suspension
Data Source
AI summary
The vehicle control ECU functions as a detection unit and an attitude control unit. The detection unit detects an object such as a falling object present in front of a vehicle in which an in-vehicle battery as a particular component is provided at a bottom portion of the vehicle body. The attitude control unit controls the air suspension device capable of adjusting the vehicle height so that the vehicle body is in a forward tilting attitude when an object is detected by the detection unit. As a result, the object collides with the front suspension member, thereby suppressing damage to the in-vehicle battery.