Active Suspension Control for Internal vs External Disturbances

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle active suspension systems struggle to differentiate between internal and external disturbances, leading to instability and discomfort, particularly in autonomous vehicles where passenger comfort and stability are critical.

Innovation Solution

A control system that determines whether transient suspension disturbances originate from within the vehicle cabin and adjusts the active suspension's variable force parameters accordingly, using sensors and controllers to differentiate between internal and external sources, thereby enhancing stability and comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the active suspension increases force parameter to stabilize the vehicle body, then vehicle stability improves, but occupants feel less natural motion feedback from road surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle body stabilityVSAvoidreduced motion perception by occupants

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control system segments the disturbance sources into internal (cabin) and external (road) categories. By identifying the disturbance origin, the system applies different control strategies: stabilizing control for external disturbances while allowing natural motion feedback for internal disturbances, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and motion perception.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the force parameter of the active suspension based on the identified disturbance source. When internal disturbances are detected, the force parameter is adjusted to allow natural motion; when external disturbances are detected, the force parameter is increased for stabilization, thereby optimizing both stability and motion perception conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If the control system increases the variable force parameter to counteract all suspension disturbances, then vehicle stability improves, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle stabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption of active suspension

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control system segments disturbances into internal and external sources. By identifying that internal disturbances (e.g., passenger movement) do not require active counteraction, the system avoids unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining stability for external disturbances, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

For internal disturbances, the system allows the suspension to respond naturally without active intervention, letting the passive suspension system handle minor fluctuations. This self-service approach reduces energy consumption while maintaining adequate stability for non-critical disturbances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the control system reduces the variable force parameter to allow natural motion, then occupant comfort improves, but vehicle stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoccupant comfortVSAvoidvehicle stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The control system segments disturbances by origin, allowing natural motion for internal disturbances (improving comfort) while applying active stabilization for external disturbances (maintaining stability). This selective approach resolves the contradiction between comfort and stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The force parameter is dynamically adjusted based on disturbance source identification. For internal disturbances, the parameter is reduced to allow natural motion and improve comfort; for external disturbances, the parameter is increased to maintain stability, thereby optimizing both comfort and stability conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Stability of the object's composition

If the control system actively counteracts all transient suspension disturbances, then vehicle stability improves, but false positives increase leading to unnecessary control actions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle stabilityVSAvoidcontrol system accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control system segments disturbances into internal and external sources using sensor data analysis. By correctly identifying the disturbance origin, the system avoids false positive detections of external disturbances, thereby reducing unnecessary control actions and improving the reliability of the control system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12459324B2Vehicle active suspension control system and method

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 JAGUAR LAND ROVER LTD

AI summary

Aspects of the present invention relate to a method and to a control system for controlling an active suspension of a vehicle, the control system comprising one or more controllers, the control system configured to: determine whether a transient suspension disturbance to the vehicle is from within a cabin of the vehicle; and control a variable force parameter of the active suspension in dependence on whether the transient suspension disturbance is from within the cabin of the vehicle.