Active Wheel Suspension for Monotony-Induced Driver Fatigue
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Solution Overview
Problem
The extremely comfortable and monotonous vertical driving experience in premium vehicles, particularly on 'perfectly flat' roads, poses safety risks due to the lack of road-related vibrations, which can lead to tired drivers falling asleep and difficulties in soothing babies and toddlers.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining the actual vertical excitation of the vehicle body and comparing it to a stored reference excitation, activating the active wheel suspension to create a simulated vertical rolling movement if the actual excitation is insufficient, thereby enhancing driver alertness and baby/toddler comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the active chassis system is used to provide high driving comfort, then the vertical excitation of the vehicle body is reduced, but the driver alertness and baby/toddler rocking capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The chassis system dynamically adjusts its characteristics based on detected driving conditions. When monotony is detected (smooth road, constant speed), the system transitions from a comfort-optimized static state to an active state that introduces controlled vertical movements, thereby adapting to prevent driver fatigue while maintaining comfort when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system intentionally generates mechanical vibrations in the vertical direction by actuating the wheel suspension system. These controlled vibrations simulate road-induced excitations that would normally occur on rougher surfaces, providing the necessary sensory stimulation to keep drivers alert and enable rocking of babies without compromising overall comfort
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the active wheel suspension is activated to create vertical rolling movement, then the driver alertness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors driving conditions through sensors that detect road surface characteristics, vehicle speed, and existing vertical excitations. This feedback loop enables the control unit to determine when activation of the active wheel suspension is necessary, ensuring the complex system is only engaged when monotonous driving conditions are detected, rather than operating continuously
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key operational parameters of the wheel suspension, including vibration frequency, amplitude, and duration, based on the detected driving conditions. These parameter adjustments allow the complex active suspension system to provide targeted stimulation precisely when needed, optimizing the balance between driver alertness and system complexity
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 increases safety in road traffic by providing necessary vertical stimulation to prevent driver fatigue and ensures effective rocking of babies to sleep, even on smooth road surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
by means of which each wheel can be individually subjected to vertical forces and/or lifting movements
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle has an active wheel suspension, by which each wheel can be subjected individually to vertical forces and/or lifting movements. An actual excitation of the vehicle body of the motor vehicle is determined and the determined actual excitation is compared to a stored reference excitation, and if the determined actual excitation is less than the stored reference excitation, the active wheel suspension is activated to create a vertical rolling movement of the vehicle body.