Active Suspension Obstacle Avoidance System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers often encounter obstacles on the road that cannot be avoided by steering or stopping in time, necessitating a system to lift or jump vehicle wheels over obstacles using active suspensions.
Innovation Solution
An obstacle avoidance system comprising sensors to detect obstacles and a controller that uses active suspensions to elevate or jump vehicle wheels when steering or stopping is not feasible, employing actuators and sensors to determine the necessary actuation forces and times for wheel lift or jump maneuvers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle uses conventional suspension to maintain stability, then the vehicle body remains stable during normal driving, but the vehicle cannot avoid obstacles when steering or stopping is not feasible
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system transitions from a static, passive configuration to a dynamic, active system that can rapidly adjust damping coefficients and spring rates in real-time. The controller receives sensor data about obstacles and dynamically reconfigures the suspension parameters to either absorb impact or jump over obstacles, resolving the contradiction between maintaining normal stability and enabling obstacle avoidance when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameters of the suspension (damping coefficient, spring rate) based on detected obstacle conditions. By varying these parameters dynamically, the suspension can adapt its behavior from a soft, comfort-oriented mode to a rigid, obstacle-avoidance mode, enabling the vehicle to handle unavoidable obstacles without requiring a completely different system architecture.
2Reliability
If the active suspension elevates the wheel to avoid the obstacle, then the wheel clears the obstacle without contact, but the vehicle cannot maintain stable body posture during the maneuver
Solution Approach 1:
The control system divides the vehicle into independently controllable segments (individual wheels or suspension units) that can be adjusted separately. When an obstacle is detected, only the affected suspension elements are actively modified while the rest of the vehicle body maintains its normal posture, allowing localized obstacle avoidance without compromising overall vehicle stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors vehicle body posture through sensors and uses this feedback to adjust suspension parameters in real-time. During obstacle avoidance maneuvers, the feedback loop detects body roll or pitch and dynamically compensates by adjusting damping and spring rates on opposite sides of the vehicle, maintaining stable posture while the wheel clears the obstacle.
3Speed
If the vehicle increases suspension stiffness to jump over obstacles, then the wheel can clear higher obstacles, but the vehicle cannot absorb normal road irregularities smoothly
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system employs periodic, oscillatory motion to launch the wheel over obstacles. Rather than relying solely on static stiffness, the system rhythmically compresses and releases the suspension elements, creating a jumping motion that clears obstacles. This periodic action allows the suspension to remain compliant during normal operation while generating high clearance capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension dynamically switches between compliant and rigid states based on road conditions. During normal driving, the suspension maintains low stiffness to absorb irregularities smoothly. When an obstacle is detected, the system rapidly increases stiffness and applies active forces to propel the wheel over the obstacle, then returns to the compliant state afterward, resolving the contradiction between obstacle clearance and comfort.
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
Effectively avoids obstacles by lifting or jumping vehicle wheels, enhancing safety by preventing damage from unavoidable road hazards, especially in situations where steering or stopping is impractical.
Implementation Method 1
employing actuators and sensors to determine the necessary actuation forces and times for wheel lift or jump maneuvers
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to an obstacle avoidance system with active suspensions. The obstacle avoidance system uses one or more active suspensions to lift or jump one or more corresponding wheels over an obstacle in the vehicle's path to avoid contact with the obstacle when the vehicle cannot practically drive over, steer around, or stop before hitting the obstacle.