Active Suspension Control for Pothole Impact Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle suspension systems struggle to effectively mitigate the adverse effects of traversing road surface discontinuities such as potholes, causing jarring experiences for occupants and potential damage to the vehicle.
Innovation Solution
An active suspension system that collects information about potholes and road conditions, using a controller to select strategies for wheel traversal, applies compressive or extension forces with suspension actuators to manage wheel contact with the road surface, and adjusts ride height to minimize impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wheel remains in contact with the road surface while traversing a pothole, then the suspension system can maintain continuous support, but the wheel and suspension components are subjected to increased impact forces and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The active suspension actuator applies a compressive force on the spring element before the wheel enters the pothole and maintains this force throughout the traversal. This preliminary counteracting force prevents the wheel from making hard contact with the pothole floor, reducing impact forces on suspension components while maintaining controlled wheel-road contact
Solution Approach 2:
The system detects the pothole ahead of time using sensors and map data, then pre-positions the wheel by compressing the spring element through the active suspension actuator. This preliminary positioning ensures the wheel is ready to traverse the discontinuity with minimized impact, balancing continuous contact benefits with impact reduction
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the wheel is kept airborne while traversing a pothole, then impact forces on the suspension system are reduced, but the wheel loses contact with the road surface causing vehicle instability and increased mismatch distance
Solution Approach 1:
The active suspension actuator dynamically adjusts the compressive force on the spring element based on real-time wheel position feedback. By modulating this force parameter, the system maintains the wheel in a controlled airborne state that minimizes impact while managing the mismatch distance through precise force control, thereby maintaining vehicle stability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors to continuously monitor wheel position and road surface conditions, then feeds this information back to the controller which adjusts the actuator force accordingly. This closed-loop feedback ensures the wheel remains airborne at optimal distances from the road surface, reducing impact forces while maintaining vehicle stability through active control
3Manufacturing precision
If the spring element is compressed to reduce mismatch distance, then wheel contact with the road surface is improved, but the force applied to the wheel assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The active suspension actuator provides dynamic force adjustment rather than static compression. The compressive force on the spring element is continuously modulated based on wheel position, pothole characteristics, and vehicle speed, allowing the system to maintain precise wheel-road contact while managing peak forces through active control rather than constant high compression
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
Reduces the severity of vehicle disturbances and potential damage by optimizing wheel interaction with road discontinuities, enhancing ride comfort and vehicle integrity.
Implementation Method 1
controlling a suspension actuator of the first suspension assembly with a controller to apply a compressive force on a spring element operationally interposed between the vehicle's sprung mass and the wheel of the first suspension assembly
Implementation Method 2
the suspension actuator of at least a second suspension assembly may be controlled, at least during the period when the wheel of the first suspension assembly is airborne, to apply an extension force on a spring element operationally interposed between the vehicle's sprung mass and a wheel associated with the second suspension assembly to increase a load applied to the corresponding wheel which may, in some embodiments, increase a ride height of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments are related to suspension systems including dampers and suspension actuators and related methods of control for mitigating the effects of potholes and other road surface discontinuities.