Active Suspension Ride Height Control for Steep Ramp Clearance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicles often face limitations in navigating obstacles with ramp angles greater than their approach and departure angles, leading to potential body-to-ground contact during off-road driving or encounters with steep ramps.
Innovation Solution
An active suspension system controlled by a control system that adjusts the relative ride height between leading and trailing wheels to increase the vehicle's ramp angle, allowing it to overcome obstacles by dynamically modifying wheel-to-body distances at different ends of the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle uses a fixed suspension system, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the vehicle cannot adapt to ramps with angles greater than its approach and departure angles
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system transitions from a fixed configuration to a dynamic, adjustable configuration. The control system actively modifies suspension parameters (ride height, damping characteristics) in real-time based on detected ramp conditions, allowing the vehicle to adapt its approach and departure angles to match varying obstacle geometries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters of the suspension system (ride height, damping coefficients) in response to detected ramp conditions. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the vehicle can increase its approach and departure angles to overcome ramps that would be impassable with fixed suspension settings.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the active suspension system adjusts ride height to increase ramp angle, then the vehicle can overcome steeper obstacles, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system detects ramp conditions in advance and initiates suspension adjustments before the vehicle reaches the obstacle. This preliminary action allows the suspension to be pre-positioned for optimal ramp clearance, reducing the need for high-energy corrections during actual obstacle contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension system uses periodic damping adjustments rather than continuous actuation. By applying damping forces in periodic cycles synchronized with the vehicle's motion over the ramp, the system achieves effective obstacle clearance with reduced overall energy consumption compared to continuous active control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the suspension system dynamically adjusts ride height, then ramp angle capability is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system incorporates feedback from sensors that detect ramp conditions, vehicle attitude, and suspension state. This feedback loop enables the controller to continuously monitor system performance and make real-time adjustments to maintain optimal ride height and damping characteristics for varying terrain conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system automatically detects ramp conditions and initiates appropriate suspension adjustments without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by integrating sensor data processing, decision-making, and actuator control into an autonomous operation that adapts to terrain conditions in real-time.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system (300) for controlling an active suspension system (104) of a vehicle (100), the control system comprising one or more controller (301), wherein the control system is configured to: detect (1004) a ramp (202) approached by an overhang of the vehicle; and in dependence on detecting the ramp, control (1020) the active suspension system to modify a relative ride height between a leading ride height at a set of leading wheels (FL, FR) of the vehicle and a trailing ride height at a set of trailing wheels (RL, RR) of the vehicle, to increase a ramp angle (a, 13) of the vehicle relative to the ramp.