Active Suspension Damping for Road Roughness Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle suspension systems face challenges in balancing handling and ride comfort, particularly when transitioning between smooth and rough surfaces, as uniform damping rates fail to adapt to varying road conditions.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle suspension system with a controller that adjusts damper settings based on surface roughness metrics determined by ride height sensors, employing feedback and feedforward control models to optimize damping forces and adapt to changing road conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If uniform damping rates are used in suspension systems, then handling performance is maintained, but ride comfort deteriorates on rough surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from uniform, static damping rates to variable, dynamic damping rates that adapt in real-time to road conditions. The controller continuously adjusts damping forces based on sensor feedback about surface roughness, allowing the suspension to optimize between handling and comfort dynamically rather than being fixed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the damping rate parameter from a constant value to a variable value that responds to road conditions. By monitoring ride height variations and calculating roughness metrics, the system modifies damping parameters adaptively, resolving the contradiction between maintaining handling (stiffer damping) and achieving comfort (softer damping) on different surfaces
2Stability of the object's composition
If damping force is increased to improve handling, then vehicle stability improves, but ride comfort deteriorates due to excessive reaction forces on rough surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by using ride height sensors to continuously monitor suspension movement and feed this information back to the controller. The controller processes this feedback to determine road roughness and adjusts damping forces accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that balances stability and comfort based on actual road conditions rather than predetermined settings
3Object-affected harmful factors
If damper reaction force is decreased to improve ride comfort, then comfort increases, but handling performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts damping forces based on real-time road condition assessment. On smooth surfaces, lower damping forces provide comfort, while on rough surfaces, the system automatically increases damping forces to maintain handling and vehicle stability, resolving the contradiction through adaptive behavior rather than fixed settings
Data Source
AI summary
Example illustrations are directed to a damping system for a vehicle suspension that includes a controller configured to determine a roughness of a ground surface associated with the vehicle. The controller is also configured to determine a damper setting for the damping system based on the determined roughness. A method is also provided that includes determining, using a controller, a roughness of a ground surface associated with the vehicle. The method may further include determining, using the controller, a damper setting of the vehicle based on the determined roughness.