Active Suspension Vehicle Attitude Modification for Trailer Hitch Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing systems for controlling the attitude of vehicles with trailers face challenges in minimizing damage to objects during loading and unloading due to the differences in approach and departure angles, which can cause damage to the objects and the trailer support surface.
Innovation Solution
An attitude modification system for vehicles equipped with an active suspension system, processors, and memory, which allows for the selection of trailer modes to adjust the vehicle's attitude by actuating active components, thereby modifying the distance between the vehicle body and wheels to align the trailer hitch with a target configuration, ensuring optimal loading and unloading conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the vehicle maintains a standard attitude configuration, then the vehicle structure remains simple and stable, but the approach angle and departure angle differences cause damage to objects during loading and unloading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the vehicle body attitude adjustable through an active suspension system. The system can dynamically change the vehicle body's pitch angle to achieve different approach and departure angles, transforming from a static to a dynamic configuration that adapts to loading and unloading requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the attitude parameters (pitch angle, height) of the vehicle body using the active suspension system. By adjusting these parameters, the system optimizes the approach angle and departure angle to minimize damage to objects during loading and unloading operations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the vehicle adjusts its attitude to optimize loading and unloading angles, then object damage is minimized, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the active suspension system serve multiple functions: it not only adjusts the vehicle attitude for optimized loading and unloading angles but also maintains ride comfort, supports various driving conditions, and provides stability control. This multi-functionality justifies the system complexity by delivering comprehensive benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary attitude adjustment before loading and unloading operations begin. By pre-positioning the vehicle body at the optimal angle, the system ensures that objects are loaded and unloaded smoothly without damage, eliminating the need for reactive adjustments during the actual loading/unloading process.
3Productivity
If the vehicle body attitude is changed to align the trailer hitch with the target configuration, then loading and unloading efficiency is improved, but the time required for attitude adjustment is added
Solution Approach 1:
The system adjusts the vehicle body attitude in advance before the loading and unloading process begins. By pre-positioning the trailer hitch at the target configuration, the system ensures that when loading or unloading starts, the optimal angles are already achieved, maximizing efficiency without adding significant time to the overall operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The active suspension system enables rapid dynamic adjustment of the vehicle body attitude. This dynamic capability allows the system to quickly transition between different attitude configurations, minimizing the time required for adjustment while maintaining the ability to achieve precise target positions for optimal loading and unloading efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for modifying an attitude of a vehicle are disclosed. A user selects a trailer mode for a vehicle body. The selected trailer mode has a corresponding configuration. The vehicle determines one or more features about a trailer based on the selected trailer mode. The vehicle determines a location of a trailer hitch needed to achieve the configuration corresponding to the selected trailer mode. The location is based on the one or more features about the trailer. The vehicle actuates at least one active component in the vehicle's active suspension system to change the attitude of the vehicle body so as to cause the trailer hitch to be located in the determined location thereby causing the vehicle body to be in the selected trailer mode.