Actuator Suspension System for Wheel Posture Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional steering systems have limited degrees of freedom, making it difficult to easily operate the relative posture of the wheel with respect to the vehicle body, particularly in vehicles requiring specific motion performance.

Innovation Solution

A suspension operation system incorporating a multi-link suspension with extension-retraction links, universal joints, and actuators, controlled by a portable terminal, allowing for precise adjustment of toe and camber angles through wireless communication and actuator length manipulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional steering wheel is used, then the structure is simple, but the degree of freedom in operating wheel posture is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedegree of freedom in operating wheel postureVSAvoidsuspension system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suspension system incorporates actuators that can dynamically adjust the length of suspension links in real-time, transforming a static suspension structure into a dynamic one capable of active posture control. This allows the wheel posture to be adjusted on-demand based on operating conditions, resolving the contradiction between operational flexibility and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A control device acts as an intermediary between the operator and the suspension system. The control device receives operation inputs and automatically calculates and executes the appropriate actuator commands to achieve the desired wheel posture, eliminating the need for direct mechanical complexity in the steering interface while maintaining high degrees of freedom.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the wheel posture is adjusted manually, then the system is simple, but the precision of posture control is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposture control precisionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suspension system incorporates sensors that detect the actual wheel posture and feed this information back to the control device. The control device compares the detected posture with the target posture and automatically adjusts the actuator lengths to minimize the error, achieving precise posture control through closed-loop feedback rather than manual adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual mechanical adjustment with automated electronic control. Instead of requiring precise manual manipulation of mechanical linkages, the control device uses electronic signals to command actuators, achieving superior precision through electronic control systems while reducing the mechanical complexity of manual adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple suspension links are added to increase freedom of operation, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewheel posture adjustment capabilityVSAvoidsuspension link structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device serves multiple functions: it receives operation inputs, calculates target postures, determines actuator commands, and monitors system state. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single control unit, the system achieves high adaptability for various wheel postures without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system achieves versatile wheel posture adjustment by changing the length parameters of existing suspension links through actuators, rather than adding numerous fixed-geometry links. This parametric approach allows continuous adjustment of wheel posture within a defined range, providing high adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple suspension link structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3699000B1Suspension operating system
Publication Date: 2023.03.29 NSK LTD
  • EP3699000B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3699000B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3699000B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A suspension operation system includes: a suspension that includes a plurality of links supporting a wheel, at least one or more of the links having an actuator increasing or decreasing its length in an axial direction; a control device that supplies a drive signal to the actuator to control operation of the suspension; and a suspension operation terminal that operates the suspension. The suspension operation terminal includes: a detector that detects operation input information to the suspension operation terminal; and a communicator that transmits information about a target posture of the wheel, the information being based on the operation input information, to the control device as an operation command. The control device includes: a first calculator that calculates the length of the actuator on the basis of the operation command; and a drive circuit that produces the drive signal on the basis of information from the first calculator.