Automotive Damper Control via External Road Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for regulating damping force in vehicle dampers rely on internal sensors, which can only adjust settings after road conditions have deteriorated, compromising safety and comfort.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing external data sources, such as vehicle-to-vehicle communication and external databases, to provide real-time information on road conditions, allowing for proactive adjustment of damping force based on parameters like weather, traffic, and road surface quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If internal sensors are used to detect road conditions, then the system can adjust damping force, but the adjustment occurs only after road conditions have already deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses external data sources (other vehicles, databases) to obtain advance information about upcoming road conditions before the vehicle actually encounters them. This allows the damping force to be adjusted proactively in anticipation of poor road sections, rather than reactively after deterioration has occurred. The control unit receives parameter values from external sources and adjusts damper settings before the vehicle reaches the problematic road area.
2Device complexity
If passive damper systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but the damping force cannot be adjusted for different driving conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The control system integrates multiple data sources (internal sensors, external vehicle communications, databases) and processes various parameter types (weather, traffic, road surface) through a single control unit that manages adjustable dampers. This multi-functional approach allows the system to adapt to different driving conditions while maintaining a relatively compact architecture where one control unit handles diverse input sources and adjustment tasks.
3Adaptability or versatility
If semi-active or active damping systems are used, then the damping force can be adjusted for different driving situations, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves as an intermediary that receives parameter values from multiple external data sources (other vehicles, databases) and internal sensors, processes this information, and translates it into appropriate damping force adjustments. This intermediary structure allows the system to access rich external information without directly integrating complex communication and processing functions into the damper mechanism itself, thereby managing system complexity while maintaining high adaptability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a device (2) for regulating or controlling the damping force of adjustable dampers in motor vehicles, particularly in commercial vehicles. According to general principles of the invention, the regulation or control of the damping force of adjustable dampers is carried out depending on at least one parameter from which a chassis requirement and/or a road surface condition can be derived and which is provided by an external data source (8, 9) and whose current values are received by the motor vehicle (1) during driving operation.