Vehicle Door Protection System Using Suspension Height Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles, especially off-road vehicles, face challenges in determining if a door can be opened without colliding with obstructions, particularly when the vehicle's suspension changes affect clearance, leading to potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A door protection system that uses sensors and an electronic processor to detect objects proximal to the vehicle, determine if they obstruct the door's opening path, and control the suspension to adjust the vehicle's height and orientation to prevent collisions, with user confirmation and alerts for safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the vehicle suspension is lowered to facilitate ingress/egress, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of door collision with ground obstructions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of ground obstructions using sensors before the door opening action occurs. The processor analyzes sensor data to identify potential collision risks and issues warnings to the occupant before the door is opened, preventing damage before it happens.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the environment around the vehicle using sensors and provides real-time feedback to the occupant through warnings or alerts. This feedback loop allows the occupant to adjust their door opening action or be aware of potential hazards, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and collision risk.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sensors and processing systems are added to detect obstructions, then door protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing vehicle sensors and the door proximity warning system for multiple purposes: it detects ground obstructions, determines door opening trajectories, assesses collision risks, and provides warnings to occupants. By making the sensor system multi-functional, the patent avoids adding dedicated sensors solely for this purpose, thereby reducing the increase in device complexity while still improving door protection.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a door protection system (2) for a vehicle (1). The door protection system (2) includes sensor means (10, 11) for detecting an object (O) proximal to the vehicle (1). Processing means (14) are provided to process a signal (S1, S2) received from said sensor means (10, 11) to determine if the detected object (O) obstructs opening of a vehicle door (5, 6). Output means are provided for outputting a suspension control signal (SSUS) to control operation of a vehicle suspension (7) dependence on determining that the detected object (O) obstructs opening of the vehicle door (5, 6). The present disclosure also relates to a vehicle (1); to a method of controlling operation of a vehicle suspension (7); and to an electronic processor (14).