Active Downforce and Suspension Coordination for Tire Grip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle systems face challenges in coordinating active downforce and active suspension controls, leading to conflicts in control algorithms and suboptimal tire grip during dynamic maneuvers, affecting stability and performance.

Innovation Solution

An integrated control framework that optimizes ride height and suspension actuator forces through a ride height optimizer engine and model predictive control, using aerodynamic maps and neural networks to harmonize active downforce and suspension systems, ensuring maximum tire grip and vehicle stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If active downforce and active suspension controls operate independently, then each system can be controlled separately, but conflicts in control algorithms occur leading to suboptimal tire grip

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveIndependent control operationVSAvoidTire grip performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the active downforce control system and active suspension control system into a unified coordinated control framework. The ride height optimizer engine receives inputs from both systems and generates coordinated control commands that harmonize their operations, eliminating conflicts and maximizing tire grip through integrated decision-making rather than independent operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Force

If ride height is adjusted to maximize downforce, then aerodynamic performance improves, but vehicle stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveDownforceVSAvoidVehicle stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The ride height optimizer engine dynamically adjusts ride height parameters based on real-time vehicle conditions, aerodynamic maps, and neural network predictions. By continuously optimizing the ride height parameter within stable ranges and coordinating with suspension actuator forces, the system maximizes downforce while maintaining vehicle stability through adaptive parameter tuning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If complex coordination algorithms are implemented, then tire grip is maximized, but computational complexity and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTire gripVSAvoidControl algorithm complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-generates aerodynamic maps containing optimal ride height and downforce data for various vehicle conditions. The neural network is pre-trained with extensive aerodynamic data and suspension characteristics. During operation, these pre-computed resources enable rapid coordination decisions without real-time complex calculations, reducing processing requirements while maintaining optimal tire grip performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20260021686A1Coordination between active downforce and active suspension controls for maximized tire grip for a vehicle

Publication Date: 2026.01.22 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

Examples described herein provide a method for coordination between active downforce and active suspension controls for a vehicle that includes determining an optimal ride height for the vehicle based on current conditions of the vehicle. The method further includes determining a suspension actuator force to implement the optimal ride height for the vehicle. The method further includes controlling, by an active suspension system of the vehicle, an actuator using the suspension actuator force to achieve the optimal ride height for the vehicle.