Electronic Suspension Speed-Based Damping Switching for Motorcycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronically controlled suspensions struggle to set an optimal damping specification that balances traveling stability and riding comfort, especially as vehicle speed and road conditions change.
Innovation Solution
The electronically controlled suspension system includes a suspension, an actuator to change damping force, an operation device to select damping specifications, and a controller that automatically switches between low-speed and high-speed damping specifications based on vehicle speed, ensuring optimal damping force adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the damping specification for high vehicle speed depends on the damping specification for low vehicle speed, then the device complexity is reduced, but the traveling stability cannot be optimized at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The damping specification is segmented into independent low-speed and high-speed components. The controller stores separate damping specifications for low vehicle speed and high vehicle speed, allowing each to be optimized independently without dependency on the other, thereby resolving the contradiction between optimization and complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple damping specifications are provided for different vehicle speeds, then the adaptability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to selection complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The controller automatically selects and switches between damping specifications for low and high vehicle speeds based on detected vehicle speed, eliminating the need for manual selection by the rider. This self-service approach maintains high adaptability while greatly simplifying operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping specification dynamically changes based on vehicle speed conditions. The controller automatically switches between low-speed and high-speed damping specifications as the vehicle transitions between speed ranges, providing adaptive performance without manual intervention.
3Reliability
If the damping force is increased to stabilize the vehicle during sports traveling, then the traveling stability is improved, but the riding comfort deteriorates on rugged roads
Solution Approach 1:
The damping force dynamically adapts to vehicle speed and riding conditions. During high-speed sports traveling, the high-speed damping specification provides increased damping for stability. During low-speed rugged road travel, the low-speed damping specification reduces damping for comfort, allowing the system to optimize both stability and comfort in different contexts.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronically controlled suspension (1) includes a suspension (26, 27) configured to damp vibration of a wheel of a saddle-riding vehicle, an actuator (24, 25) configured to change a damping force of the suspension, an operation device (17) configured to receive a selection of a damping specification among a plurality of damping specifications for low vehicle speed, and a controller (11, 12) configured to operate the actuator with the damping specification for low vehicle speed or a damping specification for high vehicle speed. The controller (11, 12) is configured to apply any damping specification for low vehicle speed, during low-speed traveling at a speed equal to or lower than a predetermined speed. The controller (11, 12) is configured to automatically apply the damping specification for high vehicle speed, during high-speed traveling at a speed exceeding the predetermined speed.