Vehicle Suspension and Steering Control for Occupant Motion Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle suspension and steering systems fail to individually adjust ride comfort based on the preferences and conditions of occupants, leading to suboptimal comfort and increased susceptibility to motion sickness.
Innovation Solution
The system uses sensors to determine the location, activity, and characteristics of occupants within the vehicle, adjusting steering, suspension, and propulsion settings to minimize accelerations experienced by a designated point of interest, such as the occupant's head, to optimize ride comfort and reduce motion sickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional suspension and steering controls are adjusted according to predetermined modes, then vehicle performance can be tuned for different driving conditions, but all passengers experience substantially the same ride quality which does not account for individual preferences and conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the vehicle into multiple zones corresponding to different seating positions, with each zone having independent suspension control. Sensors are placed at each seating position to detect individual occupant characteristics, allowing the suspension system to be segmented into independently controllable sections rather than treating the entire vehicle as a single unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different suspension parameters and control strategies to different seating positions based on local occupant characteristics. Each zone receives customized ride comfort adjustments tailored to the specific occupant's preferences, body type, and motion sensitivity, rather than applying uniform settings throughout the vehicle.
2Ease of operation
If the suspension system is adjusted to minimize accelerations for a specific occupant, then ride comfort for that occupant is improved, but the system cannot simultaneously optimize comfort for multiple occupants with different preferences
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system dynamically adjusts parameters in real-time based on changing conditions and occupant preferences. The system can switch between different control modes and continuously modify suspension characteristics to accommodate varying ride comfort requirements of different occupants during vehicle operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors continuously monitor occupant responses, motion sickness indicators, and ride quality metrics, feeding this information back to the control system. The system uses this feedback to automatically adjust suspension parameters to optimize comfort for each occupant, creating a closed-loop control mechanism that adapts to individual needs.
3Device complexity
If predetermined suspension modes are used, then system complexity is reduced, but the system cannot dynamically respond to individual occupant characteristics and conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system automatically detects occupant characteristics through sensors and self-adjusts parameters without requiring manual intervention or complex user input. The system serves itself by using sensor data to autonomously determine optimal suspension settings for each occupant, reducing the need for complex user interfaces while maintaining high automation capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A location of an occupant within a vehicle and/or an activity engaged in by the occupant may be determined. Based on the location and/or the activity, a point of interest associated with the occupant and/or the vehicle may be determined. One or more systems of the vehicle, such as the steering and/or suspension, may be controlled to minimize acceleration associated with the point of interest, thereby increasing a comfort of the occupant. In instances where the vehicle includes more than one occupant, the vehicle may be adjusted to accommodate the multiple occupants.