Perception Based Suspension Control for Road Deformation Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle suspension systems are limited in maximizing force dampening across both axles and optimizing ride comfort due to their inability to effectively adjust to impending forces from road deformations, as they rely on low-resolution sensors that can only scan a short distance ahead.
Innovation Solution
A perception-based suspension control system that utilizes a computing device to receive a high-resolution global height map of the road surface, allowing it to adjust suspension components such as shock absorbers and stabilizers in real-time to anticipate and mitigate the effects of road deformations by integrating data from various sensors like LIDAR, cameras, and GPS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If low-resolution sensors scanning a short distance ahead are used, then the suspension system can react to detected deformations, but it cannot adjust each affected suspension for impending forces, reducing force dampening effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of road deformations using high-resolution LiDAR and camera sensors that scan ahead of the vehicle. The computing device processes this data to identify upcoming deformations and calculates optimal suspension adjustments before the vehicle encounters them, enabling proactive rather than reactive suspension control.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension system is divided into independently controllable suspension components (front left, front right, rear left, rear right). The computing device calculates and applies individualized adjustments to each suspension component based on the vehicle's specific trajectory and the location of detected deformations, allowing precise force dampening at each wheel position.
2Ease of operation
If high-resolution global height map is used with multiple sensors, then precise suspension adjustments can be made, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computing device serves multiple functions: it processes data from LiDAR sensors, camera systems, and GPS receivers; generates the global height map; localizes the vehicle on the map; determines optimal suspension adjustments; and controls the suspension components. This multi-functional approach consolidates complexity into a single processing unit rather than requiring separate dedicated systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The global height map serves as an intermediary data structure that integrates information from multiple sensor sources (LiDAR, cameras, GPS). This standardized representation allows the computing device to efficiently process complex multi-sensor data without requiring direct complex interactions between individual sensors, simplifying the overall system architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
Vehicle ride can be improved using perception based suspension control on a vehicle. A computing system on the vehicle may receive a map of a road surface. The computing system may identify a trajectory of the vehicle relative to the road surface, and determine if a deformation exists in a track of one of the vehicle tires. The deformation may include a depression and/or a raised portion from the road surface. The computing system may calculate an adjustment to make to one or more suspension system components to negate or minimize the effects of the vehicle traveling over the deformation or roughness of the road, and may send an instruction to adjust the suspension components accordingly. Additionally, or alternatively, the computing system may determine that the deformation may be avoidable, in whole or in part, and may cause the vehicle to maneuver around the deformation.