Predictive Off-Road Chassis Control via Force Profile Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for predictive chassis control in the automobile industry are complex and require significant technical effort, making them unsuitable for simplified implementation in off-road utility vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A system for predictive chassis control in off-road utility vehicles, comprising a controllable wheel-spring device, sensors for force profile measurement, navigation for geopositioning, and a memory unit for data storage and adaptation of damping characteristics, allowing for improved ride comfort and ground contact through pilot control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If imaging sensors (laser scanner, camera) are used to capture roadway surface profile for predictive chassis control, then the system can predict motion behavior and adapt damping characteristics, but the technical effort and system complexity become significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a simple force sensor to measure the actual disturbance force acting on the wheel-spring device, creating a direct physical copy of the disturbance rather than using complex imaging sensors to infer it. This force profile measurement provides accurate predictive control data with minimal system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for predictive control - the force profile acting on the wheel-spring device - by using a simple force sensor. This eliminates the need for complex imaging systems while capturing the critical disturbance characteristics required for adaptation
2Measurement precision
If complex image processing is performed to analyze roadway surface profile, then motion behavior prediction is achieved, but the processing time and computational effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex optical/image processing systems with a direct mechanical force measurement approach. The force sensor directly measures disturbance forces without requiring image capture, processing, or analysis, eliminating computational delays while maintaining measurement accuracy
3Ease of operation
If the system continuously adapts damping characteristics based on real-time disturbance measurement, then ride comfort is improved, but the control system complexity and actuation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the naturally occurring disturbance forces acting on the wheel-spring device as the measurement source. The force sensor passively captures the actual disturbance without requiring active probing or complex actuation, allowing the system to self-adapt based on real-world conditions it already experiences
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively compensates for ground disturbances by adapting suspension characteristics based on stored data pairs, enhancing ride comfort and ground contact, and can be applied beyond the agricultural sector to road construction.
Implementation Method 1
A hydraulic piston partitions a hydraulic cylinder encompassed by the hydraulic spring strut into an annular chamber and a piston chamber. The annular chamber and the piston chamber communicate with one another via a throttle valve which is adjustable with respect to its resistance to flow so that the damping characteristic of the hydraulic spring strut can be varied.
Implementation Method 2
A pressure control valve further permits an adaptation of the working pressure and hence of the suspension characteristic of the hydraulic spring strut.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for predictive chassis control including a wheel-spring device controllable with respect to a damping or suspension characteristic, a sensor for ascertaining a force profile of a disturbance acting on the wheel-spring device, and a navigation for ascertaining a current geoposition of the off-road utility vehicle in the form of an associated position data. The system includes a memory unit and a control unit for saving the force profile induced by the disturbance or a quantity derived therefrom. The control unit detects an imminent renewed crossing of the disturbance by continuous reconciliation of the current geoposition received from the navigation with the saved position data. The control unit adapts the damping or suspension characteristic on the basis of the saved force profile or the quantity derived therefrom by a pilot control of the wheel-spring device to compensate for an influence of the disturbance on the wheel-spring device.