Preview Road Surface Sensing for Low-Energy Suspension Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional active vehicle suspensions continue to consume high energy even when predictive control is discontinued, due to the continuous operation of distance sensors.
Innovation Solution
A preview road surface detector that includes a distance sensor and a distance calculator, which can deactivate the distance sensor under predetermined conditions such as vehicle stop, steering angle, reverse movement, harsh weather, or system malfunction, thereby reducing energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the distance sensor operates continuously to detect road surface distance for active suspension control, then the measurement precision and control reliability are improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distance sensor is activated only when predictive control is actually needed (when the vehicle is moving forward and predictive control is not discontinued) and deactivated when predictive control is discontinued or the vehicle is stationary. This periodic activation/deactivation based on operational conditions reduces energy consumption while maintaining measurement precision when required.
2Loss of energy
If the distance sensor is deactivated to reduce energy consumption, then the energy efficiency is improved, but the reliability of the preview road surface detection system deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of the distance sensor based on real-time vehicle conditions (movement state, steering angle, predictive control status). The sensor is activated when predictive control is needed and deactivated when it is discontinued, creating a dynamic adaptation that balances energy efficiency with system reliability.
3Reliability
If the distance sensor operates continuously to ensure system functionality, then the reliability is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distance sensor operates periodically based on vehicle conditions - activated when the vehicle moves forward and predictive control is not discontinued, deactivated when predictive control is discontinued or vehicle is stationary. This periodic operation maintains system reliability when needed while reducing energy consumption during periods when the function is not required.
Data Source
AI summary
A preview road surface detector capable of discontinuing predictive control is provided, which suppresses the energy consumption required to determine whether predictive control should be discontinued. The preview road surface detector includes: a distance sensor provided on a vehicle body member, the distance sensor detecting a value related to a distance between the vehicle body member and a measurement point on a road surface ahead of a vehicle, the measurement point corresponding to at least part of a road surface contact portion of a wheel; and a distance calculator that calculates a road surface distance as the distance from the vehicle body member to the measurement point, based on a detection value detected by the distance sensor, in which the distance sensor is deactivated under a predetermined condition.