Vehicle Ride Height Control Using Surface Roughness Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle ride height lowering systems automatically lower the vehicle at high speeds, which can degrade ride comfort and potentially damage the suspension when traveling on rough surfaces, as they do not account for surface quality.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses on-board sensors to determine the surface roughness and inhibits ride height lowering when traveling on rough surfaces by comparing calculated ride attribute parameters with predetermined thresholds, ensuring the ride height is only lowered on smooth surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the vehicle ride height is automatically lowered when vehicle speed exceeds a threshold, then aerodynamic performance and fuel efficiency are improved, but ride comfort deteriorates and suspension damage risk increases on rough surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses on-board ride attribute sensors to continuously monitor surface conditions and provides feedback to the controller. The controller compares calculated ride attribute parameters with predetermined thresholds to determine whether the vehicle is traveling on a smooth or rough surface, and adjusts ride height accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to changing road conditions and avoid lowering ride height on rough surfaces, thereby maintaining ride comfort while preserving fuel efficiency benefits on smooth surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the ride height based on real-time surface condition assessment rather than using a fixed speed-based control strategy. The controller continuously evaluates ride attribute data from sensors and modifies the ride height command signal according to the current surface quality, making the system adaptive to varying road conditions. This dynamic approach allows the vehicle to maintain optimal ride height for fuel efficiency on smooth surfaces while automatically raising ride height on rough surfaces to preserve comfort.
2Shape
If the vehicle ride height is automatically lowered when vehicle speed exceeds a threshold, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but the risk of suspension damage increases on rough surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs ride attribute sensors to monitor surface conditions and feeds this information back to the controller. The controller calculates ride attribute parameters and compares them with predetermined thresholds to assess surface roughness. When rough surfaces are detected, the system inhibits ride height lowering commands, thereby protecting the suspension from potential damage while maintaining aerodynamic performance benefits on smooth surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessment of surface conditions using ride attribute sensors before issuing ride height adjustment commands. By evaluating ride attribute parameters and comparing them with thresholds in advance, the system predicts potentially harmful surface conditions and prevents ride height lowering before the vehicle encounters rough surfaces, thereby protecting the suspension proactively.
3Ease of operation
If ride height lowering is inhibited on rough surfaces, then ride comfort and suspension safety are improved, but aerodynamic performance and fuel efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses ride attribute sensors to provide continuous feedback on surface conditions. The controller processes this feedback by calculating ride attribute parameters and comparing them with predetermined thresholds. This feedback mechanism enables the system to maintain lowered ride height (and thus fuel efficiency) on smooth surfaces while automatically raising ride height on rough surfaces to preserve comfort, achieving an optimal balance between fuel efficiency and ride comfort based on real-time conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the ride height parameter dynamically based on surface condition assessment. When smooth surfaces are detected (ride attribute parameters below thresholds), the system maintains lowered ride height for optimal fuel efficiency. When rough surfaces are detected (ride attribute parameters exceeding thresholds), the system raises ride height to preserve comfort. This parameter change strategy allows the vehicle to optimize fuel efficiency on smooth surfaces while protecting ride comfort on rough surfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a system for determining whether to inhibit lowering of the ride height of a vehicle when the vehicle speed exceeds a speed threshold value. The system includes a processor having an input configured to receive ride attribute data from at least one on-board vehicle ride attribute sensor, the ride attribute data being indicative of the roughness of the surface over which the vehicle is travelling, and a data memory configured to store at least one predetermined ride attribute threshold value for the or each ride attribute sensor. The processor is configured to calculate a ride attribute parameter in dependence on the received ride attribute data for the or each ride attribute sensor. The processor is also configured to compare the or each calculated ride attribute parameter with the corresponding at least one predetermined ride attribute threshold value to determine whether the vehicle is travelling on a smooth surface or a rough surface, and to inhibit lowering of the ride height when it is determined that the vehicle is travelling on a rough surface.