Steering Damper System with Dynamic Damping Force Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steering damper systems for vehicles fail to adequately adjust damping force according to the vehicle's running state, leading to increased rider burden and reduced controllability, especially during high-speed cornering and off-road maneuvers.
Innovation Solution
A steering damper system that adjusts damping force based on detected vehicle speed and steering angle, dividing running states into straight, cornering, and special states, with narrower steering angle ranges at higher speeds, using a damper with magnetic fluid and a control system to output appropriate damping force commands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a large damping force is generated according to vehicle speed during high-speed running, then steering stability is improved, but the rider's burden increases and natural feeling of operation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The damping force is made dynamically adjustable based on detected vehicle speed and steering angle. The control unit varies the damping force according to the running state (straight running, cornering, or special running), allowing the system to adapt to different operating conditions rather than maintaining a fixed large damping force throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping force parameter is changed according to the detected running state. When special running states are detected (large steering angle at high speed), the control unit reduces the damping force to allow free steering operations, while maintaining higher damping force during normal cornering to ensure stability.
2Ease of operation
If a small damping force is used during straight running, then natural steering action is allowed, but steering stability during cornering is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The damping force is dynamically adjusted based on the detected running state. During straight running, a small damping force is applied to allow natural steering action for balance maintenance, while during cornering, the damping force is increased to provide steering stability and reduce rider burden.
Solution Approach 2:
Different damping force levels are applied according to the specific running state. The system provides locally optimized damping characteristics for each operating condition (small damping for straight running, medium damping for cornering, small damping for special running), rather than using a uniform damping force.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a large damping force is applied during special running states like jumping, then steering control is improved, but steering operation becomes heavy and controllability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The damping force is dynamically reduced during special running states (detected by large steering angle at high vehicle speed) to allow free steering operations. This dynamic adjustment maintains steering controllability while preventing the steering operation from becoming too heavy during aerial maneuvers.
4Device complexity
If damping force is adjusted only according to vehicle speed, then control simplicity is maintained, but accuracy in determining running state is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The control system adds another dimension to running state determination by considering both vehicle speed and steering angle together. This two-dimensional approach (speed-angle plane) is divided into multiple areas representing different running states, improving the accuracy of running state determination while maintaining relatively simple control logic through predetermined area divisions.
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 reduces rider burden and enhances controllability by providing optimal damping forces for different running states, allowing natural steering actions during straight running, stabilizing cornering, and facilitating free steering operations during special maneuvers like jumping.
Implementation Method 1
a damper with magnetic fluid and a control system to output appropriate damping force commands
Data Source
AI summary
A steering damper system for a saddle riding type vehicle having an MR damper includes a damping force calculating unit arranged to calculate a damping force according to a steering angle speed, and an adjusting command output unit arranged to determine a running state from a vehicle speed and a steering angle detected by sensors, with reference to a reference table, and correcting the damping force calculated according to the running state. The reference table has areas divided by a steering angle range according to vehicle speed, and damping force adjustment factors according to running states are assigned to these areas. The steering angle range dividing the areas becomes narrower with an increase in vehicle speed, to accurately reflect the running states of the vehicle. A proper damping force can be generated according to a running state of the vehicle. The steering damper system eases the rider's burden accompanying steering operations, and is excellent in controllability.