Vehicle Suspension Control Using Occupant Head Acceleration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle suspension systems primarily adjust based on vehicle data, neglecting occupant-specific accelerations that affect ride comfort, leading to inadequate comfort improvements.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses image data and machine learning algorithms to determine the acceleration of a vehicle occupant's head relative to the vehicle, allowing for adjustments in suspension stiffness and operation modes to mitigate these accelerations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If vehicle suspension systems adjust based on vehicle data only, then the control system remains simple, but ride comfort is inadequate due to neglecting occupant-specific accelerations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical acceleration sensors with vision-based optical measurement. Image capture devices record occupant head motion, and machine learning algorithms compute acceleration from video data, eliminating the need for physical sensors inside the occupant space and reducing system complexity while improving comfort monitoring accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces image data and machine learning algorithms as an intermediary between the vehicle suspension system and occupant acceleration measurement. This intermediary layer enables non-contact, sensorless measurement of head acceleration, allowing the suspension to respond to actual occupant motion without direct mechanical sensing
2Ease of operation
If image data and machine learning algorithms are used to determine occupant head acceleration, then ride comfort is enhanced by addressing occupant-specific accelerations, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sensor arrays with a single image capture device and computational algorithm. The machine learning model processes video frames to extract head position and calculate acceleration, achieving precise occupant-specific measurement without the complexity of multiple physical sensors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual model of occupant head motion through image processing and machine learning. By capturing visual information and computing acceleration from pixel data, the system generates a digital representation of head dynamics that mirrors physical sensor output without the associated hardware complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An acceleration of a head of an occupant of a vehicle relative to the vehicle is determined based on data describing motion of the vehicle and respective poses of the head from a plurality of consecutive frames of image data. A vehicle suspension is adjusted based on the determined acceleration.