Active Suspension Impulse Control for Tire Traction Gain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for increasing tire traction are inadequate for scenarios where a vehicle is initially stationary or traveling at high speed, and they often involve oscillations that can be detrimental at high speeds or ineffective in various conditions.
Innovation Solution
A controllable suspension system that raises the center of mass of a vehicle using active elements and then lowers it to increase load on the tires, dynamically enhancing traction by generating positive forces and removing them in a controlled manner to inhibit oscillation and maintain downforce.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If vertical oscillations or vibrations are applied to increase tire traction, then traction is improved in stationary or low-speed conditions, but vehicle stability deteriorates at high speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic vertical impulses to the vehicle body through active suspension actuators, creating a pulsating downforce effect on the tires. This periodic action temporarily increases normal force and traction during each impulse cycle, while the brief duration and controlled frequency prevent continuous oscillation that would destabilize the vehicle at high speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts suspension characteristics in real-time based on vehicle operating conditions. The active suspension controller modulates actuator output to provide traction-enhancing impulses only when needed, transitioning between different suspension states (soft/compliant vs. stiff/rigid) to optimize both traction and stability across varying speed conditions
2Force
If continuous downward force is applied to increase tire contact, then traction is improved, but energy consumption increases and tire wear accelerates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of maintaining continuous downward force, the system applies brief periodic impulses that temporarily increase normal force. The actuator remains inactive between impulses, consuming minimal energy. This pulsed approach achieves traction enhancement only when slip or loss of contact is detected, rather than continuously
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's existing suspension infrastructure and active actuators already present for ride control to provide traction enhancement. Rather than adding dedicated traction devices, the system repurposes available components to generate downward impulses, minimizing additional energy requirements
3Force
If suspension actuators are used to generate downward force, then tire contact force is increased, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The active suspension actuators perform multiple functions: primary ride control and suspension management, plus secondary traction enhancement. By making the actuators multi-functional, the system generates downward force for traction without adding dedicated traction devices, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the traction control function with the existing active suspension system. The same actuators and control infrastructure used for ride management are also employed to generate downward impulses for traction enhancement, combining multiple functions into a single integrated system rather than adding separate mechanisms
4Force
If rapid removal of positive forces is used to increase traction, then tire traction is dynamically enhanced, but suspension control precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors wheel slip, tire contact status, and suspension position through sensors, feeding this information back to the controller. This feedback enables the controller to precisely timing the application and removal of downward impulses, ensuring they occur at optimal moments to maximize traction while maintaining control accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical linkage systems with electronically controlled actuators for generating downward force. This substitution allows for more precise and rapid control of force application and removal through electronic signaling, achieving the required timing precision more easily than purely mechanical systems
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
This approach dynamically increases tire traction by at least ten percent, improving vehicle performance and handling in various conditions without the adverse effects of oscillations, and can be applied in both stationary and high-speed scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
an active element of a controllable suspension is configured to generate positive forces between a wheel and a body of the vehicle to raise a center of mass of the body above a base level
Implementation Method 2
at least some of the generated positive forces of the active element are removed... resulting in the center of mass of the body dropping back towards the base level and increasing a load on the controllable suspension
Implementation Method 3
The generated positive forces of the active element are removed within a time interval that is sufficient to dynamically increase maximum tire traction
Data Source
AI summary
Tire traction is dynamically increased in a vehicle by performing a sequence of steps. First, a center of mass of the body of the vehicle is raised by a predetermined amount above a base level by using an active element of a controllable suspension to generate the positive forces in response to a first signal from a suspension controller. Second, the suspension controller receives a trigger after the center of mass of the body of the vehicle is raised by the predetermined amount above the base level. Third, at least some of the generated positive forces of the active element are removed upon receipt of the trigger in response to a second signal from the suspension controller. The removal of the at least some of the generated positive forces of the active element results in the center of mass of the body of the vehicle dropping back towards the base level and increasing a load on the controllable suspension, thereby dynamically increasing tire traction. The generated positive forces of the active element are removed within a time interval that is sufficient to dynamically increase maximum tire traction by at least ten percent.