Vehicle Attitude Control via Segmented Active Suspension Actuators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional active suspension devices in vehicles cannot exert independent forces on sprung and unsprung masses, limiting the ability to effectively dampen the sprung mass and reduce attitude changes.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle attitude control apparatus featuring braking/driving devices, active suspension devices with upper and lower actuators, and a control unit that allows for independent control of forces on each wheel, enabling precise control of braking/driving forces, upper, and lower actively generated forces to stabilize the vehicle's attitude.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a variable axial force type actuator is used in conventional active suspension devices, then the actuator can change axial force by controlling supply and discharge of liquid, but it is impossible to exert forces independently on the sprung and unsprung masses
Solution Approach 1:
The active suspension device is segmented into two independent actuators: an upper actuator connected to the sprung mass and a lower actuator connected to the unsprung mass. Each actuator can independently generate and control axial forces, allowing separate force application to the sprung and unsprung masses. This segmentation resolves the limitation of conventional single-actuator designs where forces could not be independently controlled.
2Reliability
If conventional active suspension devices are used, then the structure is relatively simple, but it is impossible to effectively dampen the sprung mass and reduce attitude changes
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system is divided into upper and lower actuators that independently control forces on the sprung and unsprung masses respectively. This enables effective damping of the sprung mass by applying counteracting forces through the upper actuator, while the lower actuator independently manages unsprung mass forces, thereby improving overall damping performance and attitude control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the axial forces generated by the upper and lower actuators based on real-time vibration and attitude conditions. By independently adjusting the force parameters of each actuator, the system optimizes damping effectiveness and attitude control, overcoming the limitations of fixed-parameter conventional actuators.
3Ease of operation
If a single actuator is used to control vertical force between sprung and unsprung masses, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to control vibration and attitude of the sprung mass is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into independent control channels for the upper and lower actuators. The upper actuator is controlled to dampen sprung mass vibrations, while the lower actuator is controlled to manage unsprung mass dynamics. This segmented control approach enhances the ability to control vibration and attitude without requiring overly complex integrated control mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle attitude control apparatus is provided in which an active suspension device of each wheel has a mass body arranged between a sprung mass and an unsprung mass of a vehicle, and upper and lower actuators each configured to generate an actively generated force acting on the sprung and unsprung masses, respectively, by applying urging forces to the masses, and a control unit calculates a target braking/driving force of each braking/driving device for achieving target motion state quantities of the vehicle, target actively generated forces of the upper and lower actuators, and controls a braking/driving device and the upper and lower actuators, so that the target braking/driving force and the target actively generated forces of the upper and lower actuators are achieved.