Electrically interconnected suspension system for improving vehicle ride comfort and safety

To mitigate vibrations originating from various sources, such as uneven road surfaces and vibrating tools, from reaching the vehicle, its passengers, and the driver, most vehicles employ a suspension system. This vehicle suspension system is, in reality, a complex, multi-degree-of-freedom vibration system. It encompasses four primary vibration modes: bouncing, pitching, rolling, and warping, which describe the relative motion between each wheel and the vehicle body. The traditional design of independent suspension often exhibits tightly intertwined stiffness and damping characteristics, making it challenging to optimise independently for different vibration modes. This frequently results in a trade-off between ride comfort and stability, with both objectives often remaining unattained simultaneously.

In recent times, the electrically interconnected suspension has been proposed as a new technology aimed at enhancing vehicle ride comfort and safety. In this presentation, we will provide an overview of our research on electrically interconnected suspension and its associated technologies. We will begin by discussing the limitations of conventional interconnected suspension systems. Subsequently, we will delve into the operating principles and technical features of electrically interconnected suspension systems, with a primary focus on the electrical network and decoupling control characteristics. We will demonstrate the concept of synchronous decoupling control of multiple vibration modes, discuss control algorithms, and present performance verification results. Finally, we will explore new potential application areas.

All of the presented developments stem from our recent research findings and publications. The electrically interconnected suspension holds significant promise for real-world implementation due to its rapid responsiveness, relative affordability, straightforward design, and remarkable effectiveness.