Active Suspension Systems

1. Active Suspension Systems Anthony Griffin Bradley Rouse Philip Woodward MAE 442 Dr. Klang 5/6/2005

2. Outline • Common Types of Suspensions • Active Suspensions • Benefits • Disadvantages • Applications • Conclusion

3. Front Suspension Solid I-Beam Twin I-Beam MacPherson Strut Short-Long Arm Rear Suspension Non Independent Rear Leaf Springs Non Independent Rear Coil Springs Trailing Arm Beam Common Suspensions

4. Solid I-Beam • Used on trucks and other large vehicles • Economical • Simple design • Low Maintenance • Excellent load capacity • Non-independent design • Uncomfortable ride quality • Poor handling

5. Twin I-Beam • Found on many Ford trucks • Forged, cast, or stamped axles • Excellent load capacity • Requires special equipment for alignment adjustments

6. MacPherson Strut • One of the most popular systems • One Control Arm • Ideal for front wheel drive • Light weight • Economical • Good ride quality and handling characteristics • Used for both front and rear suspensions

7. Short-Long Arm • Independent design • Uses an upper and a lower control arm • Uses either torsion bars or coil springs • Good ride quality and handling characteristics • Heavy and complex design requires a lot of space

8. Rear Leaf Springs • Non-independent design • Similar to front solid I-beam axle • Large load carrying capacity

9. Non-independent design Uses coils and control arms instead of leaf springs Good load carrying capacity Rear Coil Springs

10. Trailing Arm • Independent Design • Uses individual lower control arms • Uses coil springs and shocks • Good ride quality

11. Rear Beam • Non-independent design • Stamped beam axles • Uses coil springs and trailing arms • Light and simple design

12. Bose Suspension Magneto-Rheological Technology Active Suspension Systems

13. Electromagnetic motors at each wheel instead of traditional shocks and struts. Sensors at various locations to detect body and suspension movement. Comparison of Factory-Installed and Bose Suspensions: Body Motion on Bump Course Bose Suspension System

14. Bose Suspension System • Uses sensor measurements to instantaneously counteract road forces • Produces excellent ride quality and superior control in the same system

15. Bose Suspension Components • Linear Electromagnetic Motor • Responds quickly enough to counter the effects of bumps and road irregularities • Power Amplifier • Sends power to the motor during extension and returns power during retraction • Control Algorithms • Observe sensor measurements and send commands to the power amplifiers

16. Bose vs. Stock Suspension

17. Magneto-Rheological Technology • Dampers contain magnetic particles suspended in fluid • Magnetic field within the fluid aligns particles • Creates resistance to movement and increases damping • Variable magnetic field creates more or less resistance as needed • System can change up to 1000 times per second

18. Bose Suspension Superior comfort Superior control Reduces body roll during turns Reduces need for camber roll during turns Requires only 1/3 of the power needed by the AC Wider damping range than Magneto-Rheological systems Magnetic Ride Control Improved road handling Improved wheel control Smoother ride than conventional shocks and struts Reduces noise and virbations Continuous range of damping Benefits

19. Disadvantages • High initial cost • High repair costs • Complex systems

20. Bose Suspension System will be offered on high end luxury vehicles within the next 5 years. The same technology has been applied in Military applications. Magnetic Ride Control Currently offered on Cadillac SRX and Seville STS models. Offered on the Chevrolet Corvette for the 2003 model year. Mercedes S600 BMW 7 series Applications

21. Active Military Application

22. Conclusion • Active control suspensions offer a wider range of comfort and control than most current suspension systems. • Offers unmatched vehicle handling performance. • May eventually find their way into more common production vehicles.