What is Electronic Suspension?
Electronic suspension, also known as active suspension, is a technological advancement in the automotive industry that takes suspension systems to a whole new level. Unlike traditional passive suspension systems, electronic suspension utilizes sensors, actuators, and a sophisticated calculating system to adjust various aspects of a vehicle’s suspension in real-time.
Essentially, electronic suspension allows for automatic and continuous monitoring of road conditions and vehicle dynamics, enabling the suspension to adapt and change accordingly. This technology offers improved handling, increased comfort, and enhanced stability, resulting in a smoother, more controlled ride for drivers and passengers.
With electronic suspension, the key difference lies in its ability to actively respond to changing road conditions and driving scenarios. Whether it’s encountering a pothole, taking a sharp turn, or navigating uneven terrain, electronic suspension can make instantaneous adjustments to each wheel’s suspension settings to optimize performance and provide unparalleled comfort.
This advanced suspension system achieves this by leveraging various components that work together seamlessly to deliver optimal suspension performance. These include sensors, a calculating system, actuator systems, and adjustable modes. Let’s explore each of these components in more detail.
How Does Electronic Suspension Work?
Electronic suspension systems use a combination of sensors, a calculating system, and actuators to monitor and adjust the suspension settings of a vehicle in real-time. Let’s take a closer look at how each of these components plays a role in the functioning of electronic suspension:
Sensors: Electronic suspension systems are equipped with various sensors that continuously monitor the road surface, vehicle speed, acceleration, braking force, and steering input. These sensors provide crucial data that helps the system determine the optimal suspension settings needed to maintain stability, handling, and ride comfort.
Calculating System: The data received from the sensors is processed by a calculating system, often assisted by advanced algorithms and computer software. This calculating system analyzes the inputs and determines the appropriate suspension settings for each wheel independently.
Actuators: Once the calculating system determines the optimal suspension settings, actuators come into play. These actuators can be in the form of electronically-controlled dampers or air springs. By adjusting the damping characteristics or changing the air pressure in the springs, the suspension system can adapt to changes in road conditions, vehicle dynamics, and driver inputs.
Adjustable Modes: Many electronic suspension systems offer adjustable modes that allow the driver to customize the suspension settings based on their preferences or the driving conditions. These modes can include comfort mode for a more relaxed and smooth ride, sport mode for improved handling and responsiveness, or even an adaptive mode that automatically adjusts the suspension depending on the driving situation.
Overall, the intricate integration of sensors, a calculating system, and actuators enables electronic suspension to provide a dynamic and adaptable suspension system. It constantly evaluates and responds to changing circumstances, ensuring optimal performance and comfort for the driver and passengers.
Sensors
In order to deliver precise and real-time adjustments, electronic suspension relies on a variety of sensors that gather essential information about the vehicle’s dynamics and the condition of the road. These sensors are strategically placed throughout the vehicle and provide data that helps the system calculate the optimal suspension settings. Here are some of the key sensors used in electronic suspension systems:
Wheel Speed Sensors: These sensors monitor the rotational speed of each wheel. By comparing the speeds of all four wheels, the system can detect variations in wheel speed, which can indicate wheel slip or uneven road surfaces.
Accelerometers: Accelerometers measure the acceleration forces experienced by the vehicle along different axes. This information is crucial for determining the vehicle’s pitch, roll, and yaw, allowing the system to adjust the suspension accordingly to maintain stability.
Steering Angle Sensors: Steering angle sensors detect the precise position of the steering wheel and monitor the driver’s inputs. It provides vital data to the system for optimizing suspension settings during cornering and maneuvering.
Height Sensors: These sensors measure the ride height of the vehicle. By continuously monitoring the relative position of the body and the suspension, the system can adjust the suspension to compensate for changes in load, ensuring optimal ground clearance and stability.
Brake Pressure Sensors: Brake pressure sensors detect the amount of force applied to the brakes. This data is used by the system to adjust the suspension settings and optimize traction and stability during braking maneuvers.
Road Surface Sensors: Some advanced electronic suspension systems use special sensors to detect the condition of the road surface. These sensors can measure factors such as road roughness, bumps, or even ice, enabling the system to adapt the suspension settings accordingly for a smoother and safer ride.
By combining the information gathered from these sensors, electronic suspension systems can make precise and continuous adjustments to the suspension settings, ensuring optimal performance and comfort in various driving conditions.
Calculating System
The calculating system is the brain behind the electronic suspension, responsible for processing the data from the various sensors and determining the appropriate suspension settings for each wheel. This system utilizes advanced algorithms and computer software to analyze the inputs and make real-time calculations. Here’s a closer look at how the calculating system works in electronic suspension:
Data Processing: The calculating system receives data from sensors, including wheel speed, acceleration, steering input, and road conditions. It processes this data to accurately assess the vehicle’s dynamics and the current state of the road.
Algorithms: The calculating system employs sophisticated algorithms that take into account multiple factors, such as vehicle speed, cornering forces, and road surface conditions. These algorithms analyze the inputs and determine the optimal suspension settings needed to maintain stability, ride comfort, and handling performance.
Continuous Monitoring: The calculating system continuously monitors the data from the sensors as well as the vehicle’s behavior in real-time. It ensures that the suspension settings are adjusted on the fly to adapt to changing road conditions, driver inputs, and vehicle dynamics.
Adjustment Precision: The calculating system calculates the necessary adjustment for each wheel independently, taking into account the specific characteristics and requirements of that wheel. This level of precision allows for optimal control and balance, resulting in a smoother and more responsive driving experience.
Communication and Integration: The calculating system is typically integrated with other onboard systems, such as stability control or adaptive cruise control. This integration allows for seamless communication between systems, enabling the suspension to work in harmony with other vehicle functions to enhance overall performance and safety.
Overall, the calculating system is a critical component of electronic suspension, as it processes the data from sensors, applies complex algorithms, and makes real-time adjustments to optimize the performance and comfort of the suspension system. This advanced technology ensures that the vehicle maintains optimal stability, handling, and ride quality in various driving conditions.
Actuators
Actuators are the physical components responsible for translating the calculations made by the electronic suspension system into action. These components actively adjust the suspension settings of each wheel to optimize performance and ride comfort. Let’s explore the key types of actuators commonly used in electronic suspension:
Electronically-Controlled Dampers: One of the most common types of actuators in electronic suspension systems is electronically-controlled dampers. These dampers consist of electronically adjustable valves that regulate the flow of hydraulic fluid within the suspension system. By altering the damping characteristics, they can stiffen or soften the suspension, providing improved handling and ride comfort depending on the driving conditions.
Air Springs: Another type of actuator used in electronic suspension is the air spring. Air springs are composed of flexible rubber bellows that can be inflated or deflated to adjust the height of the vehicle and provide variable levels of stiffness. By controlling the air pressure in the springs, the suspension can adapt to different load conditions, ensuring optimal ride height, comfort, and stability.
Magnetorheological Dampers: These actuators use a special type of fluid that contains tiny magnetic particles. When an electromagnetic field is applied, the particles align, making the fluid more resistant to flow and thus stiffening the suspension. Conversely, when the electromagnetic field is reduced or removed, the fluid becomes less resistant to flow, softening the suspension. Magnetorheological dampers offer quick and precise adjustments, providing superior handling and ride quality.
Active Roll Bars: Active roll bars, also known as active sway bars, are another type of actuator commonly found in electronic suspension systems. These bars use hydraulic or electric actuation to actively control the stiffness of the anti-roll bars. By reducing body roll during cornering, the active roll bars enhance handling and stability, allowing for more precise and controlled maneuvers.
These actuators work in harmony with the calculating system and the sensors to make instantaneous adjustments to the suspension settings, improving ride quality, stability, and handling. The ability to dynamically adapt the suspension characteristics offers drivers an enhanced driving experience, as the suspension can continuously adapt to changing road conditions and driving dynamics.
Adjustable Modes
One of the key features of electronic suspension systems is the ability to offer adjustable modes, allowing the driver to customize the suspension settings based on their preferences or the driving conditions. These modes provide a range of options to optimize the suspension performance. Let’s explore some of the common adjustable modes found in electronic suspension:
Comfort Mode: In comfort mode, the suspension settings are tuned for maximum comfort and a smooth ride. The damping is set to be softer, resulting in reduced harshness from road imperfections, bumps, and vibrations. This mode is ideal for long highway drives or when driving on rough surfaces.
Sport Mode: Sport mode is designed for a more dynamic and responsive driving experience. In this mode, the suspension settings are adjusted to provide firmer damping and increased stiffness, enhancing the handling and cornering capabilities of the vehicle. Sport mode is ideal for spirited driving, twisty roads, or track days where precise control and agility are desired.
Normal Mode: Normal mode offers a balance between comfort and sportiness, providing a versatile and adaptable suspension setup for everyday driving. The settings in this mode are optimized for a typical driving scenario, offering a good balance between ride comfort and handling performance.
Adaptive Mode: Some electronic suspension systems offer an adaptive mode, which automatically adjusts the suspension settings based on the current driving conditions. This mode utilizes data from various sensors, such as road surface, vehicle speed, and driver inputs, to continuously adapt the suspension to provide the ideal balance between comfort and performance in real-time.
Individual Mode: In certain cases, electronic suspension systems allow drivers to customize their own suspension settings. In individual mode, drivers have the freedom to adjust specific parameters such as damping, spring stiffness, or even ride height to suit their personal preferences and driving style.
By offering adjustable modes, electronic suspension systems provide drivers with a versatile and tailored driving experience. Whether it’s a smooth and comfortable cruise or an exhilarating performance drive, the ability to adjust the suspension settings ensures that the vehicle’s handling and ride characteristics can be optimized for any situation.
Benefits of Electronic Suspension
Electronic suspension systems offer a range of benefits that enhance the overall performance, comfort, and safety of a vehicle. Here are some of the key advantages of electronic suspension:
Enhanced Handling and Stability: Electronic suspension systems can make precise and real-time adjustments to the suspension settings, allowing for improved handling and stability. By automatically adapting to changing road conditions, these systems optimize grip and control, resulting in better cornering capabilities and increased driver confidence.
Improved Ride Comfort: Electronic suspension systems can provide a smoother and more comfortable ride by adjusting the suspension settings to minimize the impact of road imperfections and vibrations. The ability to soften the suspension in comfort mode or automatically adapt to changes in the driving environment ensures a more pleasant and enjoyable driving experience.
Optimized Performance: With adjustable modes and the ability to fine-tune suspension settings, electronic suspension systems can optimize performance for various driving scenarios. Whether it’s a comfortable highway cruise or an aggressive track session, the suspension can be adjusted to deliver the right balance of comfort and performance, maximizing the vehicle’s capabilities.
Improved Traction and Stability Control: Electronic suspension systems work in synergy with other vehicle systems, such as traction control and stability control. By actively adjusting the suspension settings based on the inputs from the sensors, electronic suspension can enhance the effectiveness of these safety systems, improving traction, stability, and overall vehicle control.
Adaptability to Different Driving Conditions: Electronic suspension systems excel at adapting to different driving conditions. Whether it’s adjusting to uneven terrain, absorbing bumps, or maintaining stability during evasive maneuvers, these systems can automatically adjust the suspension settings to ensure optimal performance and safety regardless of the driving environment.
Customizability and Personalization: Many electronic suspension systems offer adjustable modes or even individual customization options, allowing drivers to tailor the suspension settings to their preferences. This level of customizability ensures that the suspension can be set up to suit different driving styles, preferences, and road conditions.
Overall, electronic suspension systems provide a range of benefits that improve the performance, comfort, and safety of vehicles. By offering precise and real-time adjustments, these systems enhance handling, ride comfort, and overall driving experience, making them a valuable addition to modern automobiles.
Drawbacks of Electronic Suspension
While electronic suspension systems bring numerous advantages to vehicles, there are certain drawbacks that need to be considered. Here are some of the key limitations of electronic suspension:
Cost: Electronic suspension systems tend to be more expensive to manufacture and install compared to traditional suspension systems. The technology involved, such as sensors, calculating systems, and actuators, adds to the overall cost of the system. This higher cost may make electronic suspension less accessible to some car buyers.
Complexity and Maintenance: Electronic suspension systems are more complex than traditional suspension systems, with a higher number of components and electronic components involved. This complexity can lead to increased maintenance requirements and potential for system failures. Repairing or replacing components of electronic suspension systems may require specialized equipment and trained technicians, resulting in higher repair costs.
Reliability: The reliance on electronics and sensors in electronic suspension systems introduces the possibility of electronic failures or malfunctions. While modern systems have become more reliable, there is still a risk of electronic components failing, which could lead to suspension issues or a complete system failure. Regular maintenance and proper care are crucial for ensuring the reliability of electronic suspension systems.
Limited Compatibility: Electronic suspension systems may not be compatible with all types of vehicles. The integration of electronic suspension systems may be more challenging or even impossible for certain vehicle platforms, especially older or budget-friendly models. Additionally, retrofitting electronic suspension to an existing vehicle can be complex and costly.
Less Feedback and Connection: Some driving enthusiasts argue that electronic suspension systems can provide less feedback and connection with the road compared to traditional suspension systems. The advanced technology and continuous adjustments may insulate the driver from the true road feel, reducing the engagement and involvement in the driving experience.
Dependency on Electronics: Electronic suspension systems heavily rely on electronic components and systems. In the event of a failure or malfunction in the electronic systems, the suspension may not function properly. This dependency on electronics can make the suspension more vulnerable to electrical issues, making it important to ensure the overall integrity of the electrical systems in the vehicle.
While electronic suspension systems greatly enhance the performance and comfort of vehicles, it is essential to be aware of these drawbacks. Understanding the limitations can help car buyers make informed decisions and properly maintain their electronic suspension systems for optimal performance and longevity.
Types of Electronic Suspensions
There are several types of electronic suspension systems available in the automotive industry, each with its own characteristics and benefits. Here are some of the common types of electronic suspensions:
Active Damping Suspension: Active damping suspension, also known as active shock absorbers, uses electronically controlled dampers to adjust the damping force based on real-time inputs. These dampers can vary the stiffness and damping characteristics to provide optimal control and comfort in various driving conditions. Active damping suspension systems offer improved handling, reduced body roll, and enhanced ride comfort compared to traditional passive suspensions.
Active Air Suspension: Active air suspension systems incorporate air springs in conjunction with electronic control to provide adjustable ride height and variable spring stiffness. These systems can automatically adjust the suspension height based on load conditions, allowing for improved ground clearance and aerodynamics. Active air suspension systems offer a comfortable ride, excellent stability, and the ability to switch between different ride heights or modes based on driver preferences or road conditions.
Magnetic Ride Control Suspension: Magnetic ride control, also known as magneto-rheological suspension, utilizes magnetorheological fluid and electromagnetic coils to adjust the damping characteristics of the suspension. The fluid’s viscosity changes instantly in response to electromagnetic fields, allowing for precise control of the damping forces. Magnetic ride control suspension systems provide exceptional ride quality, improved handling, and enhanced responsiveness to changing road conditions.
Hydraulic Active Roll Control Suspension: Hydraulic active roll control suspension systems use hydraulic actuators to counteract and minimize body roll during cornering. These systems can redistribute hydraulic fluid between opposing sides of the suspension to actively resist body roll forces, enhancing stability and improving handling performance. Hydraulic active roll control suspension systems offer improved agility, reduced body roll, and increased driver confidence during aggressive driving maneuvers.
Adaptive Air Suspension: Adaptive air suspension combines the benefits of air suspension with electronic control to offer adjustable ride height and variable damping. These systems can automatically adjust the air spring stiffness and damping characteristics based on driving conditions or driver preferences. Adaptive air suspension provides a comfortable ride, excellent load-carrying capacity, and the ability to adapt to different driving conditions, ensuring optimal performance and comfort.
It’s worth noting that the availability of specific types of electronic suspensions may vary depending on the vehicle make and model. Additionally, some vehicles utilize a combination of electronic suspension technologies to provide a comprehensive and customizable suspension system.
Ultimately, the choice of electronic suspension type depends on factors such as desired performance characteristics, driving preferences, and budget considerations. Understanding the different types of electronic suspensions can help car buyers make an informed decision based on their specific needs and preferences.
