Abstract: A suspension control system including a suspension control unit, an unsprung mass accelerometer positioned at each wheel of the vehicle, and a global positioning system. The suspension control unit determines if a road irregularity, such as a bump or pothole, is approaching based on vehicle location data, provides pre-emptive road event classification information for the approaching road irregularity, and sets both a threshold based suspension pre-setting and a threshold based pre-trigger based on the pre-emptive road event classification information. The suspension control unit monitors the unsprung mass acceleration data, calculates a slope value for the unsprung mass acceleration data, and activates a suspension control action if the unsprung mass acceleration data exceeds the threshold based pre-trigger and the slope value exceeds a maximum slope value.

Abstract: An air-spring assembly includes a flexible bellows extending from a top end to a bottom end and enclosing an air-spring chamber between the top end and the bottom end, a first panel partially defining the air-spring chamber and movable in response to a pressure of the air-spring chamber, an enclosure partially defining a working chamber fluidly isolated from the air-spring chamber, a second panel partially defining the working chamber and movable relative to the enclosure, and a linkage member fixed relative to the first panel and to the second panel and defining a fixed distance between the first panel and the second panel. The top and bottom ends are fixable to a frame and a wheel of a vehicle, respectively. A volume of the air-spring chamber varies with movement of the bottom end relative to the top end. Movement of the second panel changes a volume of the working chamber.

Abstract: A trailer sway control system for a vehicle includes: a front left active suspension actuator; a front right active suspension actuator; a rear left active suspension actuator; a rear right active suspension actuator; and an actuator control module configured to: based on (a) a first hitch force at a trailer hitch in a longitudinal direction, (b) a second hitch force at the trailer hitch in a lateral direction, and (c) a third hitch force at the trailer hitch in a vertical direction, determine target vertical forces for the front left active suspension actuator, the front right active suspension actuator, the rear left active suspension actuator, and the rear right active suspension actuator, respectively; and selectively adjust the front left active suspension actuator, the front right active suspension actuator, the rear left active suspension actuator, and the rear right active suspension actuator based on the target vertical forces, respectively.

Abstract: A trailer sway control system for a vehicle includes: a front left active suspension actuator; a front right active suspension actuator; a rear left active suspension actuator; a rear right active suspension actuator; an actuator control module configured to: based on a hitch angle between (a) a first longitudinal axis of a trailer hitched to the vehicle and (b) a second longitudinal axis of the vehicle, determine target vertical forces for the front left active suspension actuator, the front right active suspension actuator, the rear left active suspension actuator, and the rear right active suspension actuator, respectively; and selectively adjust the front left active suspension actuator, the front right active suspension actuator, the rear left active suspension actuator, and the rear right active suspension actuator based on the target vertical forces, respectively.

Abstract: A shock absorber having a metal damper tube and base assembly is provided. The base assembly, which includes a composite mounting attachment made of a composite material, such as a recyclable thermoplastic, is fixed to an external surface of the metal damper tube, which may be a finished product. A cavity in the composite mounting attachment houses at least a portion of the metal damper tube and thus defines an overlapping region where the composite mounting attachment and the metal damper tube are co-extensive with each other. One or more windows are provided in the overlapping region of the composite mounting attachment where the metal damper tube is left exposed. This helps to promote heat dissipation away from the metal damper tube while reducing weight and heat transmission from the metal damper tube to the composite mounting attachment to reduce overheating of the composite material.

Abstract: A wheel assembly bushing for in-wheel electric motors where the bushing includes a hydraulic chamber positioned within a resilient sleeve of the bushing and a helical fluid channel that extends helically about an inner bushing member between first and second fluid channel ends, which are arranged in fluid communication with the hydraulic chamber. An outer body extends annularly about the resilient sleeve, which permits relative movement between the inner bushing member and the outer body. The fluid channel is configured to produce inertance. This inertance, when combined with other damping and stiffness effects of the wheel assembly bushing, provides phase and magnitude shifts between force and velocity, which ultimately reduce magnetic gap deformation in the in-wheel electric motor.

Abstract: An air suspension system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a suspension actuator, a reservoir, a compressor, and a first cooling circuit. The suspension actuator has a chamber. The reservoir includes a shell and an adsorptive material. The shell at least partially defines an interior region. The interior region is fluidly connected to the chamber. The adsorptive material is in the interior region. The compressor is fluidly connected to the interior region. The first cooling circuit includes a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a conduit. The first heat exchanger is in thermal contact with the interior region. The second heat exchanger is in thermal contact with an electric vehicle component. The conduit is adapted to circulate a fluid between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. The present disclosure also provides a method of operating the air suspension system.

Abstract: A motion sickness control system for a vehicle includes a vibrator. The motion sickness control system includes a sensor configured to measure vibration of the vehicle. The motion sickness control system includes a computer having a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to actuate the vibrator at a target frequency based on the measured vibration of the vehicle. The target frequency attenuates the measured vibration of the vehicle.

Abstract: An air suspension system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a suspension actuator, a reservoir, a compressor, and a first cooling circuit. The suspension actuator has a chamber. The reservoir includes a shell and an adsorptive material. The shell at least partially defines an interior region. The interior region is fluidly connected to the chamber. The adsorptive material is in the interior region. The compressor is fluidly connected to the interior region. The first cooling circuit includes a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a conduit. The first heat exchanger is in thermal contact with the interior region. The second heat exchanger is in thermal contact with an electric vehicle component. The conduit is adapted to circulate a fluid between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger. The present disclosure also provides a method of operating the air suspension system.

Abstract: A motion sickness control system for a vehicle includes a vibrator. The motion sickness control system includes a sensor configured to measure vibration of the vehicle. The motion sickness control system includes a computer having a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to actuate the vibrator at a target frequency based on the measured vibration of the vehicle. The target frequency attenuates the measured vibration of the vehicle.

Abstract: A shock absorber having a metal damper tube and base assembly is provided. The base assembly, which includes a composite mounting attachment made of a composite material, such as a recyclable thermoplastic, is fixed to an external surface of the metal damper tube, which may be a finished product. A cavity in the composite mounting attachment houses at least a portion of the metal damper tube and thus defines an overlapping region where the composite mounting attachment and the metal damper tube are co-extensive with each other. One or more windows are provided in the overlapping region of the composite mounting attachment where the metal damper tube is left exposed. This helps to promote heat dissipation away from the metal damper tube while reducing weight and heat transmission from the metal damper tube to the composite mounting attachment to reduce overheating of the composite material.

Abstract: A suspension control system including a suspension control unit, an unsprung mass accelerometer positioned at each wheel of the vehicle, and a global positioning system. The suspension control unit determines if a road irregularity, such as a bump or pothole, is approaching based on vehicle location data, provides pre-emptive road event classification information for the approaching road irregularity, and sets both a threshold based suspension pre-setting and a threshold based pre-trigger based on the pre-emptive road event classification information. The suspension control unit monitors the unsprung mass acceleration data, calculates a slope value for the unsprung mass acceleration data, and activates a suspension control action if the unsprung mass acceleration data exceeds the threshold based pre-trigger and the slope value exceeds a maximum slope value.

Abstract: A method of producing an anti-roll moment distribution module for a vehicle comprises determining understeer characteristics of the vehicle, determining a maximum lateral acceleration of the vehicle, adjusting understeer characteristics of the vehicle based on the maximum lateral acceleration, determining reference understeer characteristics, determining a plurality of reference yaw rates based on (i) the maximum lateral acceleration and (ii) the reference understeer characteristics using a non-linear quasi static vehicle model, storing the plurality of reference yaw rates in a first look up table in the anti-roll moment distribution module, determining a plurality of feedforward contributions using the non-linear quasi static model of the vehicle. Each feedforward contribution of the plurality of feedforward contributions can be used to determine a front to total anti-roll moment distribution for the vehicle.

Abstract: A damper system for a vehicle is provided that includes a pressurized gas damper, electromagnetic actuator, and pressurized gas spring. The pressurized gas damper includes first and second working chambers that are fluidly connected by a flow control orifice. The electromagnetic actuator includes a stator assembly with a stator cavity and a magnetic rotor that is slidingly received in the stator cavity. The magnetic rotor is fixed to a damper tube that houses the second working chamber. The stator cavity and an end of the damper tube cooperate to define the first working chamber. The pressurized gas spring includes a bellows chamber that extends annularly about the damper tube. The damper tube includes an opening between the second working chamber and the bellows chamber.

Abstract: The active suspension system includes right and left dampers, a pump, and a control valve system. Each of the right and left dampers includes a damper housing, a piston rod, and a piston that is mounted on the piston rod. The piston is arranged in sliding engagement inside the damper housing such that the piston divides the damper housing into first and second working chambers. The pump includes a pump intake and a pump outlet. The control valve system is connected in fluid communication with the first and second working chambers of the right damper, the first and second working chambers of the left damper, the pump intake, and the pump outlet. The control valve system has several different arrangements of fluid flow paths that provide different working modes for the active suspension system.

Abstract: A suspension system of a vehicle includes: an unsprung mass of a vehicle; a sprung mass of the vehicle; at least one transverse leaf spring coupled between the unsprung mass of the vehicle and the sprung mass of the vehicle; and a linear actuator coupled in parallel with the at least one transverse leaf spring between the unsprung mass of the vehicle and the sprung mass of the vehicle and configured to modify vibrational characteristics of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of producing an anti-roll moment distribution module for a vehicle comprises determining understeer characteristics of the vehicle, determining a maximum lateral acceleration of the vehicle, adjusting understeer characteristics of the vehicle based on the maximum lateral acceleration, determining reference understeer characteristics, determining a plurality of reference yaw rates based on (i) the maximum lateral acceleration and (ii) the reference understeer characteristics using a non-linear quasi static vehicle model, storing the plurality of reference yaw rates in a first look up table in the anti-roll moment distribution module, determining a plurality of feedforward contributions using the non-linear quasi static model of the vehicle. Each feedforward contribution of the plurality of feedforward contributions can be used to determine a front to total anti-roll moment distribution for the vehicle.

Abstract: A system for controlling a suspension of a vehicle includes a plurality of sensors, an anti-roll moment module configured to determine a front-to-total anti-roll moment distribution based on at least a first operating parameter of the vehicle, at least one suspension actuator, and a suspension control module configured to control the at least one suspension actuator based on the determined front-to-total anti-roll moment distribution.

Abstract: A suspension system of a vehicle includes: an unsprung mass of a vehicle; a sprung mass of the vehicle; at least one transverse leaf spring coupled between the unsprung mass of the vehicle and the sprung mass of the vehicle; and a linear actuator coupled in parallel with the at least one transverse leaf spring between the unsprung mass of the vehicle and the sprung mass of the vehicle and configured to modify vibrational characteristics of the vehicle.

Abstract: A damper system for a vehicle is provided that includes a pressurized gas damper, electromagnetic actuator, and pressurized gas spring. The pressurized gas damper includes first and second working chambers that are fluidly connected by a flow control orifice. The electromagnetic actuator includes a stator assembly with a stator cavity and a magnetic rotor that is slidingly received in the stator cavity. The magnetic rotor is fixed to a damper tube that houses the second working chamber. The stator cavity and an end of the damper tube cooperate to define the first working chamber. The pressurized gas spring includes a bellows chamber that extends annularly about the damper tube. The damper tube includes an opening between the second working chamber and the bellows chamber.