An active suspension is a type of automotive suspension on a vehicle. It uses an onboard system to control the vertical movement of the vehicle's wheels relative to the chassis or vehicle body rather than the passive suspension provided by large springs where the movement is determined entirely by the road surface.
Passive Suspension
Active Suspension
A passive suspension system is one in which the characteristics of the components (springs and dampers) are fixed.Passive suspension design is a compromise between vehicle handling and ride comfort. In an active suspension, the passive damper or both the passive damper and spring are replaced with a force actuator.
There are three basic types of suspension components: linkages, springs, and shock absorbers.
Active suspension systems (also known as Computerized Ride Control) consist of the following components:
A computer or two (sometimes called an electronic control unit, or ECU, for short)
Adjustable shocks and springs
A series of sensors at each wheel and throughout the car
An actuator or servo atop each shock and spring.
The components may vary slightly from manufacturer to manufacturer, but these are the basic parts that make up an active suspension system.
These technologies allow car manufacturers to achieve a greater degree of ridequality and car handling by keeping the tires perpendicular to the road in corners, allowing better traction and control. An onboard computer detects body movement from sensors throughout the vehicle and, using that data, controls the action of the active and semi-active suspensions. The system virtually eliminates body roll and pitch variation in many driving situations including cornering, accelerating and braking
Simple Working of Active Suspension System
Active suspension systems sense the forces being applied to the wheels and constantly adjust the mechanical connections between the chassis and wheel assemblies to keep the chassis level and/or optimally absorb the energy associated with the vertical motion of the wheels. Additionally, with the advent of increased computer control, various options of suspension travel and response can be adjusted by the driver while driving. Typical examples include a "Sport" mode that yields a more dynamic response.
Systems that are only able to adjust the viscous damping coefficient of the shock absorber and not the spring rate are generally referred to as "semi-active" suspension systems. A basic semi-active suspension uses an electrically controlled valve to adjust the flow of hydraulic fluid inside the shock absorber to change its dampening characteristics. A more recent innovation uses an electrically generated magnetic field to effectively change the viscosity of a shock absorber fluid that holds metallic particles.
Mercedes-Benz has developed a system that they call “Magic Body Control.” This fully active system not only monitors forces imposed upon the car’s suspension system, but also monitors the conditions of the road ahead. Two image sensors on the front of the car actively scan the road ahead and prepare the suspension ahead of time to compensate for sudden changes in the road surface height.
Here is the video of the Working of Active Suspension System
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