Fully Active Pneumatic Suspension Build Completed

[pvfjr]

Hey guys, I've finally completed a senior project I've been working on . It's a scaled down proof of concept; I've been thinking of implementing it with some unimogs I have sitting around. I could throw them into my old stepside or build a new project with my pathfinder.

The main idea is that load equalization at the wheels will improve traction with an open differential. Also, an inertial measurement unit can sense sidehill conditions and help prevent rollovers with attitude correction.

Check it out and let me know what you think.
https://sites.google.com/site/pvfjr1/aleas

It's a modified SCX10 Honcho that has small pneumatic cylinders for shocks. It has a control system that I designed with an accelerometer, gyroscope, force sensors, and cylinder position encoders. Servos operate small air valves, and two lightweight tanks store compressed air from a bike pump.

Using open differentials, I have more than doubled RTI test performance, added 7* of rollover resistance, and improved dynamic ditch escaping abilities. Check out a couple of the videos below, or just visit the site for more information.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_fctmLv1VM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9AArzLKP0E

 

[Fred_M1010]

Cool project!
I think I've seen something similar with hydraulics, but that didn't have any active regulation.
Can't wait to see a full-size version

 

[dremu]

An RTI ramp that sits on the desk. Badass

I know there have been production vehicles with air suspensions over the years. Citroens are famous for it, as evidenced by all the Youtube videos next to yours and there were some Lincolns as well, IIRC. However, these were all done in the name of a smooth ride for a road vehicle. I vaguely recall some Corvettes and McClarens have "magneto-rheological" suspensions which do the same thing with hydraulic fluid, electronically controlled, but again, for track traction, not rollover

-- A

 

[pvfjr]

Exactly. I had to do a lot of background research to prove that what I was doing was new and different. I think the most interesting alternative I found was the ECASS system made for HUMVEEs, but it looked very power hungry and space consuming. And again, it focused on ride quality and handling, not static traction and stability. Although their system should have been capable of what I was doing, they didn't use it for that.

I think I need to make the RTI ramp bigger too, this thing exceeded my expectations. It's a 30* ramp too!

It's funny, I didn't really expect it to make it more rollover resistant on the RTI ramp. The stock vehicle gets stuck about 1/2 way up the ramp with open diffs, but with lockers, it gets 3/4 of the way up the ramp and then flops over! The active suspension can drive all the way up and over the ramp without rolling, and that's with open diffs.

Anyway, here's that hummer system I was talking about, pretty cool stuff, but won't keep you from rolling or getting stuck.

[YOUTUBE]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vArnkbQ1ws[/YOUTUBE]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vArnkbQ1ws

 

[dremu]

Anyway, here's that hummer system I was talking about, pretty cool stuff, but won't keep you from rolling or getting stuck.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vArnkbQ1ws[\video]

The "stock" HMMWV bouncing up and down looks like a lowrider jumping

I suspect the poor sods behind the wheel has very sore teeth...

-- A