The chassis thinks for itself

The chassis thinks for itself

Wheels, suspension, suspension, shock absorbers, steering and brakes – these are the components that have made up a chassis since the dawn of automobiles. Since the triumphant introduction of electronics into vehicles, sensors, control devices and electrical actuators have increasingly intervened in chassis functions that were previously purely mechanically controlled. The latest coup on the subject was provided by the German chassis developer KW automotive with its coilover suspensions for retrofitting. The hardness of the chassis can be easily adjusted to “Comfort”, “Sport” or “Sport+” from the cockpit using a smartphone app; the corresponding damper adjustment is carried out by electronically controlled actuators. Communication between the cell phone and the chassis takes place via a secure WiFi connection; the complete retrofit set including a WiFi module is already available for several sporty premium models from Audi, Bentley, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Range Rover, Bentley and VW.

Further training for automotive technicians
According to Peter Göth, expert in vehicle technology at TGM Vienna, there are other groundbreaking innovations in chassis technology that an automotive technician should already know about today. In his well-attended training lecture organized by the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, Göth gave an overview of the current technical innovations:
Magic Body Control: Mercedes Benz developed an assistance system that can measure the road surface in front of the car in real time using a stereo camera. From this, the control unit calculates correction factors for the active chassis, which reacts in fractions of a second and optimally adapts its damping to the unevenness in the road profile.

Electric steering:The Infiniti Q50 is the first mid-size sedan to be equipped with purely electric steering. All steering signals are transmitted digitally to the front wheels without a mechanical connection. If the power supply fails, a claw clutch automatically engages and connects the steering wheel to the steering gear. Three independent control devices ensure safe operation. All-wheel steering: For the upcoming Accord generation from 2014, Honda developed all-wheel steering in which the right and left rear wheels can be controlled independently of each other. Electrically controlled wishbones that change their length ensure the changes in direction. Depending on the driving situation, the wheels then turn in the same or opposite direction to the front wheels. When braking from high speed, both rear wheels steer inwards to increase driving stability.
Active shock absorbers: 'Gen-Shock' is the name of the technology developed by ZF and Levant Power to increase the dynamics, safety and comfort of the chassis. Using electrohydraulics, the oil flow in the damper is automatically adjusted to each driving situation. This means that pitching movements of the body during abrupt braking maneuvers or rolling movements when swerving quickly can be almost completely eliminated. The technology can also actively raise each individual wheel.

Pushrod suspension:Lamborghini is installing pushrod suspension for the first time in its Murciélago super sports car. Thanks to the combination of double wishbone and pushrod construction, wheel guidance and damping are separated from each other. The effect: The stiff connection to the chassis improves the response of the suspension and damping, the spring hardness is reduced, comfort increases, and precision remains. On the front axle, Öhlins shock absorbers are equipped with a hydraulic lifting system: This allows the front of the super sports car to be raised by 40 millimeters at the push of a button, making it easier to overcome small obstacles.