Start-up and shutdown for active suspension system
A control system ( 100, 200 ) for a vehicle suspension system of a vehicle ( 900 ) is disclosed. The control system is configured to: determine that the vehicle is operating in a precondition state in dependence on an actuator power supply status; and output a first damping control signal to an adaptive damping system of the vehicle in dependence on the determination. The first damping control signal is configured to cause the adaptive damping system to activate a first damping control mode in which a predetermined level of damping is provided to the vehicle.
1. A control system for a vehicle suspension system of a vehicle, the control system comprising one or more controllers, the control system configured to:
determine that the vehicle is operating in a precondition state in dependence on an actuator power supply status; and
output a first damping control signal to an adaptive damping system of the vehicle in dependence on the determination;
wherein the first damping control signal is configured to cause the adaptive damping system to activate a first damping control mode in which a predetermined level of damping is provided to the vehicle, and
wherein the precondition state includes at least one or more of:
determining that an electrical energy storage module is connected to the actuator power supply;
determining whether the actuator power supply is charged to a predetermined charge threshold;
outputting an indication to one or more actuators that the actuator power supply is in operative communication with the electrical energy storage module; and
determining that no faults are detected in any component of the vehicle suspension system.
2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to, following determination that the vehicle has operated in the precondition state for a predetermined period of time:
detect a fault in the vehicle suspension system;
in response to detecting the fault, maintain the first damping control mode; and
output a switch off signal to the vehicle suspension system, the switch off signal configured to disable the one or more actuators.
3. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to:
in response to determining that the vehicle has completed operating in the precondition state, output a second damping control signal to the adaptive damping system, the second damping control signal configured to cause the adaptive damping system to deactivate the first damping control mode and activate a second damping control mode.
4. The control system of claim 3 , wherein the control system is configured to:
determine that the vehicle has completed operating in the precondition state and receive a signal indicating that the vehicle is in motion:
receive a vehicle torque demand to be applied to the one or more actuators, in dependence on the current driving conditions; and
output a torque control signal to one or more actuators to cause the one or more actuators to apply the vehicle torque demand.
5. The control system of claim 4 , wherein the control system is configured to:
determine the vehicle torque demand in dependence on the current driving conditions;
preferably, wherein the current driving conditions comprise at least one of: driving on a straight road, driving on a curved road, turning a corner, entering or exiting a roundabout, and a speed of the vehicle.
6. The control system of claim 4 , wherein the control system is configured to, when the second damping control signal is provided, output a first actuation control signal to the one or more actuators, the first actuation control signal configured to cause the one or more actuators to increase a torque level from an initial torque demand to the vehicle torque demand within a predetermined time period.
7. The control system of claim 6 , wherein the predetermined time period is calibratable.
8. The control system of claim 4 , wherein the control system is configured to, when the second damping control signal is provided, when the speed of the vehicle falls below a predefined threshold, output a second actuation control signal to the one or more actuators, the second actuation signal configured to cause the one or more actuators to decrease a torque level from the vehicle torque demand to a torque demand of zero within a predetermined time period.
9. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the determination that the one or more actuators are electrically connected to the operative actuator power supply in the precondition state is performed independently for each actuator of a vehicle suspension system comprising plural actuators.
10. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the precondition state comprises initializing one or more other control systems of the vehicle.
11. A system, comprising:
a control system for a vehicle suspension according to claim 1 ;
one or more actuators;
an actuator power supply configured to supply power to the one or more actuators;
an electrical energy storage module connected to the actuator power supply, configured to store the power that is supplied by the actuator power supply to the one or more actuators; and
an adaptive damping system configured to provide damping to the vehicle.
12. A vehicle comprising a control system according to claim 1 .
13. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the precondition state at least includes the determining that the electrical energy storage module is connected to the actuator power supply.
14. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the precondition state at least includes the determining whether the actuator power supply is charged to the predetermined charge threshold.
15. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the precondition state at least includes the outputting the indication to the one or more actuators that the actuator power supply is in operative communication with the electrical energy storage module.
16. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the precondition state at least includes the determining that no faults are detected in any component of the vehicle suspension system.
17. A method, comprising:
determining that a vehicle comprising a vehicle suspension system is operating in a precondition state in dependence on an actuator power supply status; and
outputting a first damping control signal to an adaptive damping system of the vehicle in dependence on the determination;
wherein the first damping control signal is configured to cause the adaptive damping system to activate a first damping control mode in which a predetermined level of damping is provided to the vehicle, and
wherein the precondition state includes at least one or more of:
determining that an electrical energy storage module is connected to the actuator power supply;
determining whether the actuator power supply is charged to a predetermined charge threshold;
outputting an indication to one or more actuators that the actuator power supply is in operative communication with the electrical energy storage module; and
determining that no faults are detected in any component of the vehicle suspension system.
18. Computer readable instructions are operable to cause a control system to execute the steps of the method according to claim 17 .