In a method of creating a database for preview vibration damping control, road surface displacement-associated information detected by a detection device is acquired, positional information capable of identifying a position where the road surface displacement-associated information is detected is acquired, a road surface displacement-associated value associated with a vertical displacement of a road surface is calculated based on the road surface displacement-associated information, and a set of data obtained by linking the road surface displacement-associated value and the positional information with each other is stored into a storage device as part of a database. When it is determined that the magnitude of the road surface displacement-associated value exceeds a permissible reference value set in advance, the magnitude of the road surface displacement-associated value is corrected in a reducing manner, prior to the step of storing the set of data into the storage device.

The invention relates to a method for controlling at least one actuator (16, 18) for a chassis of a motor vehicle, in which at least one sensor (10, 12, 14) of the motor vehicle determines values of at least one measurement variable for sensing an environment of the motor vehicle, wherein the determined values are preprocessed, wherein only the values needed to control the at least one actuator (16, 18) are transmitted from a control device (4) associated with the sensor to a control device (6) associated with the actuator and are temporally filtered by the control device (6) associated with the actuator, and wherein the control device (6) associated with the actuator uses the temporally filtered values to provide actuating signals for the at least one actuator (16, 18).

A shock absorber assembly for cycling includes a shock absorber (2a, 2b) for connecting two subassemblies that are movable relative to each other, and a distance sensor (15) that is fixedly disposed in the interior of, or on, the shock absorber or on one of the two subassemblies. The distance sensor senses, detects or determines measurement values that represent a momentary spacing between the two subassemblies, which spacing varies during cycling. The distance sensor (15) may be a time-of-flight sensor that uses light in the ultraviolet, visible or infrared wavelength range. A bicycle (1), such as a mountain bike or a racing bike, may include such a shock absorber assembly mounted thereon.

A method and apparatus are disclosed that assist a user in performing proper setup of a vehicle suspension. A user may utilize a device equipped with an image sensor to assist the user in proper setup of a vehicle suspension. The device executes an application that prompts the user for input and instructs the user to perform a number of steps for adjusting the suspension components. In one embodiment, the application does not communicate with sensors on the vehicle. In another embodiment, the application may communicate with various sensors located on the vehicle to provide feedback to the device during the setup routine. In one embodiment, the device may analyze a digital image of a suspension component to provide feedback about a physical characteristic of the component.

In some embodiments, a range sensor is configured to detect a distance between a portion of a vehicle and an object above the portion of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the detected distance may be presented to an operator to allow the operator to control a height of an adjustable suspension in order to manually control the distance. In some embodiments, the detected distance may be used to automatically control the distance. In some embodiments, the distance may be controlled in order to allow the vehicle to couple to the object, such as a fifth wheel of the vehicle coupling to a kingpin of a trailer.

A detected displacement of a marker on a vehicle is determined based on image data captured while the vehicle traverses a displacement object of a ground surface. Then a health status of a suspension component of the vehicle is determined to be unhealthy based on comparing the detected displacement of the marker to a target displacement of the marker. The target displacement specifies displacement of the marker that indicates the suspension component is healthy. The vehicle is operated based on the suspension component being unhealthy.

An exemplary energy delivery system includes a housing. The housing includes a linear motor including a translational member and an electromagnetic field generating member. Energization of the electromagnetic field generating member induces translation of the translational member along a longitudinal axis of the linear motor. The housing further includes a first cylinder including a first chamber and a movable first piston and a second cylinder including a second chamber and a movable second piston. The first and second cylinders are coupled in-line with the linear motor within the housing and translation of the translational member along the longitudinal axis translates the first piston within the first chamber in a first direction and translates the second piston within the second chamber in a second direction opposite the first direction.

A method for controlling a suspension system of a vehicle, as well as suspension systems, and a vehicle including a suspension system is provided. The suspension system may include at least one adjustable damping device that is controlled via a control signal, such as from a controller of the suspension system, in order to dynamically adjust the damping characteristic of the damping device. The control signal may be generated on the basis of at least one of current driving dynamics data and optically recorded information about an area of a ground surface.

A ball joint configured for detecting movement of a ball stud with a simple configuration, determining stability and behavior of a vehicle, and determining the presence or absence of abnormalities in parts, and a vehicle including the same, may include: a ball stud including a spherical head and a rod integrally formed with the head; a bearing formed in a shape of a tube open to first and second sides thereof and at least partially surrounding the head; a case formed in a shape of a tube open to first and second sides thereof and at least partially surrounding an external side of the bearing; a cap assembled in the case to close an opening on the first side of the case; and an optical sensor mounted on the cap facing the head.

Systems and methods for modeling electric vehicle towing are disclosed herein. An example method includes determining that a trailer is connected to a vehicle, generating a surface mapping of the trailer based on output of a sensor assembly of the vehicle, predicting a drag coefficient of the trailer based on the surface mapping, estimating a drag force based on the drag coefficient and the surface mapping, calculating an estimated range for the vehicle based on the drag force, and displaying the estimated range on a human machine interface of the vehicle.