Patent ID: 9440508
Filing Date: 2016-09-13
CPC Classification: B60G

Claim Text:
1. An active drive energy management and suspension system for a vehicle having a vehicle chassis supported above at least four ground/pathway engaging vehicle wheels, comprising: a plurality of actuators, each adapted to exert a variable supporting force between an associated vehicle wheel and the vehicle chassis; means for determining the slopes of the ground/pathway relative to the vehicle in the direction of vehicle movement at the points of contact between each vehicle wheel and the ground/pathway, and for generating corresponding slope signals; and control means responsive to the inter-relationships of the respective slope signals, and in the event that such inter-relationships are evident of ground/pathway anomalies that can have an effect on the drive energy required to move the vehicle in the forward direction, the control means is operative to cause a first set of the actuators associated with a first set of diametrically opposite wheels to decrease the supporting forces exerted thereby, and to simultaneously increase the supporting forces exerted by a second set of actuators associated with a second set of diametrically opposite wheels, each said supporting force included in the first set of supporting forces being decreased by an equal amount of force, and each supporting force included in the second set of supporting forces being increased by said equal amount of force, thereby reducing the energy otherwise required to drive the vehicle in said direction of vehicle movement and over the ground/pathway anomaly or anomalies.