AirSpring
Development of a High-Precision FMCW Radar System for Non-Contact Height Measurement in Air Springs
Air spring systems enhance ride comfort, safety, and energy efficiency in commercial vehicles, buses, and, increasingly, in passenger cars. Optimal performance requires measurement systems that enable precise, robust, and dynamic height control.
Current systems are mostly based on mechanical sensors or ultrasonic methods. However, these technologies are susceptible to contamination, wear, or air turbulence within the air spring. This results in measurement inaccuracies, unstable readings, and reduced system reliability.
With the ongoing electrification and automation of modern vehicles, there is also a growing need for highly accurate, real-time measurement data for intelligent suspension and driver-assistance systems. Existing measurement systems are increasingly reaching their technical limits.
The AirSpring project addresses this gap by developing a compact, cost-effective radar system for the high-precision acquisition of absolute and relative height information from air springs. In this way, AirSpring enables robust and dynamic control of air spring systems and lays the foundation for new applications in adaptive suspensions.
Project partners
Funding
This project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) as part of the Central Innovation Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (ZIM).