In the past ten years there were two important developments in passenger vehicles which were virtually independent of each other:
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1)
the anti-slip control systems
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2)
the four-wheel drive.
Since nearly two years we can see a focus in the development of another chassis control system, that means
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3)
active suspension.
Each system has its own benefits to the customer, but it seems to us that a functional integration of these systems might have additional benefits. The first stage of getting benefit is the common usage of sensors. The sensors used in traction control and in active suspension are not congruent.
The next stage of getting benefit is the functional integration of different control systems.
Therefore, this paper reviews the actual development situation of the single systems and tries to evaluate the possible advantages by combining the systems. Measurements were made to show some advantages by the functional integration.
UNTIL ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, vehicle chassis were considered only from the purely mechanical point of view. The aim was to optimize the behaviour of rubber bushes, the elasticity of sheet metal and the linkage arrangement. This situation has changed since 1978, when the first significant chassis control system, namely ABS, was introduced. Since then, further electronic control systems have been added. In this paper an attempt is made to assess whether the integration of powertrain and chassis systems is sensible and practicable. In addition to this analysis, the paper discusses the structure in which these control systems could interact in future vehicles.