Traditional suspensions can only be optimized for one type of terrain. Active suspensions allow on-the-fly control, so a user can change their suspension settings to adapt to changing conditions.
Handlebar mounted switches allow a rider to choose between two valve settings adjusted via HS-55 servos. The user programs the suspension via an Android device synced to the suspension via bluetooth.
An Arduino microcontoller is used to control the mechatronic system.
Two Hitec HS-55 servos control the suspension valving using a band drive. The drive and mount system were printed in ABS. A cam was turned out of aluminum to control rebound adjustments.
Most of my time on the project was dedicated to the electronics and software. An Arduino Uno was used to control the servos. On the breadboard one can see a relay that cuts power to the servos when they are not being adjusted. This both saves energy and reduces noise. A serial bluetooth modem links the Arduino to an Android device.
The presets are programmed using an Android application that I wrote. The presets are sent to the Arduino microcontroller over bluetooth. This picture is from the first time we mounted the drive system to the shock.
Designing this mounting system was probably one of the most fun parts of the project for me. I had been dealing mainly with the software side of things, so this was a great excuse to boot up Solidworks and shoot something off to the printer.
From the start, all the components were modeled in Solidworks to ensure adequate clearance and allignment. This made collaborating with the three other engineers on the project infinitely easier.
Our display at the Senior Design Expo.
