[daycart1]

I just read an article about Amar Bose in my alumni magazine (he was a student, then a prof at MIT). Having cleaned up in the audio world, he is moving into auto suspensions!

 

[nikongod]

what is he going to do in auto suspensions that has not already been done?

 

[das_bill]

computer controlled. I read an article on it in a car magazine. you can hit a six inch speed bump at 60mph and not even feel it. Sounds pretty cool actually.

 

[mjg]

i read about this awhile ago...

pretty weird.

 

[grandenigma1]

kinda defeats the purpose of a speed bump doesnt it...

 

[das_bill]

ya, but who likes speed bumps anyways?

 

[zbuddah]

They developed auto suspensions that could stiffen or soften the suspension on a dime. The shock oil had magnetic particles that allowed bose to control the viscosity of the oil. I think they developed it a long long time ago and was used in a lexus early 90's? i maybe wrong but they are just now thinking bringing that technology into the motorbike arena, read it in my buddy's bike mag. nifty i'd say



edit: just found more info on it bose has a page and a few videos show casing the suspension bose suspension

 

[seeberg]

Uh-oh, I get the feeling he's gonna introduce Video Stage 5 or Direct/Reflecting technology to speed bumps!

,
Abe

 

[Onix]

I bet they are going to do it on the Infinity cars.

 

[wrhawk]

Heh, what a vague thread - at this point it's a bit too obvious that we're not an automotive forum.

I also read this a while ago, and from what i've gathered, Dr. Bose has been working on this problem for the last 25 years. He started by modeling the most mathematically optimal way to control suspension, then began testing and developing a real-world device that could best realize this model. While he may have tried variable-viscosity systems, what they've landed on is a set of independent, electrostatic motors that act as suspension.

A bit of googling confirms my beliefs:
From 'Automobile'
Bose

Could be pretty cool if the cost isn't overwhelming.

 

[seeberg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrhawk Could be pretty cool if the cost isn't overwhelming.

Knowing Bose, this will probably be not worth the money you'll have to shell out for this feature.

,
Abe

 

[tortie]

Very Cool. What current cars has this kind of suspension?

 

[Permonic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjg i read about this awhile ago... pretty weird.

It's not weird. Computer controlled active or semi-active suspension has been tested in Formula One since the beginning of 80's. Ayrton Senna won GP Monaco in 1987 with such a suspension system in his Lotus and similar system used by Williams helped Nigel Mansell and Alain Prost won their Championship titles in 1992 and 1993 respectively. The active suspension system has been banned by FIA from 1994......

 

[Snake]

Yeah, I read this about a month ago.

Of course, it absolutely begs the question of how this is improving his mainstream audio products...

 

[Permonic]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tortie Very Cool. What current cars has this kind of suspension?

Mercedes Benz CL500 has it's own developed ABC (Active Body Control) system. Not sure which kind of sensors they use, e.g. acoustic or laser....