RE: Active imaginations

["Smith, Kirby A" <kirby.a.smith@lmco.com>]

Thanks Scott:

But, I don't think I can take credit for a vivid imagination applied to this
approach in general.  It is done for aircraft and likely many other "plants"
operated by state-variable control systems.  I always assumed that
automotive active suspensions applied optimal control theory to force
actuators, but evidently I was too futuristic.

kirby

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	QSHIPQ@aol.com [SMTP:QSHIPQ@aol.com]
> Sent:	Friday, August 06, 1999 2:12 AM
> To:	kirby.a.smith@lmco.com
> Cc:	quattro@audifans.com
> Subject:	Active imaginations
> 
> Kirby Smith writes:
> 
> Scott asked:
> 
> >>Davey, please do tell us the difference between an active damper and an 
> >>active suspension.  Is there any?  I argue an active damper, makes for
> an 
> >>active suspension.  Please do take this opportunity to correct my
> thinking 
> >>here.  How else would one make an active suspension?
> 
> >Well, theoretically, at least, one need only provide a force actuator, no
> >physical spring or damper.  A computer would calculate the force to be
> >applied dynamically such that the natural frequencies (poles) appeared to
> be
> >wherever one wanted them to be.  Further, the pole positions could be
> >dynamically varied.  Thus, I would assert that while an active damper
> makes
> >for an active suspension, its not the only way to do so.
> 
> You are way ahead of your time sir.  Even in the context of the discussion
> of 
> WRC rallye cars.  My question still remains in the context of the
> discussion, 
> and the reality of today.  Your theories, by definition, are beyond "state
> of 
> the art" to the seemingly bottomless riches of the competing works WRC 
> budgets.  
> 
> Consider the documentation this year at Acropolis and Argentina, several 
> special stages reveal the heat of battle in the WRC wars.  With all cars 
> running in top form, we can see the equality within the special stages,
> 1.5 
> seconds between 1st and 10th position (Acropolis), 5.5 seconds between 1st
> 
> and 10th position (Argentina), even Dave E's faterlund rallye showed the
> most 
> impressive, the top 6 were only 1.3 seconds apart when all cars raced a SS
> in 
> top form.  No wonder the teams are looking for something new.  Top guns 
> piloting top gun fighters, WRC is a tough game to really win (impossible
> to 
> dominate) when all you have is luck and service to improve on.  
> 
> The consistent domination of the marque audi enjoyed has long since gone
> to 
> the history books.  Your theoretical proposal is a ways away if the active
> 
> damper hasn't been mastered, or even applied.  When and if the Works boys
> do 
> get to your theory, make no doubt Kirby, all will have, and the top guns
> will 
> have only raised the sights collectively regarding ordinance.  
> 
> My question of today remains unanswered in context, your vivid imagination
> so 
> noted.
> 
> :)
> 
> Scott Justusson
> 
>