Automotive Suspension Systems

Our Magneto-Rheological (MR) technology enables new levels of performance in automotive primary suspension systems. In an MR suspension, controllable MR fluid replaces traditional hydraulic fluid in each shock absorber. As sensors monitor road and vehicle conditions, a controller modifies the damping characteristics up to one thousand times per second. This enables dramatic improvements in both ride comfort and handling and can be used to improve the driving characteristics of any vehicle, from high-end sports cars, to sedans and SUVs. First introduced in the 2002 model year, the system now appears on more than a dozen models from a wide variety of OEMs, including:

• Audi TT
• Audi R8
• Buick Lucerne
• Ferrari 599GTB
• Holden HSV Commodore

Features and Benefits

• Shock and Vibration Control - Provides both firm cornering and superior isolation from road shocks and vibration
• Fewer Moving Parts, Less Manufacturing Complexity - Fewer moving parts than conventional controllable shocks; 60%fewer parts than valve-based semi-active damper systems
• Low Power Consumption - Peak power is 20 watts at each of the system's four dampers
• Quieter Operation - Quieter in operation than those based on conventional servo-valve technology
• Durability-tested and Approved - Surpassed all automotive durability testing for primary suspension shocks and is endorsed by two leading component manufacturers. The durability of this technology is further validated by more than five years of production and billions of incident-free road miles in Class 8 vehicle seat suspensions.
• Passenger Protection - Provides continually optimizing, re-settable safety solutions that maximize crash safety for vehicle occupants of all shapes, sizes weights and positions. By combining MR's infinitely- variable control with advanced sensors, an MR passenger protection system can be adjusted to provide the perfect resistance based on the impact severity and the passenger size.
• Optimal Impact Response - Enables infinite, continuous and automatic control of occupant-protection systems corresponding to the physical attributes of occupants as well as the impact forces exerted upon the vehicle
• Dynamic Impact Response - Allows re-optimization of occupant-protection settings throughout the entire duration of instantaneously recurring impact sequences
• Minimal Package Size - Provides higher dissipative energy density than any other controllable material technology
• Millisecond Response Time - Counters impact forces in less than 10 milliseconds