Summary of REMOTE CONTROLLED CAR GETS ACTIVE SUSPENSION
Active suspensions offer significant performance benefits by dynamically adjusting suspension angles. This project demonstrates an electronic servo-operated active suspension system for an RC truck, enhancing handling, stability, and turning radius while enabling tricks like donuts. The control system utilizes an Arduino paired with an ESP32 for data streaming and an MPU6050 sensor to monitor the truck's frame position in real-time. Currently, the software maintains a level body, with plans for future modes including jump simulation.
Parts used in the RC Truck Active Suspension:
- Four electronic servos
- Existing coilover suspension mounting points
- Arduino microcontroller
- ESP32 module
- MPU6050 sensor
Active suspensions are almost a holy grail for cars, adding so much performance gain that certain types have even been banned from Formula 1 racing. That doesn’t stop them from being used on a wide variety of luxury and performance cars, though, as they can easily be tuned on the fly for comfort or improved handling. They also can be fitted to remote controlled cars as [Indeterminate Design] shows with this electronic servo-operated active suspension system for his RC truck.
Each of the four servos used in this build is linked to the mounting point of the existing coilover suspension on the truck. This allows the servo to change the angle that the suspension is positioned while the truck is moving. As a result, the truck has a dramatic performance enhancement including a tighter turning radius, more stability, and the capability of doing donuts. The control system runs on an Arduino with an ESP32 to enable live streaming of data, and also includes an MPU6050 to monitor the position of the truck’s frame while it is in motion.
There’s a lot going on in this build especially with regard to the control system that handles all of the servos. Right now it’s only programmed to try to keep the truck’s body relatively level, but [Indeterminate Design] plans to program several additional control modes in the future. There’s a lot of considerations to make with a system like this, and even more if you want to accommodate for Rocket League-like jumps.
Source: REMOTE CONTROLLED CAR GETS ACTIVE SUSPENSION
- How does the servo system affect the truck?
The servos link to the coilover mounting points to change the suspension angle while moving, resulting in a tighter turning radius, more stability, and the capability of doing donuts. - What components make up the control system?
The control system runs on an Arduino with an ESP32 to enable live streaming of data and includes an MPU6050 to monitor the position of the truck’s frame. - Can this system be tuned for different driving conditions?
Yes, the system can be tuned on the fly for comfort or improved handling, similar to luxury cars, though this specific build currently focuses on keeping the body level. - What is the current programming goal of the controller?
Right now, it is only programmed to try to keep the truck’s body relatively level. - Are there plans for additional control modes?
Yes, the creator plans to program several additional control modes in the future to accommodate considerations like Rocket League-like jumps. - Does the MPU6050 track movement during operation?
Yes, the MPU6050 monitors the position of the truck’s frame while it is in motion. - Why are active suspensions sometimes banned in racing?
They add so much performance gain that certain types have been banned from Formula 1 racing. - What kind of vehicle is this active suspension built for?
This electronic servo-operated active suspension system was built for an RC truck.
