BMW patent: anticipatory chassis

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BMW patent: anticipatory chassis
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BMW patent: anticipatory chassis

BMW patent for predictive chassis
Proactive assistance

Predictive chassis are already established in the automotive industry. Now BMW seems to want to adapt this technology to motorcycles as well.


Uli Baumann

05/10/2020

Electronic control systems on the motorcycle such as traction control or ABS are reactive, which means that they only react when there is a loss of grip – regardless of whether during the braking or acceleration phase. With a patent that has now emerged, BMW seems to want to proactively design various electronic helpers.

See and listen

The BMW patent specification shows various camera systems attached to the front of the vehicle, which read and analyze the road surface in front of the vehicle. For example, uneven road surfaces, surface changes, potholes or puddles can be detected. In addition to optical detection, BMW also uses acoustic systems. Microphones aimed at the tire contact surfaces are intended to detect changes in noise and derive changes in the road surface from them.

The on-board system calculates the grip conditions in real time from all the data collected and adjusts the motorcycle in full before it even reaches this lane. A reduced power output or, in the case of electronically controlled chassis, adapted damping are conceivable. Of course, other factors such as lean angle or steering angle would also have to be integrated into the control.

Sounds like a big gain in safety and comfort for motorcyclists. However, it will be years before such a complex system can be found on a production motorcycle.

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