Date of Award

Spring 2025

Document Type

Thesis

Publisher

Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2025

Department

Mechanical Engineering

First Advisor

Drazen Fabris

Abstract

This thesis presents the design, development, and prototyping of an active suspension system intended for high-performance racing applications, with a focus on karting. The goal of the project was to create a geometrically active suspension capable of dynamically adjusting key parameters such as camber, caster, toe, and track width in real-time to improve grip, cornering stability, and overall vehicle performance.

The team conducted extensive research into suspension theory, customer needs, and existing industry solutions before developing a mechanical platform based on a Short-Long Arm (SLA) double wishbone configuration. Using linear actuators to introduce five degrees of freedom, the system was designed to actively modify suspension geometry during various phases of cornering, braking, and acceleration.

Due to time and resource constraints, the prototype focused on mechanical design, integration, and preliminary testing. While the control system remains a future development goal, the foundation for real-time actuation and sensor feedback has been established. Results from mechanical simulations and basic functional tests confirm that the system is capable of achieving meaningful geometric adjustments without compromising structural integrity.

This project demonstrates the feasibility of a mechanically complex active suspension system for racing use and lays the groundwork for future enhancements, including control logic development, predictive capabilities, and machine learning integration.

Download

Share

COinS