Easy rider

The TV show Pimp My Ride, in which cars are modified into macho showboats, often reveals that the suspension is a key to vehicle appeal. The fact that this system is also commonly altered to change the appearance and ride characteristics confirms there has been little significant change in car suspension for decades.

But a different approach from researchers, in collaboration with car manufacturer

, could give suspension a new spring. They foresee using linear electromagnetic actuators to provide all the functions of the conventional shock absorber and spring system. They envisage a single linear motor in each wheel.

Isolating vibrations

Suspension systems have to isolate vibration, optimise road holding and ensure reliable cornering. They attempt to achieve this by absorbing energy while travelling over rough ground and dissipating it, maintaining wheel geometry to maximise tyre contact with the ground, and reacting to the weight of the car during cornering to minimise body roll. These functions are provided by a combination of springs, shock absorbers and anti-roll bars. The team, based at