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Vehicle Motion Control: An Overview

The chassis forms the basis of any mobility on wheels. But how are drive, steering and braking impulses converted? How does a car react to influences from the road? And how are vehicle dynamics, safety and comfort combined?

Definition: What is Vehicle Motion Control?

The term Vehicle Motion Control refers to all technologies that influence the longitudinal, lateral and vertical dynamics of a vehicle. These include not only mechanical and mechatronic components such as steering, brakes, dampers and electronic control units, but increasingly software is also playing a major role. This software determines and controls the optimal driving strategy and the optimal interaction of all actuators in the vehicle.

Innovative technology for optimum vehicle dynamics

The chassis has a decisive influence on the safety, comfort and efficiency of cars

Even the advantages of automated driving can only be exploited if the chassis stabilizes vehicle movements and decouples the occupant from the influences of the road. ZF develops trend-setting solutions for this purpose.

Primed for the Mobility of the Future

The chassis system plays a crucial role when it comes to clean, safe, and comfortable mobility. Accordingly, "Vehicle Motion Control" is one of four central fields of technology in ZF's "Next Generation Mobility" strategy.

"Vehicle Motion Control" in ZF's strategy

The Chassis - the Key to Autonomous Driving

The optimal networking has allowed for new functions to be created, with which vehicle comfort, dynamics, and safety can be improved.

An intelligent chassis for autonomous driving

ZF Researches to Counteract Motion Sickness

The comfort of occupants is a decisive factor for ZF as it relates to next generation mobility. For many people, long car journeys can be synonymous with dizziness, headaches, and nausea – in other words with motion sickness.

See more in the video

Motion Sickness is an Individual Phenomenon

A lot of people get sick during car rides. Supplier ZF and scientists from Saarland University are researching why this is the case and how motion sickness can be prevented.

How motion sickness comes about

Adaptive chassis control: advantages and technology

The chassis becomes a Flying Carpet

To regulate the hardness of the dampers only depending on the situation was yesterday. Today, sophisticated sensor technology and intelligent software algorithms make it possible to analyze and control the numerous variables of a vehicle's longitudinal, lateral and vertical dynamics.

The intelligent networking of the various chassis components within an adaptive chassis control makes it possible to achieve maximum driving dynamics, safety and comfort. In this way, ZF turns the chassis into a "flying carpet".

A Challenging Way Forward for the Chassis

Networked intelligence between different chassis systems is critical for autonomous driving in the future. ZF's cubiX has this intelligence.

Networking active dynamic driving systems

The Dynamic Sedan

ZF's active damping system, sMOTION, takes driving comfort, dynamics and safety to a whole new level. That is a huge plus when it comes to highly automated driving.

Active damping for comfort and safety

Brake by Wire & Co: Braking systems in cars

Not just a matter of safety

ZF has many years of experience in the development of highly complex brake technologies. Take the example of Integrated Brake Control (IBC): With this brake-by-wire system ZF replaces the electronic stability control and the vacuum booster with all associated cables, sensors, switches, and electronic control units in a single integrated unit. In addition, IBC contributes to regenerative braking in order to enable charging of batteries in hybrid or purely electric drives. Thus, the braking system ensures greater range and lower emissions.

As a systems supplier, ZF uses its brake expertise to develop integrated solutions. For example, the Group implements automatic emergency braking and avoidance assistants through the interaction of brakes, sensors and electronic control units. These can help to avoid a collision with other vehicles or pedestrians or reduce the severity of an accident.

The chassis: How the technology works

A real all-rounder

The tasks of the chassis are many and varied: For example, it must transmit drive, braking and steering forces in the best possible way, absorb shocks, dampen vibrations and absorb lateral forces. Learn more about some ZF technologies that contribute to the fulfillment of these tasks.

Systematic Damping

When it comes to driving comfort, dynamics and safety, the sMOTION active damping system has raised the bar. The prototype is an enhanced version of the tried-and-trusted damping systems from ZF, as a more detailed look at the technology shows.

How the technology works

The Smarter Way to More Grip

The eLSD electromechanical locking differential maintains thrust in extreme situations. This new networked solution brings many other advantages along with it.

Always the right locking torque

Silent Running

ZF is reducing fuel consumption with technology that temporarily allows a car to sail as quietly as a sailing boat.

ZF's sailing function

Development of systems and components

Teamwork as success factor

ZF is a globally active technology company with an extremely broad product portfolio. But how are the individual components created? How are systems developed from them? And how are they localized worldwide? Get to know the stories of our developers here.

Systems Meet Components

Two ZF developers explain in an expert discussion how they join forces to make a chassis fit for autonomous driving.

Advantage: Integration know-how

Winning in a Globally Active Team

Using the example of the construction of a demo car in India, ZF shows how worldwide knowhow transfer leads to customized solutions that meet local market requirements.

A strong global network

Networked Solutions

System Partner for Integrated Vehicle Safety

Even after an accident - in the so-called post-crash phase - integrated safety technology can help, for example by assistance systems supporting the rescue of occupants and other road users.

As a system partner for integrated vehicle safety, ZF offers networked solutions.

Autonomous Driving

From technology and testing through to the future: We provide you with an overview of automated and autonomous driving of cars and other vehicles.

Electric Mobility

For local emissions-free transport vehicles, all-electric drives are the only option. ZF supplies these drives for passenger cars, trucks and buses as highly efficient system solutions, among them electric motors and power electronics.

Integrated Safety

Helping to prevent traffic accidents or at least mitigating their severity are goals that ZF is pursuing with the most comprehensive safety technology portfolio in the supplier industry.

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