Revolutionary Bose auto suspension tech to hit the market after 20 years

[Alfonso Maruccia]

Something to look forward to: Known for its high-end audio equipment, Bose also ventured into potentially revolutionary automotive technology years ago. Now, the company's "magic" suspension system appears to be ready for a real-world debut in consumer vehicles.

Bose developed a piece of automotive technology two decades ago that was far ahead of its time. As reported by PC Magazine in 2004, the company created a computer-controlled suspension system designed to replace the traditional shocks and springs found in most vehicles.

Thanks to this innovation, cars could seemingly "float" over rough roads and speed bumps, with drivers feeling virtually none of the jolts or vibrations.

Unfortunately, Bose's technology was deemed impractical – and likely too expensive – for mass-market implementation at the time. As a result, no major automaker adopted the system. Bose eventually spun off its "magic carpet" suspension to a new venture called ClearMotion, which has continued developing the original proactive suspension platform.

ClearMotion is now positioning its computerized suspension system as the future of driving, and a few automotive companies finally appear ready to bring the technology to real-world vehicles. The company's first deal is with Chinese EV manufacturer Nio, which plans to install the proactive suspension in its upcoming ET9 model – potentially introducing up to three million "floating" cars to the electric vehicle market.

ClearMotion also appears poised to partner with Porsche, with the Volkswagen-owned luxury brand expected to implement the proactive suspension system in select high-end models. Nio has already posted a short demo video showcasing the technology at work in an ET9, and it's every bit as impressive as the original demo footage from two decades ago (below).

That original clip featured a modified Lexus LS400 gliding smoothly over speed bumps and tight turns, and even leaping over obstacles in a clearly staged but spectacular "special effects" showcase of the technology's potential.

Bose says it spent decades developing and refining its active suspension system, with work on the control software dating back to 1980. According to the original PC Magazine report, the system was so effective that drivers would feel virtually no movement from the car's chassis – provided the bump was smaller than the actuator's travel range, which was about eight inches.

However, ClearMotion's modern suspension tech is not identical to Bose's original design. The updated system, called CM1, uses a software-controlled electrohydraulic device that continuously monitors and reacts to changing road conditions.

In addition, ClearMotion has developed a system called RoadMotion – a highly precise mapping platform that feeds data to the suspension so it can proactively respond to bumps and imperfections. RoadMotion is reportedly more accurate than GPS and can use previously collected data to generate a localized road profile. This allows the system to fine-tune its response when the vehicle travels the same route again.

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Revolutionary Bose auto suspension tech to hit the market after 20 years

 

[seeprime]

If the cost adds 10 percent or less, I'm in. I hate the rural roads around my home. Even concrete interstate highways are bad.

 

[passwordistaco]

Take THAT, speedbumps!

 

[Alfonso Maruccia]

If the cost adds 10 percent or less, I'm in. I hate the rural roads around my home. Even concrete interstate highways are bad.

Yeah, my sorry a** would be elated :-D

 

[airbornex]

Bose noise cancelling suspension.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

This is awesome. I wonder if it could work on motorcycles.

 

[AnilD]

Bose spent 20 years building a magic carpet ride while the rest of us were busy arguing about cup holders and touchscreen sizes. Priorities.

 

[Joey Rakas]

Truly impressive. With the already excessive cost of vehicles, this would be a sure fire sell for many high end cars, trucks, and suvs. Very cool stuff.

 

[NumberNine]

$5k price hike minimum.

 

[p51d007]

Question...
With the video of the car "jumping" over that barricade thingy in the road, will something like this
be able to jump over a "spike strip" tossed in front of it, to stop a stolen vehicle/fleeing suspect?

 

[toooooot]

"Nio, which plans to install the proactive suspension in its upcoming ET9 model "

Question, how soon does NIO release completely their very own and identical suspension system? Unless it is tied to complex computer software protected by best security, this seems
like the most likely course.

 

[Eldrach]

"Nio, which plans to install the proactive suspension in its upcoming ET9 model "

Question, how soon does NIO release completely their very own and identical suspension system? Unless it is tied to complex computer software protected by best security, this seems
like the most likely course.

It’s patented - NIO operates in the west, they can’t infringe on patents.

 

[mbk34]

This is awesome. I wonder if it could work on motorcycles.

The BMW GS bikes are fairly good at dealing with rough roads, you could "almost" ignore the road surface even with spirited riding. I'm not sure I'd feel safe though going round corners if the wheels were being moved up and down by software. The software to control the movement would also be very different for a motorbike that's leaned over. I guess they could only engage the software when the bike is upright but I suspect the risk of court action would stop this ever appearing on motorbikes.

 

[llamapanda]

The significant loss of body-roll or fore-after weight transfer under acceleration or braking will make this feel weird as hell to the majority of drivers even though passengers will approve. They'll end up dialling it back a notch to regain some of the physical feedback once ***** drivers start falling off corners from speeding.

 

[jrtt0]

It's still impressive after all these years, but I think it comes with a lot of risks in term of driving. The feelings you get from the chassis are very important for your safety.
With a tech like this, people might not feel anymore when they need to brake.

 

[wiyosaya]

Bose? High-end audio? Come on!
Maybe they have something here with this suspension, but in most forums where people know audio, Bose is not synonymous with "high end audio."

The only thing, IMO, that makes "Bose" "High-end audio" is their marketing.

Then again, there's more moving parts in this; therefore, there's more that could go wrong.

 

[wiyosaya]

It’s patented - NIO operates in the west, they can’t infringe on patents.

There's not necessarily patent infringement happening.

 

[B5S46M]

Infiniti had active suspension in production in 1991 (34 years ago) on the Q45a. They were the first to release it to the market but it quickly disappeared.

 

[Tantor]

The concept is very similar to noise-cancelling earphones. The processor evaluates the incoming signal and outputs the opposite wave form. Constructive and destructive wave interference.

That explains how a speaker company like Bose developed it.

 

[Tantor]

Bose? High-end audio? Come on!
Maybe they have something here with this suspension, but in most forums where people know audio, Bose is not synonymous with "high end audio."

The only thing, IMO, that makes "Bose" "High-end audio" is their marketing.

Then again, there's more moving parts in this; therefore, there's more that could go wrong.

Bose makes very good quality audio equipment.

 

[Tantor]

Truly impressive. With the already excessive cost of vehicles, this would be a sure fire sell for many high end cars, trucks, and suvs. Very cool stuff.

True. It maintains a consistent pressure level between the tire and the road surface. For cornering that means more control. It would also contribute to gas mileage. Think about it, each bump deflects and distorts the tire, absorbing energy which converts to heat. The active suspension also uses energy to move the wheel assembly, but most likely it's a lot less than the tire distortion.

 

[Axeia]

Wonder if this can be adapted for use in tanks. As I understand it they're speed limited to prevent them from shaking themselves apart, if this could negate that perhaps it enables them to drive at higher speeds. Buying yourself more time against a drone giving chase is a nice bonus nowadays.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

The BMW GS bikes are fairly good at dealing with rough roads, you could "almost" ignore the road surface even with spirited riding. I'm not sure I'd feel safe though going round corners if the wheels were being moved up and down by software. The software to control the movement would also be very different for a motorbike that's leaned over. I guess they could only engage the software when the bike is upright but I suspect the risk of court action would stop this ever appearing on motorbikes.

I race motorcycles so I go faster than "spirited".

Obviously, one would need to really trust the computer control, but we're currently trusting oil squeezing through valves and holes in our current suspension so it seems plausible that there is still a better way. They already have a motorcycle that can ride around without a rider using computers so tech is advancing quickly,

 

[wiyosaya]

Bose makes very good quality audio equipment.

For the same money anyone would spend on Bose, they can buy better from these guys https://www.paradigm.com/en/ and many others.

 

[Eldrach]

There's not necessarily patent infringement happening.

Well - it's like that with all new tech. Someone invents something cool, they capitalzie on it. Other people invent something similar - evolution happens.

Or - someone invents something cool, it's never fully adopted - tech dies.

A good example of that was the rotating air cooler I saw a prototype of a few years ago, where the actual copper fins rotated instead of just air blowing through them - it was super effective, but very expensive to produce...so it died.