Active suspension design engineer - Boston, MA

[RBbugBITme]

Hey, I'm working with my Chief Engineer to find someone young, hungry, and able to prove through FSAE experience their ability to learn and self teach suspension related (or other) subjects. We need a smart go-getter ready to contribute to a well funded start up in Boston.

Check out www.clearmotion.com for the marketing stuff. Email me at rmcguinness @ clearmotion dot com with a resume if you're ready to start now or after graduating this summer. We're planning on hiring 3-4 guys this year in the damper group at various levels of experience but don't need anymore ivy league book smarts, we have enough of that!

[Homemade WRX]

Ah, tell Andy that I say hello. Hope you guys find someone fitting. When he left, it sounded like Clear Motion had some cool things in the pipeline.

I hope they have a better means to deal with bored and unchallenged engineers there.

[BillCobb]

Yep.13061307

[DougMilliken]

Looks like ClearMotion bought that part of Bose --
http://www.vehicledynamicsinternational.com/news.php?NewsID=89987

[RBbugBITme]

A job posting has been added to the site. https://boards.greenhouse.io/clearmotion/jobs/1131309#.WtvTb-jwaUk

This is open to upcoming graduates and alumni. We're hiring up to 4 guys this year just within the damper group. I come from the racing world and I'm am not bored like I thought I might be. These are nothing like anything currently on OEM cars and there are a lot of unique challenges fit for the most creative and intelligent engineers we can find.

One word of warning, this is a (well funded) STARTUP. Work hard and you will be rewarded but 9-5 everyday should not be expected. We behave like a silicon valley team with a chef onsite everyday, stock options, and there is no healthcare deduction from your paycheck!

You can see a local broadcast here http://www.wcvb.com/article/mass-company-s-cutting-edge-technology-making-driving-down-roads-smooth/19878129
and we'll be nationally broadcast on NBC Nightly News sometime next week.

[BillCobb]

Keep in mind that the Global markets are all heading to electric vehicles. The energy consumption of this Bose system derivative is enormous and is a range killer. My suggestion is to contemplate this ride and handling concept relative to buyers of any vehicle having range anxiety, versus a career that will provide you with a retirement fund able to sustain you and a family.

IMHO, it's a great science project, but just like similar notions, just because you CAN do it, doesn't mean you should do it, with no guarantee of long term success.

BTW: That's why Cadillac backed out of production for the Bose system way back in 2005.

Just think for a minute how the EPA will score the KVA mileage on a bumpy dyno !

[RBbugBITme]

We are not using linear actuators like Bose did so please refrain from assuming what we're developing and your suggestion is arrogant at best considering the state of the company and what is to be announced before the end of this year. We bought their patents for other reasons I'm not going to explain in a public forum. Damn near every OEM on the planet is working with us and you can see a report on the company on NBC Nightly News any night from tomorrow onward (depending on breaking current events that would push the scheduled broadcast).

Now posted here. https://www.motorsportjobs.com/en/job/mechanical-engineer-damper-design

[Homemade WRX]

Keep in mind that the Global markets are all heading to electric vehicles. The energy consumption of this Bose system derivative is enormous and is a range killer. My suggestion is to contemplate this ride and handling concept relative to buyers of any vehicle having range anxiety, versus a career that will provide you with a retirement fund able to sustain you and a family.

IMHO, it's a great science project, but just like similar notions, just because you CAN do it, doesn't mean you should do it, with no guarantee of long term success.

BTW: That's why Cadillac backed out of production for the Bose system way back in 2005.

Just think for a minute how the EPA will score the KVA mileage on a bumpy dyno !

I like how you're speculating what they do there. You're actually barking up the opposite tree, so I'd just.

The work that Andy had mentioned before leaving sounded really cool and promising, especially for those pesky electric cars.

Best of luck with the hiring hunt.

[RBbugBITme]

https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/new-technology-aims-to-lessen-impact-of-potholes-on-cars-1221085251754

[DougMilliken]

Where are the potholes? The bumps/ramps shown in that video are fairly long wavelength, and appear to be "tuned" to the roll resonance of the passive car--making it look violently bad.
+ Those are not typical road bumps, so of course the standard Merc was not tuned for them. Why were they chosen for this demo?
+ Have you got a video that shows realistic potholes, taken at a variety of speeds?

[BillCobb]

No question that such a system can allieviate a limited psd spectrum of roadway bumps and holes. Our findings with the Lotus Active and Bose "Voice Coil" actuation were that owners will increase their speed as the apparent confidence in the lower vertical acceleration profile increases. However, taking a 5g vertical jerk on a minimum of just one side of the car calls for large increases in chassis and body structure to contain the required suspension forces. Sure, do the dog leg rising for a speed bump or a tar strip, but extending the spindle at 250 Hz trigger signal will take some downforce. But back to my original questions: HOW MANY JOULES per mile can your afford ? What is the power source ? Gigantic capacitor ? Be sure to warn EMS workers about it. When you try to jump a curb, who wins (tire, wheel, control arm or actuator) ? Need a lot of wheel travel for it. There's going to be some tire scrub and tire wear will play into the cost of ownership.

One neat aspect of such a system is the ability to adjust ride height(s), even to the point of banking roll in a turn.

I would NOT tell the road commissions about the location of potholes. What do you expect a high end purchaser to feel, if they find out their car is paving the way (so to speak) to fix roads so other vehicle owners will ride better ? That's like me buying a county snow plow so I can get to work during a blizzard. Will everybody want to leap out and buy a snow plow ?

I've worked on two active systems, one was a fluid leaking software nightmare. The other was cool but was too costly and gulped too much energy to be acceptable to range conscious owners. Weight is an issue too, not just for the substitute parts but for the chassis structure to hold onto the loads. And then there will be warranty costs and of course the ambulance chasers. "My client assumed you could jump the Grand Canyon with their new Ferrari and look what they turned into". (a vegetable is worse=lifetime cost of ownership). Its Big Science of course, and all the OEM will want to try it out. But just like Shark Tank, "I'm out". Oh, and NBC ? Ha, Ha, Ha, I saw them blow up gas tanks with rocket engines, remember ? They proved that it actually takes several tries to burn down a truck...

nusquam est vere novus. (Help me, I sound like Z).

[RBbugBITme]

Where are the potholes? The bumps/ramps shown in that video are fairly long wavelength, and appear to be "tuned" to the roll resonance of the passive car--making it look violently bad.
+ Those are not typical road bumps, so of course the standard Merc was not tuned for them. Why were they chosen for this demo?
+ Have you got a video that shows realistic potholes, taken at a variety of speeds?
We've had video of these ramps being used to compare to various passive and semi-active cars available for years. They are not tuned to any specific cars roll resonance its simply a demonstration for the laymen to see what the system can do in an exaggerated form. I don't think we're making anything public yet with regards to certain types/sizes of pot holes or "cleat" events. Mostly because we're still developing/tuning and improving every day so there is no reason to share that info unless you want to be an investor. This weekend will be the 2nd time I'll get to drive one of the cars from Boston to Philly and really enjoy taking notes on what is working well and what isn't which gets fed back into the systems tuning group. Obviously through NY, NJ, and Philly there are plenty of pot holes to hit and I can say the system works well. This is on a car without our road sensing tech (seeing the pothole before hitting it and reacting) which I think will change the game entirely.

[RBbugBITme]

But back to my original questions: HOW MANY JOULES per mile can your afford ? What is the power source ? Gigantic capacitor ? Be sure to warn EMS workers about it. When you try to jump a curb, who wins (tire, wheel, control arm or actuator) ? Need a lot of wheel travel for it. There's going to be some tire scrub and tire wear will play into the cost of ownership.
I'm not going to get into specifics but seemingly unlike you're previous experience we have regen capability so our energy usage data so far is negligible.

[DougMilliken]

...to see what the system can do in an exaggerated form. ...
How does Mercedes Magic Body Control (optional from 2014 model year, I believe) do over those same ramps?
Are you (or the MBC) as good as the chicken<grin>? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLwML2PagbY

[RBbugBITme]

That is a great commercial. Not even sure how their system works, I'm not the guy looking at the competition.

Edit:
Looks like their original version was an active spring with a semi-active damper. So lower bandwidth and may or may not be able to respond fast enough for that ramp demonstration. Supposedly a 2% take rate so no one was willing to pay for it.

[Pawarshubham94]

really awesome website by the way