Continental launches sensor to adjust vehicle height

German manufacturer Continental says its Ultrasonic Height and Pressure Sensor (UHPS) can adjust the height of commercial vehicles electronically to improve the efficiency of urban buses. The company says UHPS allows drivers to control the air springs when lowering one side of the bus at bus stops - rather than having to let the air out from the spring completely. UHPS uses ultrasound to measure the height and pressure in the air spring and sends the value of the electronic control unit, which automatic
August 28, 2018 Read time: 2 mins

German manufacturer 260 Continental says its Ultrasonic Height and Pressure Sensor (UHPS) can adjust the height of commercial vehicles electronically to improve the efficiency of urban buses.

The company says UHPS allows drivers to control the air springs when lowering one side of the bus at bus stops - rather than having to let the air out from the spring completely.

UHPS uses ultrasound to measure the height and pressure in the air spring and sends the value of the electronic control unit, which automatically opens or closes the air spring valves. Drivers can pre-select target values in the control unit before starting their journey depending on whether they are travelling through a city or freeway.

The interaction between the control unit and air spring maintains the appropriate height and is also expected to prevent energy from being lost when the bus is lowered or raised.

Continental has also developed a heat-resistant material to protect the air springs from the extreme temperatures from exhaust systems of the engines and other heat sources.

Going forward, Continental intends to enable the air springs to send signals via the sensor technology in a bid to reduce vehicle downtime and improve road safety.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Continental says Ethernet is car networking technology of the future
    March 15, 2012
    International automotive supplier Continental has joined the OPEN Alliance SIG (One Pair Ether-Net Alliance Special Interest Group) which is dedicated to spreading the use of Ethernet networks as the standard solution for in-vehicle applications.
    Read More
  • Bluetooth and Wi-Fi offer new options for travel time measurements
    November 20, 2013
    New trials show Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals can be reliably used for measuring travel times and at a lower cost than an ANPR system, but which is the better proposition depends on many factors. Measuring travel times has traditionally relied automatic number plate (or licence plate) recognition (ANPR/ALPR) cameras capturing the progress of vehicles travelling along a pre-defined route. Such systems also have the benefit of being able to count passing traffic and have become a vital tool in dealing with c
    Read More
  • Caltrans develops remote remedy for ailing VMS
    February 18, 2014
    A remote diagnostic system for variable message signs keeps Caltrans staff safer and makes them more efficient. District 12 of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) maintains roads in Orange County including 292 route miles of freeway lanes and 240 directional miles of full-time high occupancy vehicle or carpool lanes. All of these lanes are controlled from the district’s transportation management centre (TMC) using a network of 58 variable message signs (VMS) positioned alongside or abo
    Read More
  • Jenoptik uses sensor fusion to avoid monitoring confusion
    January 26, 2018
    Jenoptik’s Uwe Urban looks at the advantages of ‘sensor fusion’ for the ITS sector. When considering the ideal sensing and monitoring system to enable the ITS sector to deliver improvements in mobility and road safety, for general policing security and border protection, we have to think beyond radar-base systems or laser scanners. What is needed today are solutions for detecting and tracking vehicles while recording evidence to deacide if any action is necessary. There is no sole sensor capable of
    Read More

Highlighted Content