As the foundation of power, braking, steering and body of the vehicle, chassis technology is shifting from mechanical to electronic. With the acceleration of automotive intelligence, the level of chassis electrification has become a key indicator of vehicle technology, playing a more and more important role in Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and intelligent driving applications. Modern chassis systems, through the precise adjustment of Electronic Control Units (ECUs), are redefining vehicle handling, safety and comfort standards.
To achieve these breakthroughs, we need innovations in chassis electronic control technology, which can be seen in the following areas:
1. Electronic Chassis Control: The Basis of Safety and Stability
Today’s electronic chassis control systems use highly integrated design to control vehicle dynamics, covering three areas:
- Drive Control Technology:
In-wheel motor technology integrates the powertrain into the wheel, eliminating traditional driveshaft and revolutionizing vehicle layout. The power train is mounted and connected directly to the chassis, with wheels and axles working together to support vehicle stability and distribute load forces efficiently. This design not only reduces chassis weight but also improves stability through independent wheel control, can gradually replace part of the traditional Electronic Stability Control (ESC) function.
- Brake System Evolution:
From basic Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) to integrated ESC, modern brake systems now combine traction control, brake force distribution and yaw control. Brake components are mounted on rigid frames to withstand the load generated during braking, ensuring safety and durability. Intelligent brake systems like Bosch iBooster replace vacuum-assisted pumps with electric control, supporting energy recovery and seamless integration with automated driving systems.
- Suspension Smart Control:
Electronically Controlled Air Suspension (ECAS) can adjust vehicle height and damping in real time, balance comfort and handling. The suspension system is connected to the chassis, and the cross section of the frame is engineered to provide rigidity and optimal load distribution. Latest generation systems respond in under 10 milliseconds, can suppress body vibration on complex road surfaces.
2. Drive-by-Wire (X-by-Wire) Technologies: Redefining Traditional Design
Drive-by-wire technologies replace mechanical linkages with electronic signals, offering three advantages:
- Brake-by-Wire Systems:
Using Electro-Hydraulic Braking (EHB) or Electro-Mechanical Braking (EMB) solutions, each wheel’s pressure can be controlled independently. Nissan’s ProPILOT 2.0 system shows that brake-by-wire can improve Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) response time by 40%. - Steer-by-Wire (SBW) Breakthroughs:
SBW eliminates the mechanical steering column, offers more flexibility in cabin design. Features like “variable steering ratio” in Toyota’s bZ4X concept are made possible by this technology. - Integrated Control Benefits:
Unified electronic architectures allow brakes, steering and drive systems to work together. For example, on slippery roads, the system automatically coordinates steering angles and brake force distribution, greatly improves safety.
3. Smart Chassis and ADAS Integration
Modern smart chassis systems deeply integrated with ADAS provide multi-layer safety protection, helping drivers by providing enhanced safety features:
- Longitudinal Control Systems: Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and AEB rely on radar and cameras to adjust vehicle speed and following distance, can now detect obstacles like traffic cones. ADAS also helps detect blind spots and prevent crashes by alerting drivers to unseen hazards and potential collisions.
- Lateral Control Technologies: Lane Keeping Systems (LKS) use Electric Power Steering (EPS) to reduce lane departure by up to 75%. Some high-end models now have predictive curve handling, adjust steering torque in advance. ADAS assists with parking, making it easier for drivers to maneuver in tight spaces and reducing driver workload.
- Cooperative Driving Innovations: Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) based on Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication can reduce aerodynamic drag in platoons by 15%, improve highway range. Volvo’s platooning project has proven its practicality.
4. Electric Drive Platform Innovations
Next-generation electric drive platforms have three technologies, leveraging rolling chassis and modular platforms to drive innovation in electric mobility:
- Distributed Drive Architecture: In-wheel motors with independent control systems enable torque vectoring, improves cornering performance. Magna’s dual-motor system for Zeekr 001 is an example. The combination of in-wheel motors and chassis components allows for flexible steering angles and efficient use of space within the vehicle platform.
- All-Terrain Adaptability: By monitoring road friction coefficients in real time, drive strategies are intelligently adjusted. Land Rover’s all-terrain feedback system can switch among 17 modes, including snow and sand. The operation of electric platforms can be adapted for different terrains, allowing the system to operate efficiently under varying conditions.
- High-Definition Map Integration: Preloaded road slope and curvature information allows proactive power management. Xpeng G9’s “Predictive Energy Management” system can improve range by 3–5%. The third generation of space drive systems is now ready for production, integrating light materials and advanced cooling systems, such as radiators, for optimal performance.
Visible design features of the chassis, such as structural arches and tapered rails, contribute to both the aesthetics and functionality of these advanced electric platforms.
5. Industry Outlook: The Next 10 Years of Intelligent Chassis
As autonomous driving moves towards Level 4 (L4), smart chassis systems face three challenges:
- Functional Safety Redundancy:
Multi-layer backup systems for braking, steering and drive are needed. ISO 26262 ASIL-D will be the minimum requirement. - Computing Power Explosion:
Domain controllers will need to process over 1,000 chassis state decisions per second, 5–8 times more computing power than today’s systems. - Standardization Acceleration:
Interoperability across OEM electronic architectures requires industry standards. AUTOSAR Adaptive Platform is key.
By 2030, the global intelligent chassis market is expected to exceed $200 billion, with drive-by-wire technology reaching 60% penetration. This will not only change the vehicle performance paradigm but also the vehicle development and manufacturing process.
