MSCAs back efficient, comfortable chassis tech

A US-based manufacturing firm has announced its participation in a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) Horizon 2020 project focusing on the development of high-tech ground vehicle systems.

The ‘Innovative Engineering of Ground Vehicles with Integrated Active Chassis Systems’, or Project EVE, sees the project partners develop innovative vehicle components that target improvements in safety, energy efficiency and driving comfort. The scheme will also include the development of new hardware subsystems for brakes and active suspension and tire pressure control for on-road and off-road mobility. A unique network-distributed vehicle testing programme for integrated chassis systems will also be set up between all partners.

Tenneco chief technology officer, Timothy Jackson, said: “The invitation to participate in this prestigious project recognises Tenneco’s expertise in active suspension technology based on the development of our ACOCAR (Active Suspension Car) system. We are proud to contribute our experience in advanced research, development, design for manufacturing and testing to this academic and industrial partnership.”

The project is receiving funding from the ‘Research and Innovation Staff Exchanges’ (RISE) scheme of the MSCAs, which encourages international, multisector collaboration through the exchange of researchers. It aims to encourage the sharing of knowledge and ideas across the ‘valley of death’ and help advance science and innovation.

Partners in the project include Ilmenau University of Technology, Germany; the University of Pretoria, South Africa; TU Delft, the Netherlands; Chalmers University, Sweden; and Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering, USA.

Also participating are Gerotek Test Facilities and ESTEQ, South Africa; SKF’s Automotive Development Centre, Sweden; dSPACE, Germany; and the Instituto Tecnológico de Aragón, Spain.