Evaluation of health monitoring parameters for automotive pneumatic elastomeric system using soft pressure sensors for enhanced vehicle performance

In the rapidly evolving automotive industry, the need for reliable and efficient pneumatic elastomeric components necessitates cutting-edge health monitoring methods, given that the pneumatic components are directly connected to dampening properties, ride comfort, vehicle safety, and stability. A novel approach for pneumatic elastomeric component health monitoring utilizing ionic liquid (IL)-based soft sensor technology has been proposed, which has the promise to enable real-time health monitoring and prognostics of vehicle systems. The proposed polymer sensor leverages the distinctive characteristics of flexibility, stretchability, and high sensitivity. These properties are critical for precisely measuring load, vertical displacement, air pressure, force locations, and load frequency of the air pressure responsive rubber part. The sensors are attached to three key contact positions: two on the metal cover of the elastomeric component and one on the piston of the component to provide critical information about the rolled and unrolled rubber. These sensors continuously measure essential parameters for health monitoring. The collected data can identify potential issues such as leaks, wear, or structural weaknesses. The finding illustrates the effectiveness of the IL-based soft sensors in providing precise and reliable data for health monitoring parameters.