Energy Harvesting

As a vehicle moves, its springs absorb the vibrations transmitted to the vehicle from imperfections in the road. The role of an automobile's shock absorbers is to operate in parallel with the springs; the shock absorbers act to damp and control the action of the springs by dissipating the energy in the action of the springs.

Unlike standard shocks which dissipate energy by channeling fluid through orifices of a reciprocating piston, GenShock routes fluid through a fluid circuit to recover the energy. GenShock uses a specialized manifold and a hydraulic motor coupled with an electric generator to provide damping and harvest otherwise wasted energy. A proprietary microprocessor-controlled power electronics subsystem can dynamically vary damping levels and ensure safe charging of vehicle batteries and on board accessories. In effect, GenShock performs the function of a standard shock while acting as an additional source of power.

Engineered Reliability and Durability

The GenShock system is designed for zero-downtime and a usabile lifetime that lasts the vehicle. GenShock has been tested and proven in field use under military duty cycles. While the mechanical system design is similar to a standard shock, less heat is dissipated inside. This characteristic, in addition to high quality components, results in a system lifetime that is considerably longer than standard shock absorbers.

Intelligent Damping Control

The GenShock system improves ride performance by dynamically changing damping levels based on road conditions. This operates by varying the force feedback on the integrated electric generator. A central controller can emulate standard shocks, allow the driver to select ride stiffness, or continuously vary damping based on conditions.

Each shock absorber is a turnkey, drop-in replacement of standard vehicle shocks. A wire connects each GenShock unit into the central controller installed on the vehicle. This controller, in turn, connects into the vehicle's electric power system.