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Supashock [SMART 100, 2017]

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This SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity.

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1. THE BEGINNING

This innovation initially came to life when…

The Active Suspension prototype was developed at the request of a global mining vehicle manufacturer.
Its innovative total solution for damping and vibration control is unique and has the following features:
– Single electrical connection with integrated data-logging and life management system:
o On-board electronic control hardware
o LVDT position sensor
o Imparted thermal load sensor
o 3-Axis accelerometer
o Pre/post-accident high speed data acquisition
– Single pneumatic connection for Electronically controlled ride-height and natural frequency adjustment;
– Integrated electronically controlled independent 2-way damping adjustment;
– No remote reservoir or hydraulic connections required.
It is the only vehicle suspension of its type that has complete stand-alone ECU built in.

2. WHAT & HOW

The purpose of this innovation is to…

• Save lives by preventing vehicle rollovers (deaths and injuries occur in the defence and resources sectors due to altered vehicle handling when laden)
• Improve safety
• Improve vehicle handling
• Reduce in claims for back injuries
• Reduce driver fatigue
• HUMS

It does this by…

The Active Suspension implementation in mining vehicles has improved vehicle safety, significantly reduced vibration exposure, and increased handling performance. The system has currently completed over 3000 hours continuous operation without failure.
Harsh Defence operational environments mean that rollovers and suspension problems result in injuries, deaths, and significant vehicle downtime. The Supashock System is specifically designed to minimise these occurrences.

3. PURPOSE & BENEFITS

This innovation improves on what came before because…

Existing fleets with Passive systems have the following issues:
Increasing a vehicle’s mass by 50% significantly affects vehicle handling:
• Maximum cornering speeds are reduced
• Braking distances are increased
• Operating on sloped terrain is dangerous
Supashock’s Active Suspension System automatically adjusts damping properties to:
• Maintain constant natural frequency
• Maintain constant ride height
• Maintain transient handling performance
• Reduce unnecessary vibration exposure

Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…

• Prevent rollovers
• Reduced operational risk
• Reduced injury claims & incidence of driver fatigue
• HUMS
• optimise vehicle dynamics electronically
• electronically adjustable damping coefficients and spring rates, that can:
– optimise vehicle performance
– make real-time adjustments
• constant Vehicle Natural Frequency & ride height

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4. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

In the past, this problem was solved by…

Existing fleets with Passive systems have the following issues:
Increasing a vehicle’s mass by 50% significantly affects vehicle handling:
• Maximum cornering speeds are reduced
• Braking distances are increased
• Operating on sloped terrain is dangerous

Its predecessors/competitors include…

Existing Passive systems have known issues.
Supashock’s System addresses these issues to provide:
Greater Performance Envelope (Versatility):
• Has complete stand-alone ECU built-in
• Operation with all vehicle modules
• Control over varying terrains
• Reduction in Whole Body Vibration (WBV)
• 52-lines of redundancy

5. TARGET MARKET

It is made for…

Supashock has just been awarded an Accelerating Commercialisation grant in order to further develop the product for application in international defence prime contractor Rheinmetall’s MAN military trucks. Assuming this development is successful, there may be an opportunity to supply Rheinmetall as part of its numerous MAN Military logistics truck contracts that include:
• the Australian Defence Force over 2,500 4×4 trucks
• New Zealand – 200 4×4 trucks
• European nations – approximately 2,500 trucks
The UK has an existing fleet of over 7,500 4×4 trucks.
Therefore the target market is logistics military vehicles.

It is available for sale through…

Supplying an International Defence Industry Prime contractor enables small to medium enterprises like Supashock to be part of the supply chain within the complex procurement activities of the Australian Defence Force and defence forces of other nations.

Our marketing strategy is to…

Outside of being part of the Defence land vehicles supply chain, there is opportunity to further develop the technology for application in naval vessels and aircraft, along with other applications including within the agricultural sector.
However, if a contract to supply the innovation into a Defence sector solution, then the marketing would be controlled by the defence prime contractor.

FINE PRINT: This SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity.

Maven Judge Vote: Supashock – Smart 100 2017
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