Colin Chapman developed the original concept of computer management of hydraulic suspension in the 1980s to improve cornering in racing cars and it was called Electronic actuation of the draulic suspensions in the 1980’s. But it was never offered to the public.
Williams Grand Prix Engineering prepared an active suspension for F1 cars in 1992, creating such successful cars that the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile decided to ban the technology.
Part of that technology was finally put in Citrons and later Mercedes got into the game in the really late 90’s when the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class (C215) introduced Active Body Control, where high pressure hydraulics are controlled by electronic computing, and this feature is still available.
I guess some of it has really gone Buck Rodgers as Michelin’s Active Wheel for electric vehicles developed in 2004 incorporates an in-wheel electrical suspension motor that controls torque distribution, traction, turning maneuvers, pitch, roll and suspension damping for that wheel, in addition to an in-wheel electric traction motor. It is currently being tested and used by Renault. Times sure change and the puncture proof tire is right in the wheelhouse.
rwood
Thanks for the background - knew the availability for computer adjusted suspensions but not the background info.
I thought Citroen had hydraulics in the 70s - a guy I worked with had to change a tire on his and he decided to show off by driving around the parking lot with only 3 tires on the car.