Active suspension systems are gaining growing attention in the automotive industry. This trend aligns with vehicle electrification and X-by-wire technologies adoption, also answering to the increasingly stringent requirements for passenger comfort and safety. Among the possible solutions, electromechanical actuators represent a valid alternative to traditional shock absorbers, integrating an electric machine that can be easily controlled to deliver the desired forces in both active and passive operations. The present work aims at developing an innovative transmission compound for a rotary electromagnetic active suspension system that is able to obtain high level NVH and safety performances. Two different proposed systems are analyzed. The first one couples a cycloidal transmission stage to a polymeric planetary one, while the second one couples the same cycloidal stage to a concentric magnetic gearbox. Both of them are expected to improve the NVH performances of the shock absorber, thanks to the high efficiency of the cycloidal reducer and to the properties of plastic materials and of magnetic coupling. The proposed systems are analyzed analytically and in simulation environment, providing promising results in terms of efficiency and torque density.

The transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs) necessitates a paradigm shift in both control strategies and vehicle architecture. The EU-funded SmartCorners project addresses this challenge by developing integrated smart corner systems (SCS), which combine in-wheel motor (IWM) propulsion, brake-by-wire, active suspension actuator, and steer-by-wire functionality in a single module. These SCS are embedded within a highly adaptable skateboard chassis architecture, enabling scalable deployment across diverse vehicle platforms. The SmartCorners project targets to demonstrate significant advancements, including improvement in real-world driving range, reduction of component and system costs, an increasement in interior volume, and a development time drop of the EV systems enabled by digital-twin-based design methodologies. Beyond these performance gains, SmartCorners establishes the foundational principles of modularity, adaptability, and software integration that underpin the evolution toward SDVs. These achievements highlight a critical bridge between electrified component innovation and the holistic software-defined mobility systems of the future.