Quick Takeaways
- ZF’s AI is now letting cars see the road ahead and auto-tune their suspension in real time.
- This pushes software-defined vehicles closer to true predictive safety and ride control
ZF AI Road Sense was introduced by ZF Friedrichshafen AG at CES 2026 as an intelligent software solution designed to forecast road conditions and driver behavior for safer, more comfortable software-defined vehicles. The new platform brings artificial intelligence into real-time chassis management, helping vehicles automatically adapt to every driving surface.
ZF developed this system as a core element of its Chassis 2.0 strategy, combining vehicle intelligence with adaptive hardware. By analyzing road texture, grip levels, and driving patterns, ZF AI Road Sense enables the chassis to respond instantly to changing environments, from snowy streets and rough off-road tracks to smooth high-speed highways.
How ZF AI Road Sense transforms chassis intelligence
At the heart of ZF AI Road Sense is a network of advanced sensors that constantly collect surface and motion data. This information is processed by ZF’s cubiX chassis software, which coordinates the actions of multiple smart actuators to keep the vehicle stable, comfortable, and predictable.
The software manages key chassis components, including:
This closed-loop system allows the vehicle to react faster and more precisely than conventional drive mode systems.
ZF AI Road Sense enables fully automatic driving strategies
Unlike traditional systems that require drivers to choose between sport, comfort, or off-road modes, ZF AI Road Sense performs these adjustments automatically. By interpreting real-time and predictive data, it selects the best setup for each road condition, ensuring optimal stability, traction, and ride quality without distracting the driver.
This automated approach supports the evolution of software-defined vehicles, where software logic, rather than manual inputs, defines how the car behaves on the road.
Three scalable versions of ZF AI Road Sense
ZF is offering ZF AI Road Sense in three configurations to suit different vehicle classes and technology levels:
1. Standard version
Uses CAN bus signals to detect current road types and basic driving conditions.
2. Advanced version
Adds camera inputs, allowing predictive detection and analysis of upcoming road surfaces.
3. Premium version
Integrates LiDAR technology that scans up to 25 meters ahead with 2-centimeter accuracy, creating a detailed 3D map of the terrain for highly precise chassis adjustments.
Millisecond-level response for real-time road adaptation
The system is capable of reacting within just one millisecond, adjusting dampers and suspension parameters almost instantly. This ultra-fast response ensures that the vehicle remains composed even when road conditions change suddenly, such as moving from dry asphalt to ice or uneven terrain.
With this level of speed and precision, ZF AI Road Sense moves chassis control from reactive to predictive, setting a new benchmark for comfort and safety in next-generation vehicles.
ZF developed this system as a core element of its Chassis 2.0 strategy, combining vehicle intelligence with adaptive hardware. By analyzing road texture, grip levels, and driving patterns, ZF AI Road Sense enables the chassis to respond instantly to changing environments, from snowy streets and rough off-road tracks to smooth high-speed highways.
How ZF AI Road Sense transforms chassis intelligence
At the heart of ZF AI Road Sense is a network of advanced sensors that constantly collect surface and motion data. This information is processed by ZF’s cubiX chassis software, which coordinates the actions of multiple smart actuators to keep the vehicle stable, comfortable, and predictable.
The software manages key chassis components, including:
- Continuous Damping Control (CDC) for semi-active suspension
- sMOTION active damping technology
- Intelligent selection of driving strategies without driver input
This closed-loop system allows the vehicle to react faster and more precisely than conventional drive mode systems.
ZF AI Road Sense enables fully automatic driving strategies
Unlike traditional systems that require drivers to choose between sport, comfort, or off-road modes, ZF AI Road Sense performs these adjustments automatically. By interpreting real-time and predictive data, it selects the best setup for each road condition, ensuring optimal stability, traction, and ride quality without distracting the driver.
This automated approach supports the evolution of software-defined vehicles, where software logic, rather than manual inputs, defines how the car behaves on the road.
Three scalable versions of ZF AI Road Sense
ZF is offering ZF AI Road Sense in three configurations to suit different vehicle classes and technology levels:
1. Standard version
Uses CAN bus signals to detect current road types and basic driving conditions.
2. Advanced version
Adds camera inputs, allowing predictive detection and analysis of upcoming road surfaces.
3. Premium version
Integrates LiDAR technology that scans up to 25 meters ahead with 2-centimeter accuracy, creating a detailed 3D map of the terrain for highly precise chassis adjustments.
Millisecond-level response for real-time road adaptation
The system is capable of reacting within just one millisecond, adjusting dampers and suspension parameters almost instantly. This ultra-fast response ensures that the vehicle remains composed even when road conditions change suddenly, such as moving from dry asphalt to ice or uneven terrain.
With this level of speed and precision, ZF AI Road Sense moves chassis control from reactive to predictive, setting a new benchmark for comfort and safety in next-generation vehicles.
Company Press Release
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