Reactive Air Suspension System

An obstacle avoidance system, comprising:

• an obstacle sensor mounted to a vehicle, wherein said obstacle sensor outputs a control signal when said obstacle sensor detects an obstacle in front of said vehicle;
• an air suspension system coupled to said vehicle, said air suspension system comprising:
• a plurality of air springs comprising at least one air spring per wheel of said vehicle, wherein said plurality of air springs are configured to provide a range of vehicle ride heights ranging from a minimum ride height to a maximum ride height, wherein said plurality of air springs provide said range of vehicle ride heights in response to changes in an air pressure within each of said plurality of air springs;
• an air supply system coupled to each of said plurality of air springs;
• and
• a control valve system, said control valve system controlling said air pressure within each of said plurality of air springs;
• and
• a controller coupled to said obstacle sensor and said control valve system, said controller configured to (i) determine if said obstacle detected by said obstacle sensor is large enough to interfere with said vehicle during forward motion of said vehicle, (ii) automatically adjust said control valve system and increase said vehicle ride height in response to said control signal when said obstacle is large enough to interfere with said vehicle during forward motion of said vehicle unless said vehicle ride height is currently set at said maximum ride height, and (iii) bypassing automatically increasing said vehicle ride height when said obstacle is not large enough to interfere with said vehicle during forward motion of said vehicle.