Four Compliant Modes of Suspension

Single-Wheel Bump

As the name explains, this is when only one wheel experiences vertical motion. 

Roll

The rotation of the car's body about the x-axis. The outside springs compress, and the inside springs extend. 

Pitch

The rotation of the car's body about the y-axis. If the car is braking, the body will pitch which compresses the front springs and extends the rear springs. If the car is accelerating forward, the opposite will happen. 

Heave

When all for wheels move up or down at the same time. 

In the Context of FSAE

In FSAE, the cars are going to be running on flat, smooth tracks. This means that we will prioritize roll and pitch over heave and single-wheel bump. If we had wings on the car, the downforce they produce would put the car into the heave mode.