Method and arrangement for controlling air resistance
First Claim
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1. A method for regulating during driving the air resistance to a leading and at least one following vehicle, the method comprising:
- using a distance sensor to detect a distance between the leading vehicle and the at least one following vehicle, the leading vehicle not being connected to the at least one following vehicle; and
regulating a magnitude of a wake formed behind the leading vehicle according to the detected distance between the leading and the following vehicles in order to optimize an overall air resistance to both the leading and the at least one following vehicle, the regulating of the magnitude of the wake being accomplished using an active boundary layer control positioned on the leading vehicle.
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Abstract
A method for regulating during driving the air resistance to a leading and at least one following vehicle, whereby the distance of the leading vehicle from the following vehicle is detected and the magnitude of a wake formed behind the leading vehicle is regulated according to the detected distance in order to optimize the overall air resistance to the leading and the following vehicle. Also a device and a computer program and a computer program product for implementing the method.
14 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for regulating during driving the air resistance to a leading and at least one following vehicle, the method comprising:
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using a distance sensor to detect a distance between the leading vehicle and the at least one following vehicle, the leading vehicle not being connected to the at least one following vehicle; and regulating a magnitude of a wake formed behind the leading vehicle according to the detected distance between the leading and the following vehicles in order to optimize an overall air resistance to both the leading and the at least one following vehicle, the regulating of the magnitude of the wake being accomplished using an active boundary layer control positioned on the leading vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 6, 7)
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3. A device for regulating during driving the air resistance to a leading and at least one following vehicle, the device comprising;
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an active boundary layer control positioned on the leading vehicle, the active boundary layer control being operable for regulating a magnitude of a wake formed behind the leading vehicle; a distance sensor at the leading vehicle, the distance sensor being operable for measuring a distance between the leading and the at least one following vehicle, the leading vehicle not being connected to the at least one following vehicle; and a control device operable for controlling the active boundary layer control according to the distance detected by the sensor, in order to optimize an overall air resistance to the leading and the following vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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4. A computer program comprising:
a computer-readable code recorded on a computer-readable medium which, when run on a computer, causes a control device to regulate an air resistance to a leading vehicle and at least one following vehicle, the leading vehicle not being connected to the at least one following vehicle, the computer-readable code causing the control device to regulate the air resistance by detecting a distance between the leading vehicle and the at least one following vehicle and by using an active boundary layer control positioned on the leading vehicle to regulate a magnitude of a wake formed behind the leading vehicle according to the detected distance to optimize an overall air resistance to both the leading and the at least one following vehicle.
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5. A computer program product comprising;
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a support; and a computer program including a computer-readable code which, when run on a computer, causes a control device to regulate an air resistance to a leading vehicle and at least one following vehicle, the leading vehicle not being connected to the at least one following vehicle, the computer-readable code causing the control device to regulate the air resistance by detecting a distance between the leading vehicle and the at least one following vehicle and by using an active boundary layer control positioned on the leading vehicle to regulate a magnitude of a wake formed behind the leading vehicle according to the detected distance to optimize an overall air resistance to both the leading and the at least one following vehicle, the computer program being recorded on the support.
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Specification