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Vehicle including an aerodynamic system configured to selectively vary an aerodynamic force acting on the vehicle

  • US 9,849,924 B2
  • Filed: 12/07/2015
  • Issued: 12/26/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A vehicle having a center of gravity, the vehicle comprising:

  • a body extending along a longitudinal axis, between a forward end and a rearward end, wherein the forward end is configured to face an oncoming ambient airflow when the vehicle is in motion relative to a road surface;

    wherein the body extends along a lateral axis, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, between a first side and a second side;

    an aerodynamic element movably attached to the body and arranged to intersect the ambient airflow such that the ambient airflow circulates about the aerodynamic element and generates an aerodynamic force;

    a movement mechanism movably coupling the aerodynamic element and the body, wherein the movement mechanism is configured to selectively move the aerodynamic element, relative to the body, along a longitudinal axis and/or a lateral axis;

    a plurality of sensors configured to collectively generate input signals corresponding to an operating condition of the vehicle, as the vehicle is in motion relative to the road surface; and

    a controller in operative communication with the movement mechanism and the plurality of sensors, wherein the controller is operable to;

    determine a desired location of the aerodynamic element;

    determine a desired position of the movement mechanism corresponding to the desired location of the aerodynamic element;

    transmit a movement signal to the movement mechanism to change position to the desired position and thereby change location of the aerodynamic element to the desired location;

    determine a required location of an aerodynamic center of the vehicle along the longitudinal axis and/or the lateral axis, as a function of at least one of the input signals;

    wherein the controller being operable to determine a desired position of the movement mechanism is further defined as the controller being operable to determine a desired position of the movement mechanism corresponding to the required location of the aerodynamic center of the vehicle along the longitudinal axis and/or the lateral axis; and

    wherein the controller being operable to transmit a movement signal is further defined as the controller being operable to transmit a movement signal to the movement mechanism to change position to the desired position to thereby change location of the aerodynamic element to the desired location and to thereby change location of the aerodynamic center to the required location.

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