AERODYNAMIC VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCLUDING PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENTS

Abstract

A vehicle control system for a vehicle aerodynamic element comprises an aerodynamic element coupled to a body of a vehicle, the aerodynamic element being configured to deform in response to wind forces acting on a surface of the aerodynamic element, at least one piezoelectric element coupled to the aerodynamic element, the piezoelectric element being configured to change the voltage in response to the deformation of the aerodynamic element, and a vehicle control module configured to detect a steady-state voltage value of the piezoelectric element corresponding to a position of the aerodynamic element while a speed of the vehicle is zero,to receive a current voltage value of the piezoelectric element and to determine a deformation amount of the aerodynamic element based on a voltage difference between the steady-state voltage value and the current voltage value.,

Claims

[1] A vehicle control system for an aerodynamic element of a vehicle, the vehicle control system comprising: an aerodynamic element coupled to a body of a vehicle, the aerodynamic element being designed to deform in response to wind forces acting on a surface of the aerodynamic element, at least one piezoelectric element coupled to the aerodynamic element, the piezoelectric element being configured to change the voltage in response to the deformation of the aerodynamic element, and a vehicle control module designed to: to detect a stationary voltage value of the piezoelectric element corresponding to a position of the aerodynamic element while a speed of the vehicle is zero, to receive a current voltage value of the piezoelectric element and to determine a deformation amount of the aerodynamic element based on a stress difference between the steady-state stress value and the current stress value. [2] A vehicle control system according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one piezoelectric element comprises a plurality of piezoelectric elements and each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements is coupled to a different part of the aerodynamic element. [3] A vehicle control system according to claim 2, wherein: a first of the plurality of piezoelectric elements is coupled to the aerodynamic element in a first orientation, a second of the plurality of piezoelectric elements is coupled to the aerodynamic element in a second orientation and the first alignment is perpendicular to the second alignment. [4] The vehicle control system of claim 1, wherein the at least one piezoelectric element is mounted on a top surface of the aerodynamic element. [5] The vehicle control system of claim 1, wherein the at least one piezoelectric element is housed within the aerodynamic element and is attached to the underside of the top surface of the aerodynamic element. [6] A vehicle control system according to claim 1, wherein the aerodynamic element is a rear wing of the vehicle. [7] The vehicle control system of claim 1, wherein the at least one piezoelectric element comprises a piezoelectric polymer. [8] A vehicle control system according to claim 7, wherein: the piezoelectric polymer comprises a single upper electrode layer and a matrix layer, wherein the matrix layer comprises a matrix of lower electrodes, and the piezoelectric polymer is positioned between the single top electrode layer and the matrix layer. [9] The vehicle control system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle control module is configured to selectively apply a voltage to the piezoelectric element to change a deformation of the aerodynamic element. [10] A method for detecting a deformation of an aerodynamic element of a vehicle, the method comprising: Detecting a steady-state voltage value of at least one piezoelectric element coupled to an aerodynamic element, wherein the aerodynamic element is coupled to a body of a vehicle and is configured to deform in response to wind forces acting on a surface of the aerodynamic element, wherein the piezoelectric element is configured to change the voltage in response to the deformation of the aerodynamic element, and wherein the steady-state voltage value corresponds to a position of the aerodynamic element, Receiving a current voltage value of the piezoelectric element and Determining a deformation amount of the aerodynamic element based on a stress difference between the steady-state stress value and the current stress value.

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