Active Front and Rear Wing Control for Vehicle Aero Balance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicles face issues with unfavorable aero balance and critical handling behavior due to uncontrolled downforce distribution, leading to suboptimal driving performance and safety risks.

Innovation Solution

Implementing automatically adjustable front and rear wings controlled by actuators, allowing for dynamic adjustment of downforce and aero balance based on vehicle state data, with manual override options in specific conditions, to optimize driving performance and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the rear wing is adjusted to reduce air resistance, then the vehicle can reach a higher final speed, but an unfavorable aero balance and critical handling behavior occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefinal speedVSAvoidhandling behavior

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of both front and rear wings based on real-time driving conditions. The control unit continuously monitors vehicle state (speed, acceleration, steering angle) and automatically adjusts wing positions to maintain optimal aero balance. This resolves the contradiction by making the wing adjustment adaptive rather than static, allowing the system to reduce drag when needed while maintaining handling stability through coordinated front and rear wing control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes aerodynamic parameters (wing angles, downforce distribution) based on driving conditions. By adjusting the aero balance parameter (targeted at 35% front/65% rear distribution) dynamically, the system can optimize for either speed or handling depending on the situation, resolving the fixed trade-off between final speed and handling behavior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the downforce is increased to improve handling, then the aero balance improves, but the air resistance increases reducing final speed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaero balanceVSAvoidfinal speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts downforce levels based on real-time driving conditions. During cornering or low-speed maneuvers, the control unit increases downforce to improve handling. During straight-line high-speed cruising, it reduces downforce to minimize drag. This temporal separation of optimization goals resolves the contradiction between handling and speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The wing adjustment occurs periodically based on changing driving conditions rather than remaining static. The control unit continuously evaluates whether handling or speed optimization is the current priority and adjusts wings accordingly, creating a periodic optimization cycle that resolves the inherent trade-off.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Ease of operation

If manual adjustment is allowed at all times, then the driver has greater influence on downforce and aero balance, but the automatic optimization based on recognized vehicle state is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver influenceVSAvoidautomatic optimization

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the control unit monitors both automatic sensor data and driver inputs. When the driver manually adjusts wings, the system learns from this input and can adjust its automatic control strategy. The feedback loop allows manual override while maintaining the capability for automatic optimization, resolving the contradiction between driver control and automated performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides self-service through automatic adjustment based on sensor data, but also allows driver intervention when needed. The control unit autonomously optimizes wing position based on vehicle state, reducing the need for manual intervention while preserving driver authority when desired, thus resolving the contradiction between automation and manual control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances driving stability and safety by automatically adjusting downforce and aero balance according to driving conditions, while allowing manual intervention for driver control, thereby improving handling and reducing air resistance.

Implementation Method 1

Due to the inflow of air onto the front axle, a downforce is caused on said front axle FDF, and due to the inflow of air onto the rear axle, a downforce is caused on said rear axle RDF

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAerodynamic downforce: Aerofoil

Data Source

PatentUS12552470B2Motor vehicle and method for controlling the aero balance of the motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 DR ING H C F PORSCHE AG

AI summary

A motor vehicle with an automatically adjustable front wing and with an automatically adjustable rear wing, which are each adjustable in a controlled manner by an actuator. The motor vehicle has a front axle with front wheels and a rear axle with rear wheels. By way of the adjustment of the front wing and/or the rear wing, a downforce is caused on the front axle due to the inflow of air onto the front axle, and a downforce on the rear axle is caused due to the inflow of air onto the rear axle. A resulting downforce passing through a point can be produced, and an aero balance can be adjusted. The downforce on the front axle, the downforce on the rear axle, the resulting downforce, and/or the aero balance can be controlled and/or adjusted automatically and/or manually.