Deployable Wheel Guard Control for Debris Protection and Low Drag
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle safety systems, such as mud flaps, increase aerodynamic drag and may not effectively adapt to varying ride heights, leading to inefficient fuel consumption and inadequate protection against airborne debris.
Innovation Solution
A deployable and adjustable safety system with a guard member supported by a motor and sensors to automatically adjust its position based on environmental conditions and vehicle height, reducing drag and enhancing protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a mud flap is installed on a vehicle to block airborne material, then protection against debris is improved, but aerodynamic drag increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mud flap is made dynamically adjustable through a motorized actuator system that can change its position between extended and retracted states. The control unit receives sensor data about environmental conditions and automatically adjusts the mud flap position to provide protection only when necessary, thereby reducing aerodynamic drag during normal operation while maintaining protection when airborne material is detected
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the position parameter of the mud flap based on environmental conditions. The control unit monitors sensor inputs and adjusts the mud flap extension position to optimize the balance between protection and drag reduction, effectively varying the protective parameter according to real-time conditions
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a mud flap is installed to provide protection, then debris blocking is improved, but fuel efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The motorized actuator dynamically adjusts the mud flap position based on sensor feedback about environmental conditions. The control unit determines when protection is necessary and activates the motor to extend the mud flap only during those conditions, minimizing the time the mud flap is in an extended position and thereby reducing overall aerodynamic drag and fuel consumption while maintaining adequate protection when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic monitoring of environmental conditions through sensors and activates protection only during periods when airborne material is detected or ride height indicates potential exposure. This periodic activation pattern ensures protection is provided when necessary while minimizing fuel consumption during normal driving conditions
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a fixed-length mud flap is installed, then protection is provided, but adaptability to varying ride heights deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mud flap is equipped with a motorized actuator and control system that enables dynamic adjustment of its extension position. The control unit receives input from sensors that detect ride height changes and environmental conditions, automatically adjusting the mud flap length to match the vehicle's current state, thereby maintaining effective protection across varying ride heights and vehicle configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable mud flap system is designed to accommodate multiple ride height positions and different vehicle configurations. The motorized actuator can position the mud flap at various extension levels, making the single device universally effective across different operating conditions, vehicle types, and ride height settings
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~4A
Figure 4B~5
AI summary
A safety system (10) including a guard member (20) configured to be supported about a wheel unit (130) of a vehicle (100) to receive an airborne material, the guard member being configured to be transitioned between a first position and a second position; a motor (60) configured to transition the guard member between the first position and the second position; a sensor (90, 92) configured to provide a detection of one or more of moisture in an area surrounding the wheel unit of the vehicle and a height of at least a portion of the vehicle from a road surface; and a control unit (80) configured to operate the motor to transition the guard member between the first position and the second position in response to the detection provided by the sensor.