Morphing Spoiler Skin for Low-Drag Retractable Aerodynamics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle spoilers that are separate from the vehicle body increase air resistance during low-speed driving, affecting the vehicle's exterior design and performance.

Innovation Solution

A spoiler with a morphing skin featuring a soft outer skin and actuators that allow the variable skin portion to move between spaced and contact positions with the vehicle body, maintaining consistent design and minimizing separation area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a variable spoiler protrudes during high-speed driving, then stability and braking force are improved, but air resistance increases during low-speed driving

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilityVSAvoidair resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spoiler is designed with a variable configuration that can dynamically change its state between protruding and retracted positions. The soft outer skin allows the spoiler to adapt its shape and position based on driving conditions, enabling it to protrude during high-speed driving for improved stability while retracting during low-speed driving to minimize air resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If a separate member spoiler is used, then variable spoiler function is achieved, but exterior design consistency is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevariable spoiler functionVSAvoidexterior design consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The spoiler is integrated with the vehicle body through a soft outer skin that allows the separate functional element to merge visually with the vehicle's exterior. The soft material enables the spoiler to conform to the vehicle body contours when retracted, maintaining exterior design consistency while preserving the variable spoiler function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

A soft outer skin made of flexible material covers the spoiler structure, allowing it to adapt its shape and blend with the vehicle body. This flexible covering enables the spoiler to maintain aesthetic consistency with the vehicle exterior while still performing its variable function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If a separate member spoiler is accommodated during low-speed driving, then variable function is maintained, but air resistance increases due to separation from vehicle body

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevariable functionVSAvoidair resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The soft outer skin allows the accommodated spoiler to conform to the vehicle body surface, minimizing the separation area and reducing air resistance. The flexible material enables the spoiler to closely follow the vehicle body contours when in the accommodated position, thereby maintaining aerodynamic efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP4592166A1Spoiler with morphing skin

Publication Date: 2025.07.30 HYUNDAI MOBIS CO LTD

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AI summary

Disclosed is a spoiler (10) with a morphing skin including: a vehicle body (11); a soft outer skin (30) including a fixed skin portion (31) attached to the vehicle body (11) and a variable skin portion (35) connected to the fixed skin portion (31) and not attached to the vehicle body (11); and one or more actuators (50) configured to press the variable skin portion (35) to be deformed between a first position spaced apart from the vehicle body (11) and a second position in contact with the vehicle body (11).