Movable Aero Lighting Integration for Driver View and Drag Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle designs face challenges in achieving compactness and aerodynamics while accommodating exterior lighting and maintaining a sufficient driver field of view.
Innovation Solution
An aerodynamic system for vehicles that includes a movable aerodynamic component with integrated lighting, a variable supply line, and an exterior shell that doubles as a housing for both the aerodynamic component and the lighting device, allowing for translational movement and adjustable positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If exterior lighting devices are added to the vehicle, then the vehicle lighting requirements are met, but the driver's field of view is restricted and the vehicle structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting device is merged with the aerodynamic component into a single integrated unit. The aerodynamic component serves dual purposes: providing aerodynamic functionality and housing the lighting device, thereby eliminating the need for separate lighting housings that would obstruct the driver's view
Solution Approach 2:
The aerodynamic component is made movable between retracted and extended positions. When retracted, the lighting device remains visible to other road users without obstructing the driver's forward view. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between providing exterior lighting and maintaining driver visibility
2Adaptability or versatility
If aerodynamic components are made movable to modify aerodynamic characteristics, then driving characteristics can be optimized, but the supply line reliability and durability become compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible variable supply line is used to connect the movable aerodynamic component to the vehicle body. The flexibility of the supply line allows it to accommodate the movement range of the aerodynamic component without compromising reliability or durability, resolving the contradiction between movability and supply line reliability
3Volume of moving object
If lighting devices are integrated into the aerodynamic component, then compactness is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aerodynamic component is designed to serve multiple functions: providing aerodynamic performance, housing the lighting device, and acting as a structural mounting element. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of separate components needed, improving compactness while the modular integration approach keeps manufacturing complexity manageable
Data Source
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AI summary
An aerodynamic system (100; 200; 400; 500; 600; 700; 802) for a vehicle (800) comprises an aerodynamic component (110; 210; 410; 810) which is configured to be movable relative to a body of the vehicle (800) between a retracted position and at least one extended position of the aerodynamic system (100; 200; 400; 500; 600; 700; 802), when the aerodynamic system (100; 200; 400; 500; 600; 700; 802) is mounted on the vehicle (800). The aerodynamic system (100; 200; 400; 500; 600; 700; 802) further comprises at least one lighting device (120; 220; 420; 520; 620; 720; 820) for the vehicle (800), the at least one lighting device (120; 220; 420; 520; 620; 720; 820) being arranged on the aerodynamic component (110; 210; 410; 810), wherein the at least one lighting device (120; 220; 420; 520; 620; 720; 820) is integrated in an exterior shell (112; 212; 412) of the aerodynamic component (110; 210; 410; 810), and the exterior shell (112; 212; 412) of the aerodynamic component (110; 210; 410; 810) doubles as a housing of the at least one lighting device (120; 220; 420; 520; 620; 720; 820), in particular wherein the exterior shell (112; 212; 412) constitutes both a housing of the aerodynamic component (110; 210; 410; 810) and a housing of the at least one lighting device (120; 220; 420; 520; 620; 720; 820). The aerodynamic system (100; 200; 400; 500; 600; 700; 802) further comprises a variable supply line (140; 240; 300; 440) for the at least one lighting device (120; 220; 420; 520; 620; 720; 820), the variable supply line (140; 240; 300; 440) being adapted to transmit an operational supply provided by at least one supply source (822) of the vehicle (800) to the at least one lighting device (120; 220; 420; 520; 620; 720; 820), wherein the variable supply line (140; 240; 300; 440) is variable at least in accordance with a movement range of the aerodynamic component (110; 210; 410; 810) between the retracted position and the at least one extended position. The at least one lighting device (120; 220; 420; 520; 620; 720; 820) is arranged to be visible from outside the vehicle (800) when the aerodynamic system (100; 200; 400; 500; 600; 700; 802) is in the retracted position.