Predictive Active Aerodynamics for Vehicle Stability Under Driver Lag

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current control systems for active aerodynamic appendages in road vehicles lag behind driver demands, leading to delays in adjusting these appendages, which affects vehicle stability and performance.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a predictive control system that estimates future aerodynamic load demands and adjusts active aerodynamic appendages in advance to meet these demands, using an actuation control unit with a predictive control algorithm to anticipate and maintain optimal load configurations during grip-limited conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a current control system detects vehicle dynamic conditions and adjusts aerodynamic appendages in response, then the system reacts to driver demands, but the adjustment is delayed because it physically lags behind the driver's requests

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle stabilityVSAvoidadjustment delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control system performs preliminary action by predicting future vehicle dynamic conditions based on current state and driver behavior patterns. The aerodynamic appendages are adjusted in advance before the actual grip-limited condition occurs, eliminating the reactive delay. The system calculates predicted lateral acceleration and determines the optimal adjustment timing proactively rather than waiting for the condition to manifest.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring current vehicle dynamic conditions, comparing them against predicted future conditions, and using this information to optimize the timing of aerodynamic appendage adjustments. The feedback loop enables the system to learn from actual driver behavior and refine its predictions, ensuring adjustments occur at the optimal moment for maximum effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the control unit adjusts aerodynamic appendages based on detected dynamic conditions, then the vehicle adapts to current conditions, but it cannot anticipate future grip-limited conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerodynamic adaptationVSAvoidfuture condition information
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The control system performs preliminary action by predicting future vehicle dynamic conditions based on current state and driver behavior patterns. The aerodynamic appendages are adjusted in advance before the actual grip-limited condition occurs, eliminating the reactive delay. The system calculates predicted lateral acceleration and determines the optimal adjustment timing proactively rather than waiting for the condition to manifest.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring current vehicle dynamic conditions, comparing them against predicted future conditions, and using this information to optimize the timing of aerodynamic appendage adjustments. The feedback loop enables the system to learn from actual driver behavior and refine its predictions, ensuring adjustments occur at the optimal moment for maximum effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4671095A1Predictive control system for active aerodynamic appendages in a road vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 FERRARI SPA
  • EP4671095A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4671095A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C
  • EP4671095A1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4C

AI summary

A system for controlling at least one active aerodynamic appendage (12) of a road vehicle (1) is described, comprising an actuation control unit (14) operating to implement a predictive control of the active aerodynamic appendage (12), based on an estimation, performed dynamically while the road vehicle (1) is in motion, of an aerodynamic load demand of the road vehicle (1) in a route section subsequent to one currently travelled.