Micro-drag generators for aerodynamic and hydrodynamic braking and control

An aerodynamic or hydrodynamic drag producing device comprising a significant portion of the exterior surface of the form-fitting training uniform worn by an athlete moving through a gas or liquid;

• said aerodynamic or hydrodynamic drag producing device comprising a plurality of very small surfaces distributed on the surface of the said form-fitting uniform worn by the said athlete,
• said plurality of small surfaces are symmetrically distributed about the said uniform,
• said very small surfaces are arranged in approximately equally-spaced rows in the streamwise direction of the gas or liquid would be passing over the said athlete and said uniform,
• each of said very small surfaces are aligned approximately perpendicular to the local surface flow direction passing over the said athlete and said uniform,
• each of said very small surfaces extends outward from the said uniform exterior surface a distance equal to the order of the local boundary layer thickness on the said uniform,
• each of said very small surfaces may be of arbitrary cross section shape, each of said very small surfaces has a width equivalent to the height said very small surface extends outward from the exterior surface of the said uniform,
• each of said surface has a length equal to or greater than the height the said very small surface extends outward from the exterior surface of the said uniform.

A method for increasing the aerodynamic or hydrodynamic drag on a object moving through a gas or liquid comprising the following steps;

• modifying the exterior surface of the object to contain a plurality of very small surfaces distributed on the surface,
• said plurality of small surfaces are symmetrically distributed about the objects principle longitudinal axis,
• said very small surfaces are arranged in approximately equally spaced rows in the streamwise direction,
• each of said very small surfaces are aligned approximately perpendicular to the local surface flow direction,
• each of said very small surfaces extends outward from the exterior surface of the said object a distance equal to the distance of order of the local boundary layer thickness on the said object,
• each of said very small surfaces may be of arbitrary cross section shape,
• each of said very small surfaces has a width equivalent to the height said very small surface extends outward from the exterior surface of the said object,
• each of said surface has a length equal to or greater than the height the said very small surface extends outward from the exterior surface of the said object.