Active aerodynamic chassis control

An automobile having a yaw axis and a roll axis, the automobile comprising:

• a chassis;
• a body having a rear portion and a front portion, the body of the automobile being mounted on the chassis;
• a plurality of sensors distributed across the automobile and configured to detect environmental events and driver events;
• a control unit in electronic communication with the plurality of sensors;
• and
• a chassis stabilization system, including:
• a first plurality of fins movably installed on a first plurality of fin locations under the automobile and configured to cause a first plurality of forces to be applied to and distributed under the automobile to control a yaw movement or rotation of the automobile about the yaw axis, and
• a first plurality of paddles movably installed on a first plurality of paddle locations under the automobile and configured to cause a second plurality of forces to be applied to and distributed over the body of the automobile to control a roll movement or rotation of the automobile about the roll axis,
• wherein the plurality of sensors are configured to detect a feedback yaw effect of the applied first plurality of forces, a feedback roll effect of the applied second plurality of forces and a feedback environmental condition,
• wherein the first plurality of fins are configured to cause a first plurality of response forces to be applied to the automobile to control the yaw movement or rotation of the automobile about the yaw axis based on the feedback yaw effect and the feedback environmental condition, and
• wherein the first plurality of paddles are configured to cause a second plurality of response forces to be applied to the automobile to control the roll movement or rotation of the automobile about the roll axis based on the feedback roll effect and the feedback environmental condition.

A method for stabilizing an automobile which has a yaw axis and a roll axis, the method comprising:

• providing an aerodynamic chassis control system comprising an electronic control unit, a plurality of yaw control elements installed on a body of the automobile and a plurality of roll control elements installed under the automobile;
• actuating the plurality of yaw control elements in response to a first driver event or a first environmental event being detected by the electronic control unit, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to command the plurality of yaw control elements to cause a first plurality of forces to be applied to and distributed over the body of the automobile for controlling a yaw movement of the automobile about the yaw axis in response to the first driver event or the first environmental event;
• actuating the plurality of roll control elements in response to a second driver event or a second environmental event being detected by the electronic control unit, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to command the plurality of roll control elements to cause a second plurality of forces to be applied to and distributed under the automobile for controlling a roll movement of the automobile about the roll axis;
• detecting, using a first plurality of sensors, a feedback yaw effect of the applied first plurality of forces and a feedback roll effect of the applied second plurality of forces;
• iteratively detecting, using a second plurality of sensors, a feedback environmental condition;
• causing, using the plurality of yaw control elements, a first plurality of response forces to be applied to the automobile to control the yaw movement of the automobile about the yaw axis based on the feedback yaw effect and the feedback environmental condition;
• and
• causing, using the plurality of roll control elements, a second plurality of response forces to be applied to the automobile to control the roll movement of the automobile about the roll axis based on the feedback roll effect and the feedback environmental condition.

An automobile having a yaw axis, the automobile comprising:

• a chassis;
• a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the chassis;
• an engine mounted to the chassis and configured to engage and drive the plurality of wheels;
• a body mounted on the chassis and configured to at least partially enclose the engine;
• a control unit in electronic communication with the engine and configured to manage an operation of the engine;
• a chassis stabilization system including a first plurality of moveable aerodynamic elements, the first plurality moveable aerodynamic elements being configured to cause a first plurality of forces to be applied to and distributed over the body of the automobile to control a yaw movement or rotation of the automobile about the yaw axis, wherein the chassis stabilization system is in electronic communication with the control unit such that the control unit moves the first plurality of moveable aerodynamic elements in response to a first driver event or a first environmental event causing a yaw displacement of the automobile about the yaw axis;
• a first plurality of sensors configured to detect a feedback yaw effect of the applied first plurality of forces;
• and
• a second plurality of sensors configured to detect a feedback environmental condition,
• wherein the first plurality of moveable aerodynamic elements are configured to cause a first plurality of response forces to be applied to the automobile to control the yaw movement of the automobile about the yaw axis based on the feedback yaw effect and based on the feedback environmental condition.