Vehicle including an aerodynamic system configured to selectively vary an aerodynamic force acting on the vehicle

An aerodynamic system, for a vehicle including a body having a center of gravity and located along a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, and including a plurality of sensors configured to collectively generate input signals corresponding to an operating condition of the vehicle, the aerodynamic system comprising:

• an aerodynamic element configured to be movably attached to the body and configured to be arranged to intersect the ambient airflow such that the ambient airflow circulates about the aerodynamic element and generates an aerodynamic force on the vehicle;
• a movement mechanism configured to movably couple the aerodynamic element and the body, wherein the movement mechanism is configured to selectively move the aerodynamic element, relative to the body, along the longitudinal axis and/or the lateral axis;
• and
• a controller configured to be in operative communication with the movement mechanism and the plurality of sensors, wherein the controller is operable to:
• determine a current position of the movement mechanism, corresponding to a current location of the aerodynamic element along the longitudinal axis and/or the lateral axis;
• determine a desired position of the movement mechanism, corresponding to a desired location of the aerodynamic element along the longitudinal axis and/or the lateral axis;
• transmit a movement signal to the movement mechanism to change position from the current position to the desired position, such that the aerodynamic element moves from the current location to the desired location along the longitudinal axis and/or the lateral axis;
• determine a current location of an aerodynamic center of the vehicle along the longitudinal axis and/or the lateral axis, as a function of at least one of the input signals;
• determine a required location of the aerodynamic center of the vehicle along the longitudinal axis and/or the lateral axis, as a function of at least one of the input signals;
• and
• wherein the controller being operable to determine a desired position of the movement mechanism is further defined as the controller being operable to determine a desired position of the movement mechanism corresponding to the required location of the aerodynamic center of the vehicle along the longitudinal axis and/or the lateral axis.

A method of controlling an aerodynamic force acting on a vehicle having a body located along a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis and an aerodynamic element configured to intersect an ambient airflow as the vehicle moves through the ambient airflow, the method comprising:

• determining, with a controller, a desired location of the aerodynamic element;
• determining, with the controller, a desired position of a movement mechanism corresponding to the desired location of the aerodynamic element, wherein the movement mechanism movably couples the aerodynamic element and the body, and is configured to selectively move the aerodynamic element relative to the body, along a longitudinal axis and/or a lateral axis;
• transmitting a movement signal to the movement mechanism to change position to the desired position and thereby change location of the aerodynamic element to the desired location along the longitudinal axis and/or the lateral axis;
• determining a required location of an aerodynamic center of the vehicle along the longitudinal axis and/or the lateral axis, as a function of at least one input signal;
• wherein determining a desired position of the movement mechanism is further defined as determining a desired position of the movement mechanism corresponding to the required location of the aerodynamic center of the vehicle along the longitudinal axis and/or the lateral axis;
• and
• wherein transmitting a movement signal is further defined as transmitting a movement signal to the movement mechanism to change position to the desired position to thereby change location of the aerodynamic element to the desired location and to thereby change location of the aerodynamic center to the required location.