In this paper, the development procedure of an innovative control algorithm is shown, with the aim of improving handling performance of a high-end sport vehicle by actively controlling aerodynamic forces acting on the vehicle itself. The proposed control algorithm operates indirectly by modifying ride-heights of the vehicle through an active suspensions system.

The vehicle dynamics analysis is conducted in parallel to the aerodynamics analysis performed in a concurrent engineering operation.

The software used for control algorithms development is VI-CarRealTime, in co-simulation with Matlab-Simulink, with an extended use of the MaxPerformance package. Specific tracks have been implemented ad hoc to highlight the effects of the control systems operation in development phase.

To better explore the potential of the technique, a fuzzy logic system was developed.

Starting from a brief overview about the State of the Art in terms of active suspensions, a development procedure for an innovative control algorithm has been shown. With the aim of improving dynamic and handling performance of a high-end full electric sport vehicle by active control of the aerodynamic forces acting on the vehicle body.

The control algorithm’s development procedure has been implemented according to an iterative path with an extended use of MaxPerformance package of VI-CarRealTime, in cosimulation with Matlab-Simulink environment. Specific maneuvers have been developed to test the action of the active control systems in development phase.

One of the most innovative aspects of this paper discussion is probably the simulated market scenario in which it is contextualized. The parallel work between aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics departments gave the authors, and hopefully the reader too, the possibility to have an integrated vision of how this two aspects are strictly bonded one each other, influencing vehicle performance, and how this connection must be continuously taken into account in project development phase.

The effects of vehicle body motion and ride heights variation in particular, which are influenced both by driving conditions and aerodynamic forces, on aerodynamic forces themselves and vehicle overall balance has been shown; highlighting the important impact that these effects can have on vehicle handling behavior and lap-time performance. This observation brought to the implementation of an active suspensions’ control algorithm aimed to control aerodynamic forces exploiting the phenomenon.

To modify vehicle trim, and CoG height, however, has also a direct and not negligible impact on vehicle dynamics performance. The interaction between these two effects has been deepened with attention to how they are differently related to vehicle speed, which is taken as reference to assign priority to mechanical chassis performance vs aerodynamic performance optimization.


Advanced Vehicle Dynamics Through Active Aerodynamics and Active Body Control

Division / Sponsors: 
Design Engineering Division and Computers & Information In Engineering Division


Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/IDETC-CIE/IDETC-CIE2020/volume/83907

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