Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Caleb Potvin

Timothy D Demetrio

Rebecca Tjoelker

Jason D Fahland

Joshua R Auden

Samantha J Bray

An adjustable body skirting assembly and a vehicle that includes the assembly. The assembly includes a support structure and a skirt member. The support structure includes a side surface and a bottom surface, and the skirt member is supported by the support structure. The skirt member is movable between a deployed position in which the skirt member is disposed transverse to the bottom surface of the support structure such that the skirt member and the side surface cooperate with each other to define a wall configured to redirect an airflow away from the bottom surface, and a retracted position in which the skirt member retracts relative to the side surface such that the wall is removed which allows the airflow to interact with the bottom surface. The assembly includes an actuator coupled to the skirt member and configured to move the skirt member to the deployed and retracted positions.

Adjustable body skirting assembly and a vehicle

An automotive vehicle according to the present disclosure includes a body having a lower surface with a plurality of vehicle wheels having respective contact surfaces for contacting a driving surface. An underbody space is thereby defined between the contact surfaces and the lower surface of the body. The vehicle additionally includes a movable air deflector coupled to the lower surface and projecting into the underbody space. The air deflector has a first position with a first blockage profile and a second position with a second blockage profile. The vehicle additionally includes an actuator coupled to the air deflector, which is configured to drive the air deflector between the first position and the second position. The vehicle further includes a controller configured to, in response to satisfaction of an operating condition, control the actuator to move the air deflector from the first position to the second position.

Active deflector system for an automotive vehicle

An adjustable aerodynamic assembly includes a support structure and a blocking member supported by the support structure. The blocking member is movable between an extended position in which the blocking member is disposed transverse to the support structure to interact with an airflow and a retracted position in which the blocking member retracts to minimize interaction with the airflow. The adjustable aerodynamic assembly also includes an actuator coupled to the blocking member and configured to move the blocking member to the extended and retracted positions, and a detection member coupled to the blocking member and configured to determine whether a surface of the blocking member is detected. A method of monitoring the adjustable aerodynamic assembly includes determining whether the surface of the blocking member is detected via the detection member. The method also includes selectively activating the actuator to move the blocking member to the extended and retracted positions.

Adjustable aerodynamic assembly and a method

A system is configured to control aerodynamics of a vehicle. The vehicle includes a vehicle body having a first end facing an ambient airflow when the vehicle is in motion relative to a road surface and a second end arranged opposite the first end. The system includes an air deflector moveably mounted to the vehicle body. The system also includes a mechanism configured to selectively vary a height of the deflector relative to the road surface and a position of the deflector relative to the vehicle body. The system additionally includes a controller configured to determine a ride-height of the vehicle and correlate the determined vehicle ride-height to a target height of the deflector relative to the road surface. The controller is further configured to regulate the mechanism to select the target height of the deflector relative to the road surface to thereby control the aerodynamics of the vehicle.

Vehicle ride-height dependent control of air deflector

Disclosed are active variable-width aerodynamic spoiler assemblies, methods for making or for operating such active spoiler assemblies, and vehicles equipped with such active spoiler assemblies. A disclosed active spoiler assembly for modifying the aerodynamic performance of a motor vehicle includes a main body rigidly mounted to the vehicle body, extending transversely across the vehicle. The main body has an elongated construction with opposing longitudinal ends. First and second fins are each movably attached to a respective one of the opposing longitudinal ends of the main body. Also, first and second fin actuators are each attached to the vehicle body and attached to a respective one of the movable fins. The first fin actuator is selectively actuatable to independently move the first fin between respective retracted and extended positions, whereas the second fin actuator is selectively actuatable to independently move the second fin between respective retracted and extended positions.

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Sterling Heights, MI, United States of America

Caleb Potvin