Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Ren-Jye Yang

Mohamed Ridha Baccouche

Rahul Arora

Clifford C Chou

Ching-Hung Chuang

Jerry Jialiang Le

Hom-Sen Tzou

A vehicle an underbody structure includes a bumper, a subframe, and a frame. The frame interconnects the bumper and the subframe. The frame includes first and second symmetrical halves spaced at a distance. The frame is attached to the bumper at front segments of each of the halves, and to the subframe at rear segments of each of the halves. The halves are defined by a plurality of legs formed with the front and rear segments such that the first and second halves define load paths configured to transfer energy throughout the frame.

Vehicle underbody structure for multiple load paths

A structural panel for an automotive vehicle includes an outer panel and a variable strength inner panel attached to the outer panel. The inner panel utilizes active elements formed from shape memory alloy (SMA). A controller activates the SMA elements so as to transform the inner panel from a normal state to a higher strength state in the event of an impact directed against a vehicle.

Automotive vehicle with structural panel having selectively deployable shape memory alloy elements

Growing community of inventors

Troy, MI, United States of America

Ren-Jye Yang