Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Vijaya Sirangu

David T Renke

Joseph M Polewarczyk

Richard A Berger

Anthony V Marmo

An assist step assembly includes a linkage assembly including a first linkage member and a second linkage member, an assist step coupled to the linkage assembly and movable from a first assist step position to a second assist step position, an aerodynamic member coupled to the linkage assembly and movable from a first aerodynamic member position to a second aerodynamic member position, a movement mechanism coupled to the aerodynamic member and configured move the aerodynamic member from the first aerodynamic member position to the second aerodynamic member position, and a controller in electronic communication with the movement mechanism, the controller configured to determine an operating condition, determine a position of the assist step based on the operating condition, and generate one or more control signals to move the aerodynamic member from the first aerodynamic member position to the second aerodynamic member position.

Adjustable assist step for aerodynamic improvement

A side-skirt system for a vehicle includes first and second side-skirts. The vehicle includes a vehicle body having a first body end facing oncoming ambient airflow when the vehicle is in motion, an opposing second body end, and first and second lateral body sides spanning a distance between the two body ends. The vehicle also includes at least one first road wheel proximate the first body end and at least one second road wheel proximate the second body end. The first and second side-skirts are mounted to the respective first and second lateral body sides between the respective first and second road wheels and configured to adjust respective magnitudes of aerodynamic disturbance at the lateral body sides when the vehicle is in motion. The system also includes a mechanism configured to shift the first and second side-skirts relative to the vehicle body and adjust the respective magnitudes of aerodynamic disturbance.

Growing community of inventors

Shelby Township, MI, United States of America

Vijaya Sirangu