A neat innovation for all you AutoX and track stars, AeroMotions is developing a wing that is computer controlled to adjust and adapt to your aero needs,,,,
Pretty neat stuff if it proves out...

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/11/d...poiler-debuts/

 

I doubt applicability to auto-x. Most auto-x is done in 2nd gear - not fast enough to significantly benefit from aero downforce.

 

^^^^^

I'm with you. You're not going fast enough around turns for it to do much in autox..... but out on the track, that could prove to be very useful.

 

^^ agree. i can see thsi helping track drivers. but as for auto x i dont see the purpose of it. but great find OP

 

Actually, I was talking with one of the developers about this yesterday (the prototype car is a local auto-x car) and the wing has such an aggressive profile that it starts generating downforce at around 30 mph.

They have done a lot of research and testing on this...it is pretty trick stuff.

 

been done (in the 70's no less) and banned in real racing. I don't know about parking lots. You can generate plenty of downforce at lowspeeds.

 

Wow that thing is ugly!

 

At 30mph downforce sounds like overkill. Especially if you're not getting any downforce on the front.

 

I'm with superglue.
I'm still skeptical about practical application at low speeds.
Yet, the split wing design is really interesting... like aero "stabilizer bars".

Anyone know if research is being done on lateral dynamic ballasts that move around the car to offset cornering g's? I know, pretty crazy idea.

 

Wrong. Check most of the top X Prepared or Street Modified 2 cars, and you'll find that a lot of the top cars use big wings... and generate meaningful downforce at "parking lot" speeds.

Better yet, check out the aero aids on A Modified, B Modified, or Formula SAE cars. As a former contributor to the University of Texas at Arlington's Formula SAE team, I can tell you that the aero on our cars was developed using hundreds of hours of computer simulation and wind tunnel testing, and it worked.

 

I'm not doubting that it makes downforce, I'm just not seeing how useful actual downforce is at autox speeds. Maybe for a super light that showed up on a trailer.

 

OK. Any applicability to stock or mildly modified classes, like street touring? It'd have to be quite an large wing to generate proportionally significant aero downforce. Any wing of that size in the aforementioned classes likely would be more of a drag/weight hindrance than help.

 

There is a local guy, with a miata, that is working up a system to tilt his wing more vertical when he hits his brakes. This would work more like the Chaparral 2G. He is using air pressure as the actuator.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qrQjkaMzpZA

 

That's cool.

 

thats pretty wild, I wonder how much the air hydrolics weigh,, looks like a very nimble responsive system...

 

Looks like the new attack KITT will have something similar. LOL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opYYw...eature=related

 

What are air hydrolics?

I think you mean "pneumatics" and for future reference, it's spelled "hydraulics".

He's using a very simple circuit with nothing more than some tubing, a valve, an air reservoir, two cylinders, and a limit switch under the brake pedal. You can get a set up like that for less than $100 if you go with the cheap stuff. Only thing that would add significant weight would be the air reservoir which could be anywhere from 10~20lbs fully pressurized.

Seems like it would have minimal gains. And since it's definitely not legal in stock class, then he would be better off with proper brake upgrades and better tires.

That's my $0.02

 

I'd like to see that Sero motion.

And the guy in the Miata is gonna stop alot faster.