The disclosure provides a vehicle body lower structure. The vehicle body lower structure includes an airflow guiding plate that is arranged on the vehicle body of a vehicle and is movable between a receiving position covering the lower part of the vehicle body and a deploying position protruding downward. Specifically, the airflow guiding plate includes a front airflow guiding plate and a rear airflow guiding plate. The front airflow guiding plate is rotatably arranged on the vehicle body with its front end, and the rear airflow guiding plate is rotatably arranged with its front end on the rear end of the front airflow guiding plate, and its rear end is slidably arranged on the vehicle body in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Moreover, the orientation of the front airflow guiding plate is different from the orientation of the rear airflow guiding plate in the deploying position.

A deployable fairing for a transport vehicle comprises a flexible, internally pressurizable enclosure supported by a structural frame. The structural frame comprises a plurality of rigid structural members forming at least two subframes that are pivotally coupled to one another and is foldably movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The enclosure moves with the structural frame, unfolds when the structural frame moves into the expanded configuration and folds in upon itself when the structural frame moves into the collapsed configuration. Moving the structural frame into the expanded configuration develops tension on at least part of the outer surface of the enclosure, and movement of the structural frame into the collapsed configuration releases the tension. When the enclosure is internally pressurized while the structural frame is in the expanded configuration, the outer surface of the enclosure is structurally stiff and conforms to a predefined aerodynamic shape.

A deployable fairing for a transport vehicle comprises a flexible, internally pressurizable enclosure supported by a structural frame. The structural frame comprises a plurality of rigid structural members forming at least two subframes that are pivotally coupled to one another and is foldably movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The enclosure moves with the structural frame, unfolds when the structural frame moves into the expanded configuration and folds in upon itself when the structural frame moves into the collapsed configuration. Moving the structural frame into the expanded configuration develops tension on at least part of the outer surface of the enclosure, and movement of the structural frame into the collapsed configuration releases the tension. When the enclosure is internally pressurized while the structural frame is in the expanded configuration, the outer surface of the enclosure is structurally stiff and conforms to a predefined aerodynamic shape.

Deflector device (7) for a motor vehicle wheel (3), comprising at least one aerodynamic region (4, 400, 401) designed to be exposed to an external air flow (IO), the device (7) further comprising an articulated mechanism (21) for moving the at least one aerodynamic region (4, 400, 401) so as to allow the deflector (7) to move from the retracted position to the deployed position, said articulated mechanism (21) comprising a drive member (22), and said articulated mechanism (21) being arranged to move the drive member (22) translationally when the deflector device (7) moves from the retracted position to the deployed position, the deflector device (7) comprising an actuator (19) configured to control the articulated mechanism (21) so as to allow the aerodynamic regions of the deflector to move relative to each other, said deflector device (7) further comprising a security device (50) configured to return said deflector device (7) to the retracted position without intervention by the actuator (19).

Deflector device (7) for a motor vehicle wheel (3), comprising at least one aerodynamic region (4, 400, 401) designed to be exposed to an external air flow (IO), the device (7) further comprising an articulated mechanism (21) for moving the at least one aerodynamic region (4, 400, 401) so as to allow the deflector (7) to move from the retracted position to the deployed position, said articulated mechanism (21) comprising a drive member (22), and said articulated mechanism (21) being arranged to move the drive member (22) translationally when the deflector device (7) moves from the retracted position to the deployed position, the deflector device (7) comprising an actuator (19) configured to control the articulated mechanism (21) so as to allow the aerodynamic regions of the deflector to move relative to each other, said deflector device (7) further comprising a security device (50) configured to return said deflector device (7) to the retracted position without intervention by the actuator (19).

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a deployable fairing system to a tractor trailer. The deployable fairing system includes an actuator used to extend the deployable fairing from an unextended configuration to an extended configuration to occupy a portion of a gap area that exists between a tractor and an attached trailer. The deployable fairing includes deployable upper and/or lower horizontal assemblies that are pivotally coupled to a frame attached to the tractor/cab, and two side panels that are pivotally coupled to one or both of the upper and lower horizontal assemblies. The deployable upper and lower horizontal assemblies and the two side panels fold in on one another along multiple hinged axes in the unextended configuration, and extend rearward from the top and sides of the tractor in the extended configuration to cover a portion of the gap. The fairing may advantageously flair from front to the rear.

An airflow adjusting apparatus includes an airflow generator, a state detector, and a controller. The airflow generator is configured to generate a control airflow to cause the control airflow to join an around-vehicle airflow formed around a vehicle body of a traveling vehicle. The airflow generator is configured to vary a flow direction of the control airflow with respect to a surface of the vehicle body. The state detector is configured to detect a state of the around-vehicle airflow. The controller is configured to vary the flow direction of the control airflow on the basis of the state of the around-vehicle airflow detected by the state detector.

An airflow adjusting apparatus includes an airflow generator, a state detector, and a controller. The airflow generator is configured to generate a control airflow to cause the control airflow to join an around-vehicle airflow formed around a vehicle body of a traveling vehicle. The airflow generator is configured to vary a flow direction of the control airflow with respect to a surface of the vehicle body. The state detector is configured to detect a state of the around-vehicle airflow. The controller is configured to vary the flow direction of the control airflow on the basis of the state of the around-vehicle airflow detected by the state detector.

A control system of a vehicle comprising: i) a plurality of adjustable aerodynamic control devices associated with the vehicle; ii) a fuel economy sensor configured to determine a first fuel economy measurement; and iii) an aerodynamic device controller module configured to adjust a first one of the plurality of adjustable aerodynamic control devices and to receive from the fuel economy sensor a second fuel economy measurement. The aerodynamic device controller module stores in an onboard database state information corresponding to settings of the plurality of adjustable aerodynamic control devices if the second fuel economy measurement is an improvement over the first fuel economy measurement.

Rear fences and a system for deploying said rear fences on a vehicle are described. The rear fences are disposed inboard of and spaced apart from the rear pillars. The rear fences may be folded against the rear panel of the vehicle when retracted and are rotated to a central position in a deployed position. The system includes a deployment control system including controller logic having at least one processor and a memory storing instructions for implementing deployment and retraction of rear fences on a vehicle.