Abstract: A drag reduction system for a vehicle, comprising at least one control surface movable relative to at least one surface of the vehicle; at least one actuator for adjusting a position of the at least one control surface relative to the at least one surface of the vehicle; at least one pressure sensor positioned so as to sense fluid pressure at, or near, a rear end surface of the vehicle; and a processor comprising an optimisation algorithm. The processor is programmed to randomly generate a first generation of control surface adjustment parameters, wherein each one of the control surface adjustment parameters is generated within a pre-defined range; receive sensor data from the at least one pressure sensor; and compare a characteristic of the sensor data to a threshold condition. A drag reduction method and a vehicle comprising the drag reduction system are also provided.

Abstract: A vehicle including a drag reduction system is described herein. The drag reduction system includes an eddy disrupter element mounted on a vehicle body and movable with respect to the vehicle body, a plurality of sensors mounted to the vehicle body, and a processor programed to operate the eddy disrupter based on signals received from the sensors. The plurality of sensors include a first sensor mounted near the rear end of the vehicle body and a second sensor mounted near the front end of the vehicle body for measuring fluid pressure adjacent to the vehicle body. The processor is programmed to operate the eddy disrupter element to adjust a position of the eddy disrupter element relative to the surface of the vehicle body based on a comparative analysis of a measured fluid pressure received from the first sensor and a measure fluid pressure received from the second sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle including a drag reduction system is described herein. The drag reduction system includes an eddy disrupter element mounted on a vehicle body and movable with respect to the vehicle body, a plurality of sensors mounted to the vehicle body, and a processor programmed to operate the eddy disrupter based on signals received from the sensors. The plurality of sensors include a first sensor mounted near the rear end of the vehicle body and a second sensor mounted near the front end of the vehicle body for measuring fluid pressure adjacent to the vehicle body. The processor is programmed to operate the eddy disrupter element to adjust a position of the eddy disrupter element relative to the surface of the vehicle body based on a comparative analysis of a measured fluid pressure received from the first sensor and a measure fluid pressure received from the second sensor.

Abstract: A vehicle including a drag reduction system is described herein. The drag reduction system includes an eddy disrupter element mounted on a vehicle body and movable with respect to the vehicle body, a plurality of sensors mounted to the vehicle body, and a processor programed to operate the eddy disrupter based on signals received from the sensors. The plurality of sensors include a first sensor mounted near the rear end of the vehicle body and a second sensor mounted near the front end of the vehicle body for measuring fluid pressure adjacent to the vehicle body. The processor is programmed to operate the eddy disrupter element to adjust a position of the eddy disrupter element relative to the surface of the vehicle body based on a comparative analysis of a measured fluid pressure received from the first sensor and a measure fluid pressure received from the second sensor.

Abstract: A system for reducing drag on a vehicle body moving through fluid includes a sensor mounted on the vehicle body for measuring data adjacent to the vehicle body surface, an eddy disrupter element mounted on the vehicle body for motion to a transverse position relative to the plane of the vehicle body surface and a processor for facilitating a comparative analysis of the measured data with a threshold condition to determine if the threshold condition is satisfied, wherein the threshold condition is associated with drag resulting from the vehicle body movement through the fluid that can be reduced by the motion of the eddy disrupter element to a transverse position relative to the plane of the vehicle body surface and wherein the element is responsive to satisfaction of the threshold condition.

Abstract: A system for reducing drag on a vehicle body moving through fluid includes a sensor mounted on the vehicle body for measuring data adjacent to the vehicle body surface, an eddy disrupter element mounted on the vehicle body for motion to a transverse position relative to the plane of the vehicle body surface and a processor for facilitating a comparative analysis of the measured data with a threshold condition to determine if the threshold condition is satisfied, wherein the threshold condition is associated with drag resulting from the vehicle body movement through the fluid that can be reduced by the motion of the eddy disrupter element to a transverse position relative to the plane of the vehicle body surface and wherein the element is responsive to satisfaction of the threshold condition.