Will Your Next Car Be Covered In Morphing Dimples?

cartechboy writes Golfing and cars, not much in common there. But that's about to change thanks to a new technology from a research lab at MIT called Smorphs. The idea is simple: put a set of dynamic dimples on the exterior of a car to improve its surface aerodynamics and make it slipperier, and therefore faster. Pedro Reis is the mechanical engineering and research spearheading this project. A while ago Mythbusters proved the validity of the dimpled car form in a much more low-tech way. The concept uses a hollow core surrounded by a thick, deformable layer, and a smoother outer skin. When vacuum is applied, the outer layers suck in to form the dimples. The technology is only in its very earliest stages, but we could see this applied to future vehicles in an effort to make them faster and more fuel efficient.

Re:11% fuel efficiency improvement

[mrbester]

They do. Compare a European car with a US one. Faster with smaller, more fuel efficient engines.

Re:Why not permanent?

[queazocotal]

I'm unsure - but suspect that if they were there permanently - with the profile done right, stamped out of the steel - they may improve stiffness, and reduce weight.
Stamping such a pattern would be 'interesting', and prone to lots of wear in the dies though.
For composite, in principle, it could almost be free.

Re:Why not permanent?

[oneandoneis2]

From TFA: "If a golf ball were to fly fast enough, it would be better off with a smooth skin."

The dimples make things better at low speeds, and worse at high speeds.

Re:11% fuel efficiency improvement

[ravenscar]

I know I'm feeding the trolls, but I'll venture that English is not Max_W's first language. Don't be an asshole. Or, if that's too hard, just be an asshole by yourself. No need to trumpet it online.

Re:11% fuel efficiency improvement

[gurps_npc]

Bull. It does not look ugly. It looks strange to you only because you have never seen it before. Let them start making it and all the young kids will say how cool it looks. (Look at what the silly things like in music!)

As for your argument about 11%, you are a very ignorant. It is not about replacing your car, but about making the NEXT car you buy 11% more fuel efficient.