SBIR Phase II: Multi Sub-System Miniaturization and Development for Semi-Truck Fuel Savings Device

这项小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目的更广泛影响和商业潜力是减少燃料消耗，提高安全性和稳定性，减少卡车运输行业的碳足迹，同时提高盈利能力。美国70%以上的货运吨位由卡车运输。在高速公路上行驶时，空气动力阻力消耗了车辆总能量的65%以上。该装置通过持续优化气动性能，改进了半卡车的气动性能。该项目将气动、传感器和人工智能（AI）控制系统从概念验证推向商业化。由于燃油是一项重要的运营成本，因此拥有一款能够根据实时运行条件确定并提供拖车最佳空气动力学外形的商业产品，可能会改变卡车运输行业的游戏规则。该系统的商业化有可能为所有美国车队节省能源，节省超过30亿加仑的柴油，减少向大气中排放超过3350万吨的二氧化碳，使卡车运输公司的利润增加两倍，每年节省220亿美元。SBIR第二阶段项目建议开发一种用于半卡车的气动附加原型，通过动态改变拖车的气动外形来适应不同的操作条件，从而节省燃料。这个SBIR项目的目标是通过系统小型化和封装、控制器优化以及提高整体系统性能、可靠性和安全性，将设备从原型发展到第一个商业上可行的发布。为了使整个系统占地面积最小化而进行的研究将最大限度地减少任何额外的操作影响，确保广泛采用和利用，最大限度地节省燃料。优化人工智能控制器操作的研究将最大限度地节省燃料，因为它将允许设备在更广泛的操作条件下运行。进一步开发以提高系统性能、可靠性和增加安全辅助将提高卡车运输业的利润率，同时改善公众的道路安全。该项目旨在为卡车运输行业节省10%的运营成本，同时提高其在全国范围内运营的效率和安全性。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is reducing fuel consumption, improving safety and stability, and reducing the carbon footprint of the trucking industry while increasing profitability. Over 70% of US freight tonnage is moved by trucks. At highway speeds, aerodynamic drag uses over 65% of the total vehicle energy. The proposed device modifies the aerodynamic behavior of semi-trucks using air injection by allowing continuous optimization of aerodynamic performance. This project will bring the pneumatic, sensor and artificial intelligence (AI) control systems from proof-of-concept to commercialization. Having a commercial product capable of determining and delivering the trailer’s best aerodynamic profile based on real-time operating conditions may be a game-changer for the trucking industry, as fuel is a significant operating cost. Commercializing this system has the potential to create an energy savings for all US fleets, saving more than 3 billion gallons of diesel fuel, reducing the release of more than 33.5 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, tripling trucking company profits, and saving an annual $22 billion.This SBIR Phase II project proposes development of an aerodynamic add-on prototype for semi-trucks to save fuel by dynamically changing the trailer’s aerodynamic profile to accommodate diverse operating conditions. Objectives of this SBIR Project are to evolve the device from prototype to the first commercially viable release through system miniaturization and encapsulation, controller optimization, and improved overall system performance, reliability, and safety. Research conducted to miniaturize the overall system footprint will minimize any additional operational impacts, ensuring widespread adoption and utilization that maximizes fuel savings. Research to optimize the Artificial Intelligence-Controller operation will maximize fuel savings because it will allow the device to operate under a broader set of operational conditions. Further development to improve system performance, reliability, and the addition of a safety assist will improve the profit margins of the trucking industry while simultaneously improving on-road safety for the public. The project seeks to deliver 10% savings in operational costs for the trucking industry while improving the efficiency and safety of their country-wide operations.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.