A DIY Active Aero Straight Out of MTV's "Pimp My Ride"
Michael Rechtin installed an Arduino-powered spoiler that adjusts its angle based on his car's movement.
Active aero systems, which move a spoiler based on a car’s movement are nothing new; however, as Michael Rechtin explains, they’re generally reserved for really fast vehicles. But what about those that aren’t actually that fast, but do have such upgrades as a new exhaust and custom shift knob? Do these cars need active aero as well?
The short answer is probably not, but even so Rechtin decided to construct a custom movable spoiler for his otherwise normal-looking Mazda. The assembly uses an Arduino Nano to control a pair of servos that pitch the wing up and down, along with an MPU-6050 to sense acceleration and work out the car's speed. Power is provided by a two-cell LiPo. This allows it to run it without modification to the vehicle's electrical system.
It’s attached to the trunk via a series of suction cups for easy installation, though one might want to use some sort of safety line when driving. The spoiler basically acts as a flipped airplane wing, pushing down, rather than lifting into the sky. He gives a good explanation of how this works in the video, and even how such a system can be used for air braking.
It’s a neat build, yet he’s quick to admit it’s not the most practical driving device available. His foam cutter, however, which we featured here some time ago, could be used for all kinds of things.