Ferrari has come up with an auto-braking system to protect the splitter from kerbstones
Even the most experienced sports car driver can't always judge how close the front splitter is to a kerb or a speed bump. Ferrari's new patent application offers a solution to this problem.
Here's What We Know
Splitters on modern sports cars are getting lower and wider, working perfectly on the track but causing difficulties in the city. Hence the popularity of front axle lift systems, which allow you to overcome obstacles without consequences.
Ferrari, on the other hand, offers a different approach - not to lift the car, but to stop it in time. According to the patent documentation, the system uses sensors to measure the height of an object in front of the car. If it is too large and threatens contact with the splitter, the driver will hear an audible warning. If you ignore the signal and continue driving, the electronics will apply the brakes themselves.
Image from the patent application. Illustration: Ferrari
Curiously, Ferrari doesn't rely on speed data from the standard electronics. The system calculates it in real time based on the distance between two points. The patent also mentions the possibility of displaying notifications on a smartphone or multimedia screen, which further closes possible loopholes for competitors.
Porsche, Chevrolet and other manufacturers already use suspension lift systems that can work in conjunction with GPS: the car lifts itself in places where obstacles are often encountered. Ideally, such solutions could be combined. On the other hand, some owners fundamentally refuse such systems for the sake of weight reduction - for them automatic braking can become an alternative.
However, so far it is only a patent. It is possible that the technology will remain in the base of Ferrari's ideas and will never reach serial models.
Source: Carbuzz
