2020_subaru_technicalmtg_e

30/60 Straight-Line Driving Stability

The next point is straight-line driving stability. Drivers feel less fatigue in a vehicle that runs straight, but it is very difficult to make vehicles run straight. On actual roads, the straight-line driving stability of a vehicle is disturbed due to external factors such as undulating surfaces, natural winds, and irregular winds generated by neighboring cars. Also, stability can be impaired by a vehicle’s own aerodynamic force, which may further cause vibrating air flow to the vehicle. What we need to do is to analyze these factors comprehensively. However, with conventional wind tunnels it is difficult to reproduce the effects of the road surface and, accordingly, we think there is a need for instruments designed to analyze road surface impact. As shown in the picture on the right, we plan wind tunnel testing with a 2.74km long straight tunnel in association with CARF in UK.