Goldfish Mirror - Side Mirrors

[3dplane]

Originally Posted by kach22i

Is this a video camera?

LOL I was hoping you knew what it is!
Guess #1: Forward and rearward looking cameras. Forward look for racing footage and rear for the same plus maybe the driver can use it as a camera for rear view?

Guess#2: They are thrusters with mini turbines in them for acceleration and braking aid (joke over)!

Barna

[calfianu]

For the most of these days cars the mirror itself is glued on a plastic part on a sphere joint to adjust it's angle, all placed inside in a more or less aerodynamic housing.
Normally between the mirror and housing there is a gap. I wonder what benefit one can have if in the front of the mirror housing in an area of maximum pressure, an opening with the same area (or more) as the total gap on mirror side. Do the circulation of air inside the mirror will help to reduce the mirror drag ? The increased velocity of the air inside the mirror housing (inlet area bigger that outlet area) + some vortex generators placed in the same gap will have an positive effect ?
I wish I could place a sketch, because a picture is more than a thousand words (in engineering :P ) but the rules of this forum force me first to talk.
My car is diesel, I have no board computer and the scan gauge is not working for me so I cannot perform any tests to see if any benefit, so if one of you had already tested or have info regarding the concept or is able to test, some feed back will be appreciated.
Regards.

[euromodder]

I wouldn't bother.
Those gaps are usually small, so at best you could reduce the frontal area a bit, but you'd do so by ruining the mirror's aerodynamics.
I'd expect a lot of wind noise too.

If you can build a clear extension on the rear end of the mirror, that'll help.
If you gently taper that extension, it'll help even more.

[calfianu]

then it will be something like this: