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Old 01-11-2010, 02:36 PM   #442 (permalink)
Otto
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Quote:
Originally Posted by archcritick View Post
This looks like it has problems for any car that will be a) driven in traffic or b) parked in a parking space.

I wonder if inflatability might be an answer- the thing could inflate and extend at higher speeds, and retract at lower.

Looks like the first stage of cowling could be transparent, solving the visibility problem.

And an excellent crumple zone it is, as someone pointed out.

Actually, NASA or the US Dept of Transportation studied inflatable bag fairings some years ago, and found the idea to have merit. The thing billows out behind the truck trailer like the shirt on a motorcyclist, so is self-inflating, but then drooped or sagged down at low speed. Perhaps a take-up reel could be used to retract such a self-inflating bag.
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