New patents show that the Bavarian brand plans to develop movable fins. There aren't many details in the patent, but BMW may be working on winglets for its future superbikes.
The latest generation of the BMW S 1000 RR hit the market shortly before various competitors proved that winglets weren't exclusively reserved for MotoGP prototypes – and now the firm is returning to the forefront by developing the technology movable fins.
With Ducati and Honda both opting to add winglets to their hypersports this year, it's clear that this is a technology that all hypersports will adopt in the future. With WSBK rules only allowing fins if they are fitted as standard on the homologated version, it is inevitable that we are entering an era of technical one-upmanship as the factories involved in this championship scramble to scrounge up every last scrap. advantage on the track. And there's also a marketing advantage for road models: your bike's downforce at 130 km/h could soon be a feature mentioned alongside power and weight.
BMW's ideas involve mounting the fins on unsprung parts for a more direct downforce result.
So far, the fins appearing on production motorcycles stem from what has been seen in MotoGP. This makes sense from a marketing perspective and saves money because the R&D has already been done on these aerodynamic designs. However, MotoGP rules impose strict limits on wing sizes and positions, as well as banning moving aerodynamic surfaces. On the street there are no such restrictions and the current WSBK racing regulations are also open to the use of more extreme fin designs, including movable versions, provided that they must also be used on production motorcycles.
This brings us to BMW's latest idea: front and rear fins, mounted on the suspension rather than the fairing, that can move in multiple directions to adjust their downforce and drag characteristics.
One of the patents shows a simple single actuator working on the aileron to change its angle.
Although such designs are not legal in MotoGP, it is not a category in which BMW is entered. Thus, their intention seems to be to want to push the limits of what is possible.
The patent images that show the development ideas are generally simplistic, illustrating the concept without giving too much detail in terms of the final appearance. However, as well as illustrating the normal fairing-mounted aerofoils, they show an alternative layout with fork- and swingarm-mounted fins.
It makes sense to place the fins directly in the unsprung parts of the motorcycle rather than on the fairing, because this means that their support acts directly on the wheels. Early attempts to put wings on F1 cars followed a similar development, with aerodynamic profiles attached to the suspension uprights rather than the bodywork – until the idea was banned.
Another idea is to use multiple actuators for additional movements in different planes.
The design defined in this patent also allows the aerodynamic surfaces to move under the control of a specific computer and actuators attached to each fin. We've seen other patents explore this idea, particularly from Honda, but BMW takes it a step further. Honda's idea, which has yet to be seen on a production motorcycle but is featured in several patents, is to use retractable fins that pop out of the airflow when not needed, which reduces drag. BMW, on the other hand, aims to change the angle of its ailerons based on speed, acceleration and throttle and brake positions. In its simplest form, the patent shows a single actuator attached to each aileron.
However, the latest patent takes this thinking even further. BMW engineers suggest that additional actuators could be used to change the angle of the fins in the fore-aft plane, making them move like the pivoting wings of an F-14 Tomcat. Another idea shows that another actuator could be used to extend the flap sections at the tips of the ailerons, although the patent does not describe the aerodynamic advantage that would be gained.
The angle of the ailerons can be changed depending on speed, acceleration and brakes.
There is a good chance that the more extreme control moves suggested in BMW's patent allow the company to intellectually protect as many cases as possible rather than a true indication that the German firm intends to implement ideas.
