At last year's International Engineering Fair, we showcased an experimental Škoda Fabia equipped with a system for actively controlling airflow around the vehicle at the BUT stand. This year, we are building on that presentation with two achievements: the technology has received a Czech patent, and we are presenting another experimental vehicle at the fair – this time a Škoda Enyaq connected to a digital twin for research into advanced driver assistance systems.
The Czech patent, entitled “Device for Influencing Airflow Around a Vehicle”, is the result of a joint effort by Brno University of Technology and Škoda Auto. It was granted on 13 August 2026, with the official notice of grant published in the Industrial Property Office Bulletin on 23 September 2026. The patent number is 310794.
How does the modified Fabia's system work?
The system draws air from strategically selected points on the vehicle body and directs it towards outlet slots at the rear. By adjusting the angle of these outlets, the direction of the exiting airflow can be changed, allowing the vehicle's aerodynamic characteristics to be adapted to different driving conditions.
Depending on its configuration, the system can help reduce aerodynamic drag or increase downforce and vehicle stability. Individual outlets can be controlled independently, and the volume of supplied air can also be regulated. This makes it possible to actively manage airflow around the vehicle and reduce the energy required to operate it.
The inventors behind the technology are Robert Popela, Jan Vančura, Stavros Karampelas, Vojtěch Trusík and Vojtěch Hudeček. The granted patent is a tangible result of collaboration between university research and the automotive industry.
This year's trade fair features an Enyaq with a digital twin
At this year's International Engineering Fair, we are expanding our presentation of experimental automotive development into another area: testing advanced driver assistance systems, commonly known as ADAS.
At the BUT stand, we are showcasing an experimental Škoda Enyaq modified for demanding tests and connected to a digital twin as part of the ADASTWIN project. Measurements collected from the real vehicle are used to refine its virtual model and compare simulated behaviour with real-world performance.
The project also includes a digital model of a selected area of Brno, covering approximately four kilometres of roads, thirty intersections and nearly thirteen thousand objects. This allows the vehicle to be tested in a virtual environment using repeatable scenarios based on real transport infrastructure.
This capability is essential for developing driver assistance systems. It makes it possible to safely test critical traffic situations, compare different versions of control algorithms and prepare physical tests based on simulation results.
More information about the project is available on the ADASTWIN website.
The research is supported by the project “Innovative Technologies for Smart Low-Emission Mobility”, registration number CZ.02.01.01/00/23_020/0008528, funded through the Jan Amos Komenský Operational Programme (OP JAK) under the Intersectoral Cooperation call, and by the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic's Transport Programme project “Using HD Maps to Accelerate the Development of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and Autonomous Mobility” (ADASTWIN).