- Research team led by professor Shim Hyun-cheol of the School of Electrical Engineering

- Wins top student paper award at IEEE IV 2026

Na Seong-won, a doctoral student, and professor Shim Hyun-cheol (top right) pose after winning the best student paper award at IV 2026, an international conference on intelligent vehicles. [KAIST]
Na Seong-won, a doctoral student, and professor Shim Hyun-cheol (top right) pose after winning the best student paper award at IV 2026, an international conference on intelligent vehicles. [KAIST]

South Korean researchers have secured a key technology that adjusts airflow in real time to match driving conditions, improving the performance and safety of high-performance electric vehicles.

KAIST announced Thursday that the research team led by professor Shim Hyun-cheol of the School of Electrical Engineering, with support from Hyundai Motor, developed a multi-active aerodynamic system applicable to high-performance electric vehicles and validated it on a real vehicle in a circuit environment.

The findings won first place in the best student paper award at the IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium (IV 2026), the world's foremost international conference in the field of intelligent vehicles.

To integrate and control four active aerodynamic devices mounted on the front and rear of a vehicle as a single system, the research team built an aerodynamic model based on wind tunnel testing — experiments that generate strong airflow to replicate real driving conditions.

The team also developed a control framework that analyzes driving conditions in real time — including vehicle speed and steering state — to select the optimal aerodynamic mode. The framework was validated through high-precision vehicle simulation and real-vehicle testing.

The proposed active aerodynamic system operating on a real vehicle during circuit driving tests. [KAIST]
The proposed active aerodynamic system operating on a real vehicle during circuit driving tests. [KAIST]

Unlike previous studies that relied primarily on simulation, the team conducted real-vehicle driving tests at the Yeongam International Circuit — a FIA Grade 1 facility certified to host Formula One races — to demonstrate the technology's practical effectiveness.

Test results showed that the proposed active aerodynamic system effectively reduced lap times, improved braking and cornering performance, and enhanced vehicle stability in high-performance electric vehicles. By confirming consistent performance gains in both simulation and real-vehicle testing, the research also points to the technology's potential for future mobility applications, including self-driving cars and software-defined vehicles (SDVs) — next-generation automobiles whose functions are continuously updated through software.

"We confirmed that active aerodynamic technology can simultaneously improve not only lap times but also braking performance, cornering performance and vehicle stability," professor Shim said. "We expect this to become a core technology that enhances both driving performance and safety — not just for high-performance electric vehicles, but for the automobiles of the future."


nbgkoo@heraldcorp.com