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GM's CTO driving new paths to technology leadership 'We're making actual production commitments regarding our advanced-technology strategy, rather than just talking about it,' says GM's CTO Jon Lauckner. 'We're absolutely going to be among the leaders, if not the leader, in these areas.' Aluminum prepares for its next big leap Ford's F-Series blockbuster was just the beginning. New micromills now in pilot phase aim to bring vastly stronger and more formable light-alloy materials at higher capacity, says Alcoa's Mike Murphy. Slick solutions for friction reduction From new lubricants to 'smart' oil pumps and clever bearing technologies, engine designers are attacking every potential source of spin losses and internal friction in the quest for more mechanical work out of less fuel. Next-gen NSX: a twin-turbo, multi-material Ferrari-fighter The production NSX made its much-awaited global debut at NAIAS in January.

Deep thinking about deep space NASA is mining the rich fields of knowledge and creativity in the minds of university students to improve living and working conditions in space. Rise of the underdogs Problem-plagued effort last year spurs Baja SAE team from VIT University of India to overhaul itself and its car. Materials, data-aq packages among choices touted in Collegiate Cup contest Central Michigan's Baja team, which did some impressive materials analyses, takes home the SAE Mid-Michigan Section's trophy as part of that professional group's Engineers Week activities. Toyota looks for more from college students than high GPA "Those that participate in an SAE related-activity display passion for the automotive industry, and these candidates are ideal for our organization."

Bringing it all together Ian Adcock catches up with GKN's newly appointed president, Group Technology, Rob Rickell. Graphene Supreme Ian Adcock discovers what role graphene is likely to play in the vehicles of tomorrow. What lies beneath? Automotive Design looks into chassis developments that are designed to ensure local preferences are catered for globally.

Virtual casting improves powertrain design As designers continue to look for ways to cut weight and increase performance, casting simulations are helping optimize designs through faster, more accurate predictions of the casting process used to create key components. Horse racing America's pony cars are a favorite of racers and fans alike, so racing them against each other is natural. SAE 2015 World Congress Preview Tech trends and exhibitor products are highlighted. Tech trends and exhibitor products are highlighted in this special section, which features an exclusive interview with Honda R&D America's Jim Keller. Replicating the racing experience Professional driving simulators can be successfully exploited to shorten the traditional design-prototype testing-production process relative to a new racecar.

Next-generation GDI Will new efficiency and emissions rules mean major changes for gasoline direct-injection technology? Hard to answer Technical and personal issues make it challenging to link smartphones to vehicles. Composite design optimization for automated fiber placement Coriolis Composites and SAFRAN Aircelle worked together on a thrust reverser component demonstrator made with carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) material and an AFP process. Making virtual design a reality A new virtual design approach for commercial vehicle concepts allows for purposeful design and integration of new concepts and technologies on the component level in an existing product portfolio, while not neglecting the need for standardization and modularity.

Diesel gets a promotion at SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge The main rules change for the 2015 season is creation of a new engine category (diesel), the event's organizer notes in providing an overview of the SAE Collegiate Design Series competition. Wisconsin-Stout puts faith in gearbox redesign for Baja Blue Devil Racing Team believes packaging and durability advantages more than offset weight and low-end-torque penalties. Test cell at Kansas University does double duty Single-cylinder engine test cell designed for research into biodiesel also serves as an instruction tool for students. University of Michigan students have hand in Volt battery reliability Technology co-developed by U of M monitors the quality of welds used in the joining of Chevy Volt battery cells.

Rotary SI/CI combustion engines: A thing of the future? The internal combustion engine enjoys widespread use as an inexpensive and reliable power conversion system. While piston engines date back 150 years, various alternative engine architectures and cycles have been considered. Aftertreatment comes with challenging diagnosis Diagnosing engine and aftertreatment systems is forcing design teams to look at new ways to diagnose problems over long vehicle lifetimes. Taking on NVH reduction techniques A look at the enhanced durability benefits obtained by changing the polymer composition, manufacturing methods, and design optimization of a powertrain mount for an off-highway vehicle.

Getting a grip on AWD efficiency The safety and performance benefits of all-wheel drive are undeniable, but so are the penalties of added weight, friction losses, and complexity. Clever axle disconnects and E-axles are driving future AWD developments. E pluribus unum Inputs from many sensors are being combined to give safety systems a true vision of vehicle surroundings, with the resulting sensor fusion becoming a mainstay of autonomous vehicle electronics. Lightweighting poses repair challenges Mass-produced aluminum bodies and mixed-material structures present challenges for assembly and repair, as automakers increasingly pursue these lightweight strategies. Setting the standard Meggitt CTO Emeritus begins term at helm of SAE International, seeks to encourage cross-sector relations, elevate image of SAE as aerospace industry leader.

Taking on the Valeo Innovation Challenge Two Canadian teams-the University of Ottawa and the University of Waterloo-finished in the top 3 among about 1,000 other universities from around the world in this challenge devoted to spurring innovative ideas for transportation. Colorado State University designs fuel-cell plug-in hybrid system Competing in the EcoCAR2 competition using a Chevrolet Malibu, the Colorado State team designed a system that features a 15-kW polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell system, an 18.9-kW•h/177-kW lithium-ion battery, and a 145-kW motor. Cal State Fullerton combines art and engineering Team's submission on its Formula SAE car won first place in the second annual Generation Auto video contest organized in part by SAE International. Collaborative research project leads to potentially swarming VTOL UAVs The AVIGLE VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) unmanned aerial vehicle was developed via collaboration by a variety of entities for a variety of applications.

Hard to answer Technical and personal issues make it challenging to link smartphones to vehicles. New OGeco hybrid transmission is a space-saver Finding space for an electric motor, battery, and all the controls that go with them while still providing sufficient 5-passenger cabin room and trunk/luggage capacity is a challenge. Mazda enters subcompact crossover segment Mazda dove into the burgeoning market for subcompact crossover SUVs with the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show introduction of the CX-3, a stylish new tall wagon built on the platform of the new Mazda2/Demio.

2015 Hot Technologies Our annual year-end review of new and significant technology applications for the upcoming model year's vehicles. Can Toyota's Mirai be the next Prius? Toyota's first fuel-cell car has a range of 300 miles, fills up in 5 minutes, and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in about 9 seconds. Integrated automotive gateway can enable connected cars One of the biggest challenges connected cars pose is the integration of information and consumer electronics into the car and ensuring connectivity among them.

Oil debris monitoring in aero engines In a gas turbine engine, small particles or "chips" are generated at the point of wear, serving as an advanced warning that catastrophic failure will occur if the wear is not addressed. Health monitoring systems, such as oil debris monitoring, are used to find these small particles so that the wear can be resolved before it's too late. Indigenous powertrain development Customer needs and expectations on drivability, fuel economy, and safety has pushed Indian and multinational OEMs to think about the development of powertrains and gearboxes for local needs with global standards. The next wave of crash simulation As computing speed has improved and software itself has made significant speed and performance gains with each release, modeling tools are now quick enough to build high-quality, large, high-detail vehicle models in a very efficient manner.

Riding on a high Rudi Schurmans and Ben Patel head up Tenneco's suspension and clean air divisions. Ian Adcock discovers what the automotive future holds for them Driverless revolution has begun! Breakthrough Photonic radar promises greater accuracy at lower cost, Ian Adcock discovers Winds of change are here Simulating aerodynamics will make a step-change in vehicle design, as Stephen Remondi, President and CEO of EXA, explains to Ian Adcock

Harley-Davidson's e-bike shocker (video) Is the motorcycle market ready for a Harley-Davidson EV? Project LiveWire was designed to provide answers, said Chief Engineer Jeff Richlen. Airbus has its eye on the future of cleaner flight CleanSky 2 targets are to increase aircraft fuel efficiency enough to reduce CO2 emissions by 20-30% and reduce aircraft NOx and noise emissions by 20-30% compared to newly designed aircraft entering into service in 2014-or essentially halve 2005 CO2 emissions levels by 2050. Soul EV extends the range frontier (video) Specially formulated NCM battery cells are key in giving the vehicle class-leading EV range while enabling engineers to fit a high-energy-density battery pack underfloor with little sacrifice of passenger cabin space.

2015 engines ride a technology tidal wave Powertrain engineers are diving deeper to find new ways to make light-duty power units more efficient without compromising performance. Connectivity for comfort Seat suppliers such as Continental, Johnson Controls, and Faurecia pursue 'networked' seats to enhance safety, personalization, and comfort. Assembling aluminum vehicles in volume Ford's 2015 F-150 pickup pioneers high-volume mass-production of lightweight aluminum car and truck structures.

Have diesel will race (and learn) Mazda's factory SkyActiv diesel race program switched to the Prototype class in 2014, teaching the SpeedSource team valuable engineering lessons for 2015. Starting and developing an engineering career: barriers and opportunities Very strong role models who have a marked enthusiasm for their subject are needed at every point along an employee's education and work career. The knock on gasoline engines Two major strategies to increase the efficiency of SI engines are to raise the compression ratio and to downsize the engine using a turbocharger, but both have issues with knock. Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan Automotive Laboratory tackle the problem. Minecraft: getting kids into coding Stephen Foster, CEO and Co-founder of THOUGHTSTEM, has a new outlook on STEM education and the utilities that can be used to get kids involved in software coding.

Outlook for autonomous driving includes cloud Connectivity with off-board data and services and among vehicles will be crucial in maintaining safety and security in future autonomous vehicles. The next wave of crash simulation As computing speed has improved and software itself has made significant speed and performance gains with each release, modeling tools are now quick enough to build high-quality, large, high-detail vehicle models in a very efficient manner. SAE 2014 Convergence preview Interest in advanced driver-assistance technologies is surging, with automotive engineers and decision makers at OEMs and suppliers working feverishly on the convenience vs. safety trade-off and other electronics-related challenges. Cooled EGR shows benefits for gasoline engines Exhaust gas recirculation systems now in use on diesel engines are used mainly to meet emissions regulations. In gasoline engines, they are an appealing way to meet ever more stringent fuel-economy standards

Buckeye Current's TT triumph The Ohio State University reprised its third-place finish in the 2014 TT Zero for all-electric motorcycles, beating some of the pros on the world's toughest race circuit. Kettering FSAE team improved as season progressed Lowest priced may not mean the best, but certainly not the worst. Leveling the field: getting #girlsinstem Despite facing the brunt of gender segregation, women are forging ahead and dramatically improving STE M, both academically and professionally. Mercedes-AMG's SLS departure opens door to new GT Powering the car is an all-new biturbo 4.0-L V8 available with two power levels: hot (GT) at 340 kW (456 hp) and exceedingly hot (GTS) at 375 kW (503 hp).

Women in Vehicle Engineering Across the industry, talented women are ascending the engineering-career ladder at higher rates than ever before, but they continue to face challenges in a male-dominated industry. In this Special Report, AE speaks with current and future industry leaders from U.S., European, and Asian OEMs, academia, and other experts, and analyzes data, to assess progress to date and plot the future of this critical and dynamic professional trend. Fuel cells As higher-volume mass production gets underway, OEMs and suppliers are finetuning their capabilities.

All the right connections With 2013 sales of $6.8 billion, Dana is a leading tier one supplier. Ian Adcock catches up with its chief technical and quality officer George Constand. Jaguar's lightweight challenger Ian Adcock uncovers the secrets that make the XE saloon, Jaguar's most important car yet. Boxing clever How composite crashboxes save weight and cost