Search Results

The French resurgence Despite facing great domestic political challenges, resulting from the growing national debt level and a general financial malaise in the Euro-zone countries within the EU, successive French governments have remained highly supportive of their aerospace sector.

Out of thin air Thomas Korn, Alset Global's VP of product development and technology, talks to Ian Adcock on the company's pioneering hydrogen dual fuel system Quest for the missing link Modelling tyre behaviour and how that influences vehicle dynamics is a key factor in developing ride and handling, as Ian Adcock discovers Emissions mission: 2020 vision Variable valve timing for petrol engines is everywhere to be seen. So are we ready to go beyond that yet? Tony Lewin finds out

Gearing up for long lifetimes For transmission control engineers, a greater focus on reliability is prompting a shift to standards such as ISO 26262 and an improved diagnostics function that takes a broader view, looking at the overall system vs. individual components.

Optimizing brake-by-wire control An optimal control strategy is introduced that ensures minimum control effort that results in minimum actuator power consumption, while simultaneously providing efficient braking performance.

Going lean from scratch Embraer applied lean manufacturing concepts during the planning and construction of a new composites assembly line for its Legacy 500.

Engine boosting goes full bore Pumping more air into the cylinder is key to solving the CAFE puzzle, and engineers are hard at work figuring out the best ways to do it with turbocharger and supercharger innovation. Building a pathway for autonomous driving Existing safety systems will be augmented by onboard and external inputs; the biggest challenges will be designing the software that makes proper decisions without error and liability concerns. Steel in control Hyundai Steel develops a new 780-MPa grade of hot-rolled high-strength steel for application in a one-piece front lower control arm, displaying the potential for an 8% mass reduction.

Electrifying, fast, quiet-and usually dirty IAV developed the e-Crossbike to prove the potential of electric drive in one of the most demanding vehicle environments-motocross racing. Here's how the engineering team did it. Next-gen eAssist aims at cost reduction Lower cost, lighter weight, more refinement-Chief Engineer Steve Poulos gives a glimpse of GM's third-generation eAssist mild-hybrid system now under development for 2015.

Oak Ridge answers A/C-on fuel use questions The lab runs fuel-economy tests with A/C on maximum vs. A/C 'comfort level,' A/C-off and with windows open and closed. Some results are surprising, including an unexpected 'crossover' point in testing on a Toyota Corolla.

National Instruments Keeping pace with increasingly intelligent machines Molex Autonomous equipment positioned to be next disruptive technology Sauer-Danfoss Speed wins IAV Engineering in the virtual world Mentor Graphics What will save us from electrical system design complexity? Perkins Designing for diversity TTControl Intelligent controls and connectivity Federal-Mogul Technology strategies for the future Dana Innovation that addresses global megatrends dSPACE Can you imagine your life without challenges? Tenneco Technology meets regulatory challenges Southco Shifts in design energy Bosch Rexroth Manufacturing and logistical excellence MathWorks Continuous improvement to meet new challenges

Global Viewpoints - Europe: Smartening up R&D As every aspect of automotive technology makes rapid advances, R&D becomes ever more complex and faces additional pressures on cost and time. In our annual report from Europe, we spoke to very senior executives about their R&D methods and the demanding criteria they face. LEDs light the way for SuperTruck A research team developed a group of low-energy; high-output LED lamps for forward lighting that could be retrofitted into the truck's current incandescent headlamp housing and lens. Plastic proliferation under the hood Plastic components continue to displace metal engine parts because of cost and weight advantages.

Filling the space A look at the changing face of manned spaceflight and the commercialization of orbital access. Distribution of power When designing the electrical distribution system for a turboelectric architecture, it is imperative to select technologies that will provide the highest efficiency and stability for the propulsion system.

Valve controls Imagine a valve control system that is infinitely variable irrespective of engine speed and load. Impossible? Not according to Camcon Automotive's technical director Roger Stone, as Ian Adcock discovers Mother Nature knows best What can the automotive industry learn from nature when it comes to weight saving? Ryan Borroff has been finding out Building up the pressure Tony Lewis reports on the growing trend towards even higher line pressures in injection systems.

Keeping cool Advanced insulation packages, solar reflective film, and other thermal-management technologies enable heavy vehicles to reduce idle climate control loads, as demonstrated by NREL's CoolCab project.

Instilling confidence in composites To move forward the integration of CFRP materials in primary structures, the same high level of confidence in passive safety design simulations for metallic structures needs to be achieved with composite designs. Bike engineering highlights 2013 Motorcycle development and automotive technologies increasingly share the path toward cleaner, quieter, faster, and more diverse two-wheelers.

Simulation helps manage change in aircraft manufacturing Commercial aircraft demand is up even while sequestration and other forces are forcing scale-backs in defense-related programs. From managing complex supply chains to improving scrap rates in casting, digital simulation is proving a valuable aid.

Fuel cells return to focus While fuel-cell vehicles haven't been in the spotlight in recent years compared with hybrids and EVs, hydrogen fuel cell technology is regaining momentum as OEMs move to reduce their CO2 footprints. But cost and infrastructure challenges remain. The case for class 8 hybrids Hybrid technology may not be the best solution for all heavy-truck applications, but a Caron Engineering expert explains how it can still benefit Class 8 vehicles.

Low-cost instrument clusters A Delphi expert proposes a design strategy to help overcome challenges for manufacturability of automotive displays suited for emerging markets. BMW's technology play Dr. Herbert Diess, BMW's board member in charge of development, talks about where his company is placing its technology bets, the challenge of meeting the 95-g CO2 regulation in 2020, and the growing role of female engineers at BMW.

Hybrids step forward Electric and hydraulic systems trim fuel consumption and emissions, boost performance. Braking for safety Researchers developed a simplified ABS/EBS ECU test bench to research the brake force control function of the EBS system using HIL simulation technology. A metered look at dosing pumps High delivery accuracy, low weight, and dependably long life have made solenoid-operated pumps widely used in mobile applications.

'Brands are king' is the credo for Chrysler engineering Senior VP of Engineering Mark Chernoby reveals what makes his revitalized team so effective, why it's unique-and what's missing in its connection with Fiat. Directing Tesla's unique trajectory JB Straubel wears far more hats than most automotive CTOs. He talks about vehicle development, his engineering team, and what they've got in the works. Engineering Ford's global product assault Hau Thai-Tang details how his global product development teams are changing to keep pace with faster product cycles, greater product diversity, and an avalanche of new technologies. (Hint: They're benchmarking the CIA.) Closing the hybrid control gap Virtual sensing, architectural tweaks, and faster processors help engineers narrow the cost gap between hybrid and conventional powertrains. Radar love An emerging crop of autonomous vehicles uses ever-vigilant sensors to find their way and avoid collisions.

PEFCs to transform UAVs Advancements in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells have resulted in longer endurance missions for smaller UAVs as well as an enabler for electric aircraft that require vertical takeoff and landing capability. Hovering aircraft programs The AW609 tiltrotor and the X3 compound helicopter offer different technology solutions to the challenge of achieving higher speeds and higher quality point-to-point air transport.