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Let's get digital Aviation and defense companies are turning to software tools as a way to create systems and components faster, cheaper, and more efficiently than ever before. Global collaboration is in the air From national to international to global, aerospace programs have become ever more geographically interlinked. Whether military or civil, the need for transworld technology collaboration and partnership is rising to new heights. Creating, customizing aircraft interiors Aircraft designers who have made the transition to digital design tools are expanding their use as the tools extend their capabilities.

Digging with precision Electronic technologies continue to transform the off-highway environment, all the way down to the components used to create electrohydraulic systems, including pumps, valves, and new additions, such as house controllers and sensors. Speeding up design Software automates more tasks, handles challenges. Together for a change On- and off-highway commercial vehicle industries converge at fourth-annual Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress & Exhibition.

Avoiding crashes through engineering Sensor fusion and FlexRay adoption pose big challenges for active-safety systems developers. Sounds of silence NVH analysis comes into the spotlight as traditional targets are addressed and new trouble spots are uncovered. Fuel cells power up As the alternative-propulsion technology moves from lab to limited production, car makers are looking for new design solutions and materials to reduce costs.

Sound sound-research techniques Higher bypass ratios, chevrons, shape memory alloys, and improved aerodynamics are some of the advancing technologies that will help quiet aircraft, and thus help the environment. Display technology perks up HUD, software make big strides in cockpit appearance and flight safety. Going green The global aerospace industry gears up for big changes in fuel burn, emissions, and noise.

Standards take flight Commercial aerospace specifications continue to gain ground as aircraft get more electric. AeroTech: A 'community of practice' 'Something for everybody' is what this SAE conference, hosted by Northrop Grumman, offers aerospace industry engineers and executives. Making flight tests more productive Simulation, testing reduce the size and number of in-flight problems.

Toyota rationalizes IMV The Executive Chief Engineer in charge of the broad range of multipurpose vehicles for developing markets discusses local optimization of one global vehicle architecture. Honda builds a better FCX The recently revealed concept car previews the ambitious and radically new fuel-cell-powered car that the company will launch and lease in 2008 in the U.S. and Japan. Denso turns up the heat Japan's largest supplier is developing environmentally friendly products, such as its flagship HVAC systems to make customer vehicles cooler but more efficient. Sitting pretty Aesthetics merge with safety and ergonomics in that "simple" yet essential automotive system: the seat. Shifting forward Faster processors, enhanced sensors yield better transmissions with smoother gear changes. Finishing strong Combining high strength with formability, today's new steels support development of lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles--without compromising safety, cost, or performance.

The human factor in maintaining safety The need for safety systems and processes is crucial for every aspect of aerospace, with human experience and expertise melding with increasing computer power to pinpoint potential problems and increase efficiency. Mitsui at the cutting edge of precision machining The Japanese company is riding a wave of new-aircraft programs to grow its business at the upper and lower ends of the market.

Where intelligence goes Changes in distributed or embedded control as well as processor power are altering automotive computing hierarchy. Making chassis magic Nothing beats veteran ride-and-handling engineers in creating a truly integrated chassis. But simulation is increasingly vital to their seat-of-the-pants development work. Mass reduction--the next frontier Automakers turn their attention to reducing vehicle weight in the quest for greater fuel efficiency. Electricity drives forward Continuous advances in component design and integration are helping to overcome cost and performance obstacles. At your service As cost and human-resource pressures mount, testing and engineering outsourcing heats up and alters roles within the industry. Finding the right Formula The University of Wisconsin-Madison won the annual Formula SAE student competition held in Michigan, beating more than 130 other teams aiming to conceive, design, and fabricate the best, small formula-style racing car.

Electrifying the future Hybrid-electric systems development is heating up in the truck and off-highway equipment industries as OEMs plan to satisfy a wide variety of customers. Shrinking world extends design teams Whether the world is becoming flat or just shrinking, its change is posing a challenge for engineers who have to design bigger products with flat manpower budgets. Cutting costs with COTS Streamlining design and manufacturing processes for accelerated wire harness development for off-highway equipment.

Spoilt for choice The auto industry's options list includes biofuels, hydrogen, hybrids, fuel cells, and batteries--but will it be all, or nothing at all? Moving eastward The automotive industry spreads and grows, suppliers move to east Europe, environmental issues are crucial--and the companies survive that get everything right. Hands-on solution to reduce emissions Literally driving the environmental necessities home may support technology in engines old and new. Cutting emissions: more answers than questions The European auto industry is struggling with alternative fuels and emissions reduction programs, but potential solutions are many and varied--any may become even more so. Hydrogen, the IC engine, and the future It may be the fuel of the future, but views vary about how hydrogen should be used.

Rapid growth for prototype systems Building model airplanes is serious business in the aerospace industry. Automating space launches The final frontier is getting to be a busier place these days as more and more vehicles soar beyond the Earth's atmosphere. Paris Air Show 2007 The world's premier aerospace event showcases the latest in aerosapce technology and puts emphasis on career opportunities.

Global Viewpoints North America North American automakers and suppliers know that moving the ball forward technologically is their best bet for survival, if not success. In the special section on the following pages, some of the automotive industry's top executives discuss the latest trends and their strategies for game-changing vehicle engineering and development. GM's new battery boss Denise Gray has global responsiblity for bringing the best energy storagte systems to GM's expanding hybrid program. Energy, environment, and engineering The drive toward energy security and environmental responsiblity is leading many automakers, Chrysler Group included, down a variety of technological avenues--diesels, biofuels, and hydrogen fuel cells among them. Investing in future business Delphi has had its ups and downs since departing from the General Motors umbrella in 1999 as a fully independent publicly traded company, but 2007 may reign as the ultimate watershed year for the supplier.

A material world The past two decades have seen tremendous strides in the application of composites within aerospace engineering. Plain talk from plane engineers Two companies with different backgrounds focus on different technologies in bringing to market new very light jets.

Help from above Cell towers and satellites enable people to keep equipment running. Cleaner and quieter diesels To meet tightening regulations, engineers are tasked with adding more and more components and systems to take away more and more emissions. Connecting sensors Suppliers and road construction OEMs have teamed to develop an application profile for sensor interfaces.

Supporting nest-gen propulsion The need for advanced computational and communication systems on board military aircraft make fuel cells an attractive propulsion alternative, and ample access to hydrogen a necessity. Aerospace industry seeks material returns Better use of materials data can pay off for aerospace designers. Transatlantic testing program for the F-35 Europe gets its most comprehensive-ever military airframe test facility.

Spec Formula One The series is moving forward with new rules to reduce cost and make racing more directly relevant to road-car development. Adding foresight Radar and cameras will work together to help drivers avoid accidents. Lexus LS 460:AEI's Best Engineered Vehicle for 2007 The fourth generation of Lexus' global flagship sets new standards in engineering, technical innovation, refinement, and workmanship. Hot off the grid New interest in plug-in hybrids has sparked intense R&D in battery chemistries and systems integration. Digital developments Ever-improving computer-based tools are helping engineers complete more complex designs in shorter time frames with downsized staffs. Illuminating technology Sensor-linked lighting systems, automatic high-beam control, LED headlights, and brand-identifying cabin lighting are enhancing safety, convenience, and the feel-good factor.

Putting tractors to the test Southwest Research Institute offers manufacturers a ready-made R&D laboratory and the test programs to push their machines to the limit. Leave the driving to us Military programs explore autonomy to lighten operator workloads. Easy on the operator Off-highway OEMs and suppliers want to make life as easy-and productive- as possible for the people running the equipment. Tough testing for tomorrow's demands The off-highway industry is moving toward a new era of legislation and environmental pressures, making test centers increasingly important.

Cars become more understanding Software and hardware advances are enabling voice-recognition technologies to rise to industry challenges. Wanted: Broader knowledge, new skills Continuous learning is a must for engineers to meet greater technology and productivity challenges -- and boost their own marketability. Seeing green Environmental and cost benefits are driving the auto industry to adopt materials derived from renewable sources such as soybeans and corn. Searching for fossil-fuel alternatives Future engine and drivetrain programs at Volkswagen are focused on alternative fuels and radical changes to engine combustion, but the battery may yet provide the light at the end of the technology tunnel. Emissions rules keep labs humming As long as there are regulations, engineers and technicians will be busy running tests in laboratories.

Management promotes sharing The extensive use of CAD tools in aerospace design brings many benefits, but also a number of challenges. Getting robots to multi-task The demand to fulfill continually increasing customer requirements forces suppliers to offer state-of-the-art system manufacturing solutions.