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Economies of (drivetrain) scale Emissions challenges continue, but engine and transmission technology is advancing solutions and improving vehicle systems intergration. Searching for real-world responses Prototype testing is constantly changing as electronic technologies help transform equipment; design processes adjust as digital development evolves. Hydraulic brakes on one hand, air brakes on the other Building a better brake system had continued to challenge engineers for more than a century, as a changing world has demanded correspondingly advanced brake technology. Top technologies of 2007 A look back at some of the most significant technological innovations during the past year.

Operator station innovations Off-highway engineers work hard to provide comfort, ease of operation, and reliability to users. As an added challenge, they must design for operators who can spend an entire day working hard in their cab. Designing online Major developments in internet-based technologies are profoundly changing the engineering/design process, revolutionizing the way OEMs and suppliers do business, and speeding the industry's time-to-market. FEA simulation of an electrohydraulic system Researchers from the Milwaukee School of Engineering provide an accurate model of a typical magentic actuator Predicting injury in forklift upsets Researchers from the Biomechanics Institute present test results that demonstrate operators can prevent ejection and injury from a forklift if they are lap-belted and have either a winged seat or hip restraint.

Simulating cab noise and vibration Researchers at kubota and Doshisha University have established a prediction method for the engine-idling state using statistical energy analysis. Manufacturing cost estimating Caterpillar's ACT Group uses Micro Estimating Systems' computer-aided estimating program to increase efficiency and decrease operating costs in powder-metal part manufacturing. In search of greener pastures Agricultural OEMs are looking at the total life cycle to develop more environmentally conscious products and processes. Emissions and lubrication More stringent diesel emissions legislation is placing an increased burden on engine lubricant in the form of soot loading.

Next-generation power Additional benefits for commercial customers may drive hybrid technology adoption. Shake and bake: a recipe for testing Vehicles, components endure much in-lab abuse before they enter the commercial-vehicle market. Fuel for thought The performance and emissions of a stationary single-cylinder diesel engine is evaluated using an ethanol blend with diesel and jet fuels.

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.

Engineering a cleaner off-highway world As engine manufacturers gear up to meet the next round of stringent emissions standards, equipment manufacturers are reviewing a number of design possibilities. Plugging in for safety Electronics dig deep to help protect operators and equipment. Leveraging the best of both worlds Combustion and aftertreatment technologies help engine manufacturers balance performance with emissions reduction.

Off-highway braking According to Mico, electrohydraulic braking controls can provide improved performance and add system features difficult to obtain with hydromechanical mechanisms. Keeping quiet Targeting off-highway and heavy-truck OEMs, Blachford claims its new acoustics laboratory will offer some testing capabilities previously only available to the passenger-car market. ADT marketing and manufacturing While it is not debatable that articulated dump trucks are a hot commodity, it is debatable how many are technologically unique. Proportional pressure reducing valves Engineers from Thomas magnete have designed pilot valves that work with electrohydraulics to simplify complex machine control systems.

Changing demands reshape hydraulic components In a world of shrinking margins, fierce competition, and increasing regulations, equipment owners want nothing less than stellar performance from their equipment. Contact stress in valvetrains Engineers from Mahle compared FEA and Hertzian equations for the calculation of contact stress in a roller-follower valvetrain system. High-fidelity agricultural tires Researchers from Goodyear and John Deere developed finite element tire models capable of generating quasi-static spindle forces and moments for prescribed displacements over irregular terrain. Ag-equipment development challenges An engineer in the field discusses the need to tread carefully during the agricultural product-development process.

Huge loader: huge tire Tire technology retains a direct controlling influence over wheeled machine mass and application requirements. Getting engineers off the streets Hands-on experience and career-long training are widely employed to equip engineers with a skill set more varied than just technical know-how. Driving blind Industry, government, and academia have their eyes on autonomous off-highway vehicles. Introducing Duane Tiede, SAE President for 2004 With over 35 years of diverse experience in the off-highway industry, Duane Tiede steps up to a new challenge-leading SAE into its 100th year.

Fixing the cracks in the system Nondestructive testing techniques evolve to accommodate new materials and digital capabilities. Looking to the future LCDs, touch-screen technology transform the look and feel of cabs. Advanced combustion near and far Advanced combustion research promises long-term improvements in efficiencies while reducing or eliminating the need for aftertreatment.

Hydrogen possibilities Using hydrogen in an internal-combustion engine application requires not only a custom-engineered combustion concept, but also optimized operation strategies. Nets catch on Engineers have been slow to adopt networks, but that is changing quickly as electronically controlled engines take hold. Hydraulic matters There is much potential for gain for everyone if OEMs and suppliers work together early in terms of hydraulic system design. Asia hot on new cooling technology Not tied as much to aluminum as is the West, china and Russia are moving fast toward widespread use of copper and brass for radiators. Build, test, teview, and improve SAE 100 Future Look; Frank Perna, Chairman and CEo of MSC. Software writes about his experience in vehicle engineering, testing, and management positions.

Shrinking hydraulics The push to conserve fuel and reduce emissions is prompting major changes in system design. Aftertreatment temperature control Regeneration of a DPF burns off soot, but also raises exhaust gas temperature. Speed thrills: doing more tests in less time Quicker data gathering, simulation keep quality high despite time crunch. Green engineering The quest to alleviate environmental and efficiency pressures turns up 'small' material solutions with big benefits. A global forum Cummins executives lay the groundwork for a lively and informative discussion at this year's Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress & Exhibition.

Electronics invade the cab Joysticks and displays lead the transitions from mechanical links. Developing alternatives According to Ford Power Products, hydrogen-powered engines can be a reality, but while waiting for them to be economical with a developed infrastructure, other alternatives to diesel and gasoline are available. Optimization of structural components Researchers from Dana present a new design methodology to develop structural components using computer-aided engineering tools.

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.

In search of the perfect burn The simultaneous download pressures on NOx and PM continue to make research into higher injection pressures and alternative combustion solutions such as homogenous-charge compression ignition attractive. One way to stop a train A new self-energizing electrohydraulic brake offers the advantages of hydraulic brake actuation without the disadvantages of a centralized hydraulic power supply. A model combustion: from art to science Analysis tools, advanced hardware provide insight into combustion process, refining the cylinder's 'big bang.' The datalinked vehicle In the fields and on the job site with GPS.

Synchronized driving Tight linkage between engine and transmission increases efficiency. Sensing a change Hydraulic engineers are being pressured to design systems that perform more tasks while taking less space. Steel still king Advanced steels and processes offer better performance and lower cost, particularly in powertrain applications.

Communication helps make sense of problems Sensors that link engines and hydraulics to the outside world provide data that can be used to analyze performance and the cause of failures. Characteristics of multiple injections A look at the effects that pilot-injection fuel quantity and timing have on light-duty engine emissions. Hybrid innovations for hydraulic braking Exploring new technologies for recovering kinetic energy from braking.