EDITORIAL: Alternative power and connectivity top of mind

Two technology trends overwhelmingly dominate this year's collection of Executive Viewpoints articles: alternative powertrains and vehicle connectivity. Mechatronics-the intersection of mechanics, electronics and software-more sophisticated human-machine interfaces and the inevitability of augmented reality in the cab are other topics that industry leaders see greatly impacting the future of both heavy-duty on-highway vehicles and off-highway equipment.

Alternative drives/fuels and connectivity are not disconnected trends (pardon the pun) but rather are becoming more and more entwined, as Cummins' executive director of off-highway engineering Shelley Knust notes on page 19: “Connectivity and data management will play an increasingly important role in unlocking potential from this diverse range of future off-highway drivelines,” she said. “This technology is emerging from basic data-gathering into complex systems that optimize asset management and drive efficiency.”