Magazine Articles - SAE Mobilus
One of the advantages of the internal combustion engine is that it can function with relatively simple intake air filtration. Provided that dust is kept out, air entering the engine can ensure that the necessary combustion process takes place. So, a relatively simple dust filter will do the job. By comparison, hydrogen fuel cells are far more sensitive to air quality. Other pollutants can affect both fuel-cell performance and the lifetime of the fuel-cell stack. At the recent IAA Transportation Show in Hanover, Germany, Donaldson Filtration Solutions displayed tailored solutions through its range of cathode air filters. These typically rely on multiple layers - including activated carbon, an acid and base layer, and a dust filter - to screen out sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and ammonia, while allowing for customization to protect against butane, toluene and other unwanted compounds
At the Reuters Automotive USA 2024 conference in Detroit, SAE Media spoke with Stuart Taylor, chief product officer of Envorso, a consultancy with a mission to help OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers write better software. Companies have been plagued with issues around software written both in-house and via outside contractors
The final frontier in digital transformation is the analog edge, where apertures and actuators meet the mission. Buried behind layers of firmware and analog mitigation, open architecture has a new frontier to conquer, and the opportunity starts at the component level, where digital transformation and the miniaturization enabled by Moore's Law is having its biggest impact. Miniature, modular, and intelligent gateways can be embedded into analog components to replace and re-imagine old firmware and analog mitigation circuitry. These new, embedded gateways promise to bring open architecture deeper into the tactical edge and realize a new level of agility throughout the lifecycle of a system, from design through sustainment of hybrid digital and analog systems
Automotive electrical and electronics manufacturer MTA attended IAA Transportation for the first time, demonstrating its new range of wireless communication technologies for the truck industry. Earlier this year, the company acquired Calearo Antenne S.p.A, a company with a long history of producing antennas, amplifiers and cables. MTA global sales director Davide Bonelli explained to Truck & Off-Highway Engineering how that acquisition complements its business. “From a more strategic point of view, we see the world of antennas as complementary to what MTA does,” he said. “Often MTA products have an antenna as an interface, so this is one reason why we have done the deal. There are also a lot of synergies from an engineering standpoint. Historically, MTA is a company that uses many mechanical parts - plastics, metals - which we are very strong with so we can share them. And there are also some competences from Calearo Antenne that can be transferred to us
Innovation often comes a piece at a time, but what happens when you put all those pieces together at once? That is precisely the question Shell is attempting to answer with its Starship initiative. Now in its third iteration, Starship 3.0 Natural Gas continues pushing the boundaries of efficiency and emissions reduction by employing all currently available technologies and engineering advancements. The Shell Starship initiative was first launched in 2018 with the aim of setting new benchmarks for the commercial road transport sector. The Starship 2.0 managed 254 ton-miles per gallon for freight ton efficiency (FTE), which is 3.5 times the North American average. Additionally, Starship 2.0 recorded fuel consumption of 10.8 mpg on a cross-country run, which according to Shell is nearly double the current fleet average in North America
Balancing low conductivity, corrosion resistance and optimum heat transfer in next-generation EV coolants while meeting new EV safety regulations. Managing the heating and cooling of electric vehicle propulsion systems may seem to be an easy task compared with combustion engines. After all, ICEs run much hotter-the thermal optimum for a gasoline engine is around 212 F (100 C). By comparison, EV batteries normally generate (as a function of current during charge/discharge cycles) a relatively cool 59-86 F (15-30 C). And while motors and power electronics operate hotter, typically 140-176 F (60-80 C), they still run cooler than ICEs. But among the myriad complexities of EV thermal management are batteries' dislike for temperature extremes, new cell chemistries, heat-generating high-voltage electrical architectures and 800V fast charging. All are putting greater focus on maintaining stable EV battery thermal performance and safety. Experts note that compatibility among the cell chemistry
Backed by a consortium of companies, Southwest Research Institute's demonstrator vehicle aims to prove the commercial viability of hydrogen engines for on-road trucks. For decades, the running joke around hydrogen being a viable fuel for commercial trucks has been that it's “ten years away from being ten years away.” Though hydrogen-fueled rigs operating at scale has long seemed like a pipe dream, shifting winds around the globe blowing towards decarbonization have finally pushed this technology to be ready for the road. With the demand for the development of new propulsion technologies rising, organizations such as the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) have ramped up R&D efforts to make this tech commercially viable. SwRI is an independent provider of research services and can rapidly assemble teams to tackle problems. SwRI's main mission is to push the boundaries of science and technology to develop innovative solutions
Researchers at Caltech took an important step toward using reinforcement learning to adaptively learn how turbulent wind can change over time, and then uses that knowledge to control a UAV based on what it is experiencing in real time. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA In nature, flying animals sense coming changes in their surroundings, including the onset of sudden turbulence, and quickly adjust to stay safe. Engineers who design aircraft would like to give their vehicles the same ability to predict incoming disturbances and respond appropriately. Indeed, disasters such as the fatal Singapore Airlines flight this past May in which more than 100 passengers were injured after the plane encountered severe turbulence, could be avoided if aircraft had such automatic sensing and prediction capabilities combined with mechanisms to stabilize the vehicle. Now a team of researchers from Caltech's Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies (CAST) and NVIDIA has taken an
As “point of need” additive manufacturing emerges as a priority for the Department of Defense (DoD), Australian 3D printing provider SPEE3D is one of several companies demonstrating that its machines can rapidly produce castings, brackets, valves, mountings and other common replacement parts and devices that warfighters often need in an on-demand schedule when deployed near or directly within combat zones. DoD officials describe point of need manufacturing as a concept of operations where infantry and squadron have the equipment, machines, tools and processes to rapidly 3D print parts and devices that are being used in combat. Based in Melbourne, Australia, SPEE3D provides cold spray additive manufacturing (CSAM) machines that use a combination of robotics and high-speed kinetic energy to assemble and quickly bind metal together into 3D-printed parts without the need for specific environmental conditions or post-assembly cooling or temperature requirements. Over the last two years, the
A new aviation supply chain integrity coalition has offered 13 recommended actions to prevent the circulation of non-serialized aircraft parts throughout the global aviation industry. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL In the summer of 2023, a receiving clerk in the procurement department of TAP Air Portugal, a Lisbon-based airline, made a curious discovery: A $65 engine part that should have appeared brand-new showed signs of significant wear. The clerk checked the documentation from the London-based parts supplier and noticed that the submitted documentation was also suspicious. Using his safety training, the employee immediately reported the anomaly to TAP Air Portugal management, which raised the issue with the jet engine's manufacturer. Little did the procurement clerk know at the time, but this escalation led to one of the biggest investigations in the history of the aviation supply chain, as reported by Reuters and the British Broadcasting Corporation in
Clean-burning fuels, aftertreatment and other innovations place the heavy-duty combustion engine on a low-carbon emissions trajectory. Agriculture, industrial, mining, construction, freight transport and other major global economy sectors rely on vehicle power to thrive. “Internal combustion engines - those powered by gasoline, diesel, natural gas or propane - really are key to our current economy, and we see [the ICE] as a key part of our energy future,” Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Engine Technology Forum, a U.S.-based educational organization, said during a September webinar. Hosted by the Engine Technology Forum, the “Taking Internal Combustion Engines to the Next Level” session focused on current and under-development innovations aimed at increasing engine efficiency and lowering emissions
A Coventry University design and materials engineer is leading an international team of researchers in the creation of a new material for liquid hydrogen storage tanks that are used to propel rockets into space. Coventry University, Coventry, UK The future of space travel is seemingly changing by the day and a Coventry University academic is doing his bit to stay at the front of the space race. Dr. Ashwath Pazhani along with an international team of researchers have created a new material for storing the liquid hydrogen used to propel rockets into space by the likes of NASA
A silicone membrane for wearable devices is more comfortable and breathable thanks to better-sized pores made with the help of citric acid crystals. The new preparation technique fabricates thin, silicone-based patches that rapidly wick water away from the skin. The technique could reduce the redness and itching caused by wearable biosensors that trap sweat beneath them. The technique was developed by bioengineer and professor Young-Ho Cho and his colleagues at KAIST and reported in the journal Scientific Reports
The future of wireless technology - from charging devices to boosting communication signals - relies on the antennas that transmit electromagnetic waves becoming increasingly versatile, durable and easy to manufacture. Researchers at Drexel University and the University of British Columbia believe kirigami, the ancient Japanese art of cutting and folding paper to create intricate three-dimensional designs, could provide a model for manufacturing the next generation of antennas. Recently published in the journal Nature Communications, research from the Drexel-UBC team showed how kirigami - a variation of origami - can transform a single sheet of acetate coated with conductive MXene ink into a flexible 3D microwave antenna whose transmission frequency can be adjusted simply by pulling or squeezing to slightly shift its shape
Liebherr and Fortescue unveiled their first autonomous battery-electric T 264 haul truck at MINExpo 2024, garnering a steady stream of attendees eyeing and climbing on the giant machine. The truck is the culmination of nearly three years of development work and collaboration among the autonomy and zero-emission units of Liebherr and Fortescue. The T 264 electric hauler features a 3.2-MWh battery system, comprising eight sub-packs, developed by Fortescue Zero. Fortescue also developed a stationary fast-charging solution to support the new T 264. The charger will be available in both manual and robotic versions. An automated quick charger of up to 6 MW with two megawatt charging system (MCS) plugs can reportedly charge the current battery-electric T 264 in 30 minutes
Chinese battery manufacturer CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd.) completed the launch of its TECTRANS battery system for the commercial transport sector at IAA Transportation, which took place in September in Hanover, Germany. CATL added its heavy-duty truck and bus/coach battery ranges to the light-truck range that the company launched in China in July 2024. For heavy-duty trucks, CATL offers two alternatives: the TECTRANS - T Superfast Charging Edition and the TECTRANS - T Long Life Edition. As the name suggests, the Superfast Charging Edition is designed to offer rapid charging capability for operators needing to recharge during a duty cycle. CATL quotes a 4C peak charging rate, which would permit a charge to 70% in 15 minutes
For all the engineering that takes place at the Treadwell Research Park (TRP), Discount Tire's chief product and technical officer John Baldwin told SAE Media that there's actually something akin to magic in the way giga-reams of test data are converted into information non-engineers can usefully understand. TRP is where Discount Tire generates data used by the algorithms behind its Treadwell tire shopping guide. The consumer-facing Treadwell tool, available in an app, a website and in stores, provides tire shoppers with personalized, simple-to-understand recommendations that are mostly based on a five-star scale. Discount Tire and its partners have tested over 20,000 SKUs, representing 500 to 1000 different types of tires over the years, Baldwin said, including variants and updates. Testing a tire to discover it has an 8.2 rolling resistance coefficient is one thing. The trick is finding a way to explain it to someone standing in a tire shop
Researchers and engineers at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center have developed a prototype system for decontaminating military combat vehicles. U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center (DEVCOM CBC) is paving the way and helping the Army transform into a multi-domain force through its modernization and priority research efforts that are linked to the National Defense Strategy and nation's goals. CBC continues to lead in the development of innovative defense technology, including autonomous chem-bio defense solutions designed to enhance accuracy and safety to the warfighter
R-1234yf is used in almost every new car sold in the U.S., but the EU is discussing a ban and the industry is investigating alternatives like CO2 and propane. According to its manufacturer, Chemours, use of R-1234yf has grown so much since the refrigerant replaced the long-established R-134a that it's now used in 95% of new cars sold in the U.S. An estimated 220 million cars on global roads are also using it. The problem with R-134a, which came in cars and trucks in the 1990s, is that it's a gas with “a global warming potential (GWP) that is 1,430 times that of CO2,” according to the EPA. Since 2017, EU legislation has banned the use of any refrigerant in new vehicles with a GWP higher than 150. That rule doomed R-134a but opened the door for R-1234yf, which has a GWP of only four. The EU is currently revisiting R-1234yf emissions rules and may ban the substance in a few years. In the U.S., the EPA stands by its use
A research team led by Rice University’s Edward Knightly has uncovered an eavesdropping security vulnerability in high-frequency and high-speed wireless backhaul links, widely employed in critical applications such as 5G wireless cell phone signals and low-latency financial trading on Wall Street
Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory have developed a machine learning method that could have a huge impact on understanding how material is formed during the additive manufacturing process. John Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, have demonstrated a novel approach for applying machine learning to predict microstructures produced by a widely used additive manufacturing technique. Their approach promises to dramatically reduce the time and cost of developing materials with tailored physical properties and will soon be implemented on a NASA-funded effort focused on creation of a digital twin. “We anticipate that this new approach will be extremely impactful in helping design and understand material formation during additive manufacturing processes, and this fits into our overarching strategy focused on accelerating materials development for national security,” said
Komatsu introduced its first battery-electric load-haul-dump (LHD) machine, the WX04B, at the MINExpo tradeshow in September. The WX04B is designed specifically for narrow vein mines in underground hard rock mining operations. Komatsu is pairing the electric LHD with its new OEM-agnostic 150-kW battery charger that was also revealed in Las Vegas. The 4-tonne WX04B LHD features what Komatsu claims is best-in-class energy density, offering up to four hours of runtime on a single charge. The Li-ion NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) battery from Proterra has a capacity of 165 kWh and nominal voltage of 660 V. Fewer charge cycles are needed compared to competitors, the company claims, which helps to maximize operational efficiency and minimize downtime. Proterra and Komatsu began their collaboration on the LHD's H Series battery system in 2021, long before Komatsu's acquisition of American Battery Solutions (ABS) in December 2023
Sometimes, I cringe; sometimes, I just listen and wonder. These past few months have given us all a lot to think about in the automotive space, and it's clear now that the coming years will keep the foot down on the accelerator when it comes to the dramatic changes we've experienced this past decade. One thing that stood out to me in various recent conversations is that there's a widening gulf opening between Chinese automakers and the rest of the world. This isn't exactly news, and this column isn't meant to monger any fears. It's just a bit of off-the-cuff reporting that sheds a bit of light on the level of the challenges we face. As you can read in Chris Clonts' excellent report further in this issue about the warning that Voltaiq's CEO gave at The Battery Show this October, the U.S. is in serious danger of falling well behind Chinese competitors in the EV battery race (Michael Robinette tackles similar ground through a tariff lens in this month's Supplier Eye). But that message was
Sensata Technologies' booth at this year's IAA Transportation tradeshow included two of the company's Precor radar sensors. The PreView STA79 is a heavy-duty vehicle side-monitoring system launched in May 2024 and designed to comply with Europe-wide blind spot monitoring legislation introduced in June 2024. The PreView Sentry 79 is a front- and rear-monitoring system. Both systems operate on the 79-GHz band as the nomenclature suggests. PreView STA79 can cover up to three vehicle zones: a configurable center zone, which can monitor the length of the vehicle, and two further zones that can be independently set to align with individual customer needs. The system offers a 180-degree field of view to eliminate blind spots along the vehicle sides and a built-in measurement unit that will increase the alert level when turning toward an object even when the turn indicator is not used. The system also features trailer mitigation to reduce false positive alerts on the trailer when turning. The
Virtualization features such as digital twins and virtual patching can accelerate development and make commercial vehicles more agile and secure. There is one sure-fire way to secure commercial vehicles from cyber-attacks. “You just remove the connectivity,” quipped Brandon Barry, CEO of Block Harbor Cybersecurity and the moderator of a panel session on “cybersecurity of virtual machines” at the SAE COMVEC 2024 conference in Schaumburg, Illinois. Obviously, that train has left the station - commercial vehicles of all types, including trains, are only becoming more automated and connected, which increases the risks for cyber-attacks. “We have very connected vehicles, so attacks can be posed not just through powertrain solutions but also through telemetry, infotainment systems connected to different applications and services, and also through cloud platforms,” said Trisha Chatterjee, current product support and data specialist for fuel cell and hydrogen technology at Accelera by Cummins
Wearable devices that use sensors to monitor biological signals can play an important role in health care. These devices provide valuable information that allows providers to predict, diagnose, and treat a variety of conditions while improving access to care and reducing costs
North American automakers and EV battery firms have five years to erase China's dominance in technology and manufacturing or they may face the reality of buying batteries from China for the foreseeable future. That was the message from battery-analysis company Voltaiq CEO Tal Sholklapper at a media briefing in Detroit. “We're in the final innings now,” Sholklapper said. “If the industry around batteries and electric vehicles and all the follow-on applications wants to make it, we're going to have to change the way we play
As I write this version of the Supplier Eye column, 2024 has been a critical year for our industry. No matter if you are a supplier, OEM or some other position in the ecosystem, this year has set us up for feast or famine through this decade. Let's explore why this year will go down in the record books as a pivotal one. Editorial timing dictates that this is submitted just before the U.S. elections. While you will read this with the election in the rearview mirror, all indications are for an extremely close political outcome, though the ensuing weeks will be the final arbiter. The outcome nonetheless will impact our industry for years
Agriculture, industrial, mining, construction, freight transport and other major global economy sectors rely on vehicle power to thrive. “Internal combustion engines - those powered by gasoline, diesel, natural gas or propane - really are key to our current economy, and we see [the ICE] as a key part of our energy future,” Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Engine Technology Forum, a U.S.-based educational organization, said during a September webinar. Hosted by the Engine Technology Forum, the “Taking Internal Combustion Engines to the Next Level” session focused on current and under-development innovations aimed at increasing engine efficiency and lowering emissions
The auto industry took the next step in the evolution of North American electric vehicle charging solutions today at The Battery Show in Detroit. That's where SAE International released its NACS J3400 Recommended Practice document. Technically called the “SAE J3400TM: NACS Electric Vehicle Coupler Technical Recommended Practice,” the RP can be considered a “blueprint to build” and should set off a stream of new products from suppliers that OEMs and third-party groups like UL will soon test, said Rodney McGee, chairman of the SAE J3400 NACS Task Force and a research engineer at the Transportation Electrification Center at the University of Delaware
The aerospace and defense industries demand the highest levels of reliability, durability, and performance from their electronic systems. Central to achieving these standards are laminate materials, which form the backbone of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and flexible circuits used in a multitude of applications, from avionics to missile guidance systems. Building these systems, which are typically implemented in environments that experience both temperature extremes and wide variations of temperature over time, requires robust materials that can stand up to punishing environmental conditions. Laminates and films for circuit boards and flexible circuits are a vital component of this protective material profile
Honda has long been at the cutting edge of mobility and tech, with everything from the Asimo robot of 20 years ago to plans for reusable rockets to launch lightweight satellites into orbit. During a Tech Day event in early October in Tochigi, Japan, the Japanese automaker announced further details of its upcoming Honda 0 architecture (Honda calls it “Honda Zero” but writes it with the number), its first in-house electric platform designed from the ground up. Honda also discussed some of the advanced manufacturing techniques it's pioneering to reach its core design and technology tenants
Deliberate RF jamming of drones has become one of the most common battlefield tactics in Ukraine. But what is jamming, how does it work and how can it be countered by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the field? Radio frequency (RF) jamming of drones involves deliberate interference with the radio signals used for communication between drones and their operators
Caterpillar has released a cavalcade of new compact track loaders and skid steer loaders. The new CTL models include the 275, 275 XE, 285 and 285 XE. These models join the lineup alongside the 255 and 265, which were introduced last year (www.sae.org/news/2024/02/cat-compact-loaders). The 285 and 285 XE are the largest CTLs Caterpillar has ever produced and reportedly feature greater lift height and lift and tilt breakout forces. “We are excited to launch the next-generation design for our skid steer loader line and expand the performance capabilities to more compact track loader models,” said Trevor Chase, senior product consultant and new product introduction lead for Caterpillar. “Their increased power, lift height, breakout forces, rated operating capacity (ROC) and multiple high-flow auxiliary hydraulic system options give customers a flexible, high-performance machine to get the job done
Continuing a common theme among some presenters at The Battery Show North America, the CEO and founder of Pure Lithium, which is betting on lithium vanadium, framed the company's efforts as a way to end China's dominance in the battery market. “The U.S. is facing an existential crisis, and that is the extinction of the U.S. automotive industry,” Emilie Bodoin said. “But unlike the dinosaurs, we can see this comet coming. We're literally in a cold war with China over supply chain
Researchers have taken the first steps toward finding liquid solvents that may someday help extract critical building materials from lunar and Martian rock dust, an important piece in making long-term space travel possible
December is a good time to reflect on the past year - to celebrate successes and consider opportunities for improvement - but it is also an opportune time to look to the future. As I think about the year ahead and appraise the tradeshow landscape that'll provide significant content for this magazine, mobilityengineeringtech.com, our e-newsletters and other multimedia products, none is bigger than Bauma in Munich, Germany, particularly in terms of the global construction and mining vehicle industries. The triennial event will cover an area that's equivalent to 86 soccer fields, according to Stefan Rummel, CEO of Messe München GmbH. Speaking to the press during an October virtual preview of Bauma 2025, which takes place from April 7-13, Rummel said that the number of exhibitors - expected to be about 3,600 - will be closer to the 2019 event versus the post-COVID-19 edition that was pushed back from its usual spring timeslot to the fall of 2022
Hypersonic platforms provide a challenge for flight test campaigns due to the application's flight profiles and environments. The hypersonic environment is generally classified as any speed above Mach 5, although there are finer distinctions, such as “high hypersonic” (between Mach 10 to 25) and “reentry” (above Mach 25). Hypersonic speeds are accompanied, in general, by a small shock standoff distance. As the Mach number increases, the entropy layer of the air around the platform changes rapidly, and there are accompanying vortical flows. Also, a significant amount of aerodynamic heating causes the air around the platform to disassociate and ionize. From a flight test perspective, this matters because the plasma and the ionization interfere with the radio frequency (RF) channels. This interference reduces the telemetry links' reliability and backup techniques must be employed to guarantee the reception of acquired data. Additionally, the flight test instrumentation (FTI) package needs
Exactly when sensor fusion occurs in ADAS operations, late or early, impacts the entire system. Governments have been studying Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) since at least the late 1980s. Europe's Generic Intelligent Driver Support initiative ran from 1989 to 1992 and aimed “to determine the requirements and design standards for a class of intelligent driver support systems which will conform with the information requirements and performance capabilities of the individual drivers.” Automakers have spent the past 30 years rolling out such systems to the buying public. Toyota and Mitsubishi started offering radar-based cruise control to Japanese drivers in the mid-1990s. Mercedes-Benz took the technology global with its Distronic adaptive cruise control in the 1998 S-Class. Cadillac followed that two years later with FLIR-based night vision on the 2000 Deville DTS. And in 2003, Toyota launched an automated parallel parking technology called Intelligent Parking Assist on the
“This might be our most forward-looking team occupying the building that was the impetus for our future-looking focus in the very beginning,” Jennifer Kolstad, Ford Motor Company's Global Design and Brand Director, told SAE Media inside the 100-year-old Ford Engineering Lab's library. The two-story Dearborn, Michigan building, which spans two city blocks, is now the renovated and modernized workspace for Electrified Propulsion Engineering Team innovators. “They're in-space before the research and development hub opens across the street,” Kolstad said
NWI Aerostructures Park City, KS
Purdue University engineers have developed a method to transform existing cloth items into battery-free wearables resistant to laundering. These smart clothes are powered wirelessly through a flexible, silk-based coil sewn on the textile
It’s common knowledge that a major challenge for solar energy is how to store excess energy produced when conditions are right, like noon-time sun, so that it can be used later. The usual answer is batteries. But renewable energy resources are causing problems for the electricity grid in other ways as well. In a warm, sunny location like California, mid-afternoon had been a time of peak demand for the electric utility, but with solar it’s now a time of peak output
Items per page:
50
1 – 50 of 25354