Browse Topic: Research and development

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The History of the International Powered Lift Conference Across Five Decades of V/STOL Progress2026-01-0662To be published on 07/01/2026
This year, SAE International hosts the 2026 edition of the International Powered Lift Conference (IPLC), which focuses on the latest developments in vertical and/or short takeoff and landing (V/STOL) aircraft research, concepts and programs. IPLC is a joint technical meeting, held approximately biennially, co-sponsored by the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA), the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS), SAE International and the Vertical Flight Society (VFS). Because each technical society hosts IPLC only once a decade, staff turnover at the societies creates a lack of knowledge and historical context of the event. This paper provides a formal record of the history and legacy of the IPLC, and its progress in highlighting the technical and programmatic progress of V/STOL over the ages.
Hirschberg, Michael J.
Standardized Equivalent Tire Load measurements delivered by suppliers to an OEM enabling consistent and comparable simulation input.2026-01-0699To be published on 06/20/2026
Part- or component-level tests are commonly performed by Tiers and OEMs to investigate the NVH behavior and loading mechanisms. However, because test bench dynamics differ from those of the actual vehicle environment, correlating measured sound, acceleration, and forces between bench and vehicle often proves challenging. Blocked forces offer a way to address this issue, as they provide test bench– and vehicle–independent load representations, effectively enabling different Tiers to deliver consistent load data, which OEMs can then to better tune excitation and noise transmission on their vehicles. This paper focuses on 2 test bench compensation techniques, involving pure test and a simulation models of the tire, to obtain accurate blocked-forces. The compensation techniques are validated on four testbenches of different companies.
Reichart, Ron, de Klerk PhD, Dennis
Passenger Car Powertrain for Voltages above 800V2026-37-0020To be published on 06/09/2026
The EU-funded innovation project High-Voltage fast-charging Efficient electric vehicle Powertrains (HiVEP) develops new technologies for mass-market electric vehicles (EVs) by advancing architectures operating above 800 V. These architectures integrate silicon carbide (SiC)-based power electronics, rare-earth-free electric machines with active winding reconfiguration, high C-rate batteries, and optimised thermal management systems. HiVEP aims to deliver sub-10-minute fast charging, reduce energy consumption by at least 25%, extend range by 20%, and cut system costs by up to 20% in volume production. This article expands on the project objectives, methodological approach and expected key innovations as well as technical, environmental, and societal impacts. The discussion situates HiVEP within the European research and innovation landscape, emphasising its role in accelerating adoption of sustainable mobility solutions.
Schernus, Christof, Nada, Shady, Neuhaus, Christoph, Ewald, Jens, Swierc, Daniel, Kallur-Krishnamoorthy, Rajesh, Vasiliadis, Harilaos
Integration of energy consumption simulation in optimal charging planning for battery electric long-haul trucks2026-37-0019To be published on 06/09/2026
Vehicle fleet decarbonization is a key objective for the coming years, with electrification representing the primary pathway to achieving the targets set by the European Union. The share of battery electric trucks in new registrations has been gradually increasing especially in light and medium size trucks. The replacement rate of diesel long-haul trucks with zero emission trucks is still low due to challenges posed by added complexity and limitations of battery charging. Depot overnight charging is not sufficient to cover the energy needs of a truck covering large distances and careful planning of the route using public charging infrastructure is crucial for an optimized route minimizing extra costs and range anxiety. The current work aims to develop a methodology to propose the optimal charging locations for a given route of a battery electric truck based on nearby stations along the route. Our study uses an open-source optimization algorithm for the fixed route vehicle charging
Perdikopoulos, Michail, Doulgeris, Stylianos, Livitsanos, Georgios, Kazakis, Thomas, Mellios, Giorgos, Ntziachristos, Leonidas
Feasibility study on the mechanical adjustment of the vibration behaviour of a powertrain test rig for validating longitudinal vehicle shuffle2026-01-0735To be published on 06/01/2026
Vehicle manufacturers use Hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) approaches to validate overall vehicle characteristics, including those dependent on the powertrain, at an early stage of vehicle development. A powertrain test rig is a typical example. In the specific setup, the vehicle engine and side shafts are mechanically coupled to the load machines of the test rig, eliminating the physical influence of the rims, tires and vehicle body. Adapting a specimen to the test rig changes some characteristics. This affects the specimen's vibration behaviour, making it more challenging to validate comfort-related characteristics. A particular example is longitudinal vehicle shuffle; the powertrain's first torsional natural frequency causes it. The natural frequencies of the real vehicle and device under test differ significantly, so a road-matching approach is not directly feasible. To account not only for tire-road contact but also for the missing vehicle mass, some scientific studies propose a purely
Hübner, Carl, Prokop, Günther
Wear Resilience Characteristics of 2% Silicon Nitride Strengthened AZ31 Magnesium Composite2026-26-0740To be published on 06/01/2026
To develop magnesium matrix composites, ceramic silicon nitride (Si3N4) particles are used to strengthen the magnesium (AZ31) matrix by adding 2 wt.%. The composite is developed by disintegrated melt deposition vacuum stir casting method. Microstructural studies reveal the presence of Si3N4 particles and their uniform distribution. A L9 orthogonal array planned using Taguchi’s experimental design is chosen for three wear parameters axial load (AL), rotational speed (RS), and time duration (TD) for trials as per G99 standard in pin-on-disc apparatus. Experimental outcomes show a rise in axial stress; wear loss increases dramatically. Because the area of contact shrinks as sliding speed increases, wear loss diminishes dramatically. When the AL is low, CoF increases, and when the AL is large, CoF drops. When the sliding speed is increased, CoF decreases. To optimize multiple responses effectively, the TOPSIS method (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) was
Senthilkumar, N., Dhinakar Raj, C K
AI-Led Sustainability Strategy: Driving Product Value from Birth to Disposal2026-26-0781To be published on 06/01/2026
Product development in Aerospace, Oil & Gas, Turbomachinery and Aviation sectors are associated with complex engineering challenges and long lead time to materialize products. More so in Aerospace and Aviation sectors, unlike other sectors, they are highly cost intensive, consuming few millions of dollars for introducing minor modifications to billions of dollars for a major modifications along with regulatory constrains. In addition, the product development cycle is spread over years ranging from a couple of years for minor modification to nearly a decade or more for major modifications. The profitability of the product is derived through its Safety, Reliability and Availability in operation. The product is maintained in service until it sustains value in its operation and is discarded if the value deteriorates and the cost of upkeep exceeds the product value. Product Value in the present context is not the price tag but encompasses intangible elements like brand value, reputation etc
Srinivasan, Karthik, G.V.V., Ravi Kumar, Vaderahobli, Devaraja Holla, Bhate, Ujwal, Veluri, Sastry
TRANSFORMING AIRCRAFT MRO WITH AGENTIC AI AND CONTEXT ENGINEERING2026-26-0788To be published on 06/01/2026
Aircraft Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations are highly complex, involving coordination among multiple stakeholders including airlines, MRO providers, OEMs, and regulatory authorities. A significant challenge in this space is managing unplanned events such as Aircraft on Ground (AOG) conditions, where delays can lead to major financial losses to airlines and safety risks. Engineers must quickly diagnose the damage, evaluate compliance against regulatory limits, coordinate with OEMs, and make critical decisions—all while navigating a fragmented ecosystem of disconnected systems, diverse document types, and time-sensitive processes. This paper presents a real-world, intelligent MRO solution that addresses these challenges through the use of Agentic AI and context engineering. The system is designed to automate and augment key MRO workflows such as damage detection, repair pathway selection, compliance verification, and supplier coordination. At its core, the solution is
Abburu, Sunitha, G.V.V., Ravi Kumar, Poovalingam, Sundaresan, Vaderahobli, Devaraja Holla
Numerical Analysis of Pre-Ignition Factors in Hydrogen Engines2026-01-0740To be published on 06/01/2026
Numerical analysis was conducted to investigate abnormal combustion, a major challenge in efforts to improve hydrogen engine efficiency. Focusing on two factors that induce abnormal combustion—surface reactions and lubricating oil—numerical analysis examined the potential for each to trigger abnormal combustion. Furthermore, since it was confirmed that the self-ignition prediction using a detailed chemical reaction mechanism deviates from experiments at temperatures around 800K, attempts were made to improve this issue. As a result, it was confirmed that surface reactions affect the chemical species ratio near the wall surface but have little effect on flame propagation. Regarding lubricating oil, two possibilities were investigated: the lubricating oil itself self-igniting and becoming an ignition source for the hydrogen mixture, and deposits generated from the lubricating oil generating heat and becoming an ignition source. We investigated two possibilities: the lubricating oil
Moriyoshi, Yasuo, Yamane, Taichi, Wang, Zhiyuan, Kuboyama, Tatsuya
An Analysis and Comparison of Free-Space Detection Approaches and Their Evaluation for Heavy-Duty Vehicles2026-01-0763To be published on 06/01/2026
The detection of free space plays a fundamental role in ensuring the safe and efficient operation of heavy-duty vehicles, particularly in environments where the available area to maneuver is severely constrained, such as construction zones, rest areas, or loading docks. An accurate estimation of free space is essential to prevent collisions, maintaining operational continuity and minimizing vehicle downtime. As observed from the reviewed literature, despite the large number of proposed free-space detection methods, there is no concise and established definition about how free space should be determined, represented, and inferred, nor agreement on the semantic classes to be considered. This heterogeneity complicates systematic comparison and benchmarking across approaches. This paper presents a structured survey and methodological analysis of recent free-space detection and semantic segmentation approaches across automotive LiDAR-, camera-, and radar-based perception systems, as well as
Martinez, Cristian, Peters, Steven
Mind the Gap: Quantifying Behavioral Fidelity in CARLA using Naturalistic Drone Data2026-01-0771To be published on 06/01/2026
The rapid advancement of autonomous driving systems, particularly SAE Levels 3 and 4, requires rigorous validation strategies to ensure safety during handover and fallback procedures. Although virtual environments provide the necessary scalability, the simulation-reality gap poses a significant risk to the reliability of human-in-the-loop (HITL) assessments. This paper presents a comprehensive, empirical investigation into the transferability of human driving behavior from the Car-Learning-to-Act (CARLA) simulation environment to real-world traffic situations. Using the exiD dataset, which comprises high-precision, drone-recorded, naturalistic trajectories from German highways, we systematically reconstructed distinct traffic scenarios. These scenarios included lane changes, cut-in maneuvers, and curve navigation. Twenty-five participants navigated these scenarios in a driving simulator. The study employed a robust, multidimensional analytical framework to compare the simulated
Rebling, Patrick, Alphan, Metehan, Nenninger, Philipp
Automating Compliance Workflows in Aerospace Systems: A Scalable Framework for Specification Review and Requirement Mapping2026-26-0714To be published on 06/01/2026
Compliance verification in aerospace systems often relies on labor-intensive workflows that demand extensive manual effort to produce structured review documentation and requirement matrices. These processes can span dozens of hours per review, are vulnerable to inconsistencies due to non-standardized annotations, and depend heavily on individual interpretation of fragmented technical sources. With a growing backlog of review tasks and a steady influx of new requests, the need for scalable automation has become increasingly urgent. This study presents a modular automation framework designed to streamline compliance assessments through intelligent document parsing, requirement extraction, and matrix generation. The system integrates optical character recognition, computer vision, and natural language processing techniques to process both scanned and digital documents. By digitizing data across multiple hardware configurations and automating extraction from diverse technical records, the
Mirani, Harsh, Baviskar, Yash G.
Evaluating Volume and Hardness change in Fluorocarbon and Ethylene Propylene Rubber Elastomers: Effects of Fluid Aging2026-26-0758To be published on 06/01/2026
Abstract: This research paper investigates the performance of FKM (Fluorocarbon) seal material when exposed to a 50:50 ethylene glycol-water mixture. The study aims to determine the volume change percentage and Hardness change of FKM elastomers under standardized testing conditions. The experimental approach follows ASTM D471 and ASTM 2240 guidelines, focusing on weight and hardness measurements of the test samples to establish a success criterion. The results provide critical insights into the chemical compatibility and durability of FKM elastomers in Aerospace and industrial applications where ethylene glycol-water mixtures are commonly used. The findings contribute to enhanced material selection and design considerations for sealing applications subjected to glycol-based fluids. Samples of FKM material were immersed in the fluid at controlled temperatures and durations, simulating real-world operational conditions. The primary metric of interest, volume change percentage and
Yarolkar, Makrand, Patil, Sandip, Singh, Tanul
Advancing Aerospace Interiors: Evaluation of the In-House Polymer Pellet Additive Manufacturing System2026-26-0765To be published on 06/01/2026
The Elektra printer is an open-source, pellet-based (FGF) 3 axis additive manufacturing system developed by Collins in collaboration with Pollen AM to enable large-scale, cost-efficient 3D printing using standard polymer pellets. In alignment with the Make in India program, Elektra represents a significant step toward localized, industrial-scale additive manufacturing that delivers affordability, flexibility, and performance for aerospace and allied industries. The system provides four major advantages. First, it enables cost-effective part production by leveraging standard injection molding grade thermoplastic pellets instead of expensive proprietary feedstocks. Second, its large build volume (800mm*800mm*400mm) supports the manufacture of tools, fixtures, and structural parts often restricted by conventional systems. Third, Elektra is compatible with a broad range of engineering and high-performance polymers that are flame retardant, ensuring adaptability for multiple use cases
Kini, Aditya Deepak, Sundar, Santosh
Assessment of Injection Gate Location effects on Mechanical Performance of Short Fiber Reinforced Plastic Components using Digimat2026-26-0746To be published on 06/01/2026
The mechanical performance of short fiber-reinforced plastic (SFRP) components is highly sensitive to fiber orientation, which is significantly influenced by the injection gate location during the molding process. Traditionally, gate placement decisions are driven by warpage minimization strategies, often overlooking mechanical performance under diverse load cases. This research introduces an automated workflow within Digimat-MS that integrates injection gate optimization into the early design phase, leveraging Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) principles. The proposed methodology enables engineers to upload either of Marc, Abaqus or Ansys input decks, select a component of interest, assign material cards, and define gate scenarios. A Design of Experiments (DOE) is then executed locally or remotely, allowing Digimat to simulate and evaluate multiple gate configurations. The system aggregates results and identifies optimal gate locations based on the initiation of
Kauthale, Tanmay, Madhavan, Vinay, Soni, Ganesh
Development of Graphene filled Polypropylene Nanocomposite for Aerospace Application2026-26-0739To be published on 06/01/2026
Polypropylene, a commodity plastic, is the semi-crystalline thermoplastic widely used in high volume for general purpose applications. Polypropylene is the macro molecules of soft and weak backbone, which by reinforcement of fillers in different forms such as fiber, spheroids, nanotubes, flakes, etc., can influence its mechanical, thermal, electrical, creep resistance, and flame resistance properties for use in aerospace applications. Currently, polycarbonate and nylon plastics are used in aerospace applications, however, they are expensive compared with polypropylene. In this thesis, efforts are put to study the effect of reinforcement fillers in the properties of polypropylene composite, primarily the mechanical and flammability properties. The matrix element, polypropylene co polymer and reprocessed polypropylene blended in equal ratio, are coupled with the dispersing phases such as graphene, mica, fumed silica, and polydimethylsiloxane polymer. Effect of graphene as reinforcing
Govindaraju, Parthasarathy
Visual–Language Model–Driven Annotation and Analysis of Maneuver Data for Enhanced Vehicle Safety09-14-01-00325/4/2026
Vehicle maneuver data are essential for perception and planning in advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving systems (ADS). While high-quality annotations improve machine-learning performance, existing maneuver datasets remain fragmented, labor-intensive to annotate, and inconsistent in semantic richness. Challenges persist in scalability, interpretability, and contextual labeling. This article establishes a structured framework for maneuver data analysis by combining a systematic review of existing resources with the development of a new multimodal dataset. First, we conduct a systematic review of publicly available datasets such as HDD, KITTI, BDD-X, D2CAV, Brain4Cars, DrivingDojo, and the Driving Behavior Database. We further evaluate the data modality and sensor configurations including event data recorders, onboard logging systems, and smartphone sensing. We then propose the Matt3r Data Collection System with modern metadata management, which integrates video
Bai, Ling, Yuan, Chongyu, Osman, Islam, Lin, Zirui, Mirab, Ghazal, Saheb, Amir, Parnian, Neda, Shapiro, Evgeny, Shehata, Mohamed S., Liu, Zheng
Increasing the Competency and Confidence of Older Drivers in the Use of Advanced Vehicle Technologies: The MOVETech Randomized Controlled Trial09-14-01-00135/4/2026
Programs that teach older drivers how to confidently and competently use advanced vehicle technologies (AVTs) are limited. The MOVETech study evaluated a training program specifically designed to teach older drivers how to use these technologies. Participants (n = 119) were randomized to the intervention (training program) or control group (brochure). The intervention involved an in-person classroom education session on the use and benefits of AVTs, and an on-road driving session where participants drove along a pre-defined route in a dual-controlled vehicle with instruction on AVT use by a driving instructor. All participants completed in-person and telephone assessments at baseline and 3 months. Driving performance and on-road AVT competence assessments were the primary outcomes. Self-reported driving confidence, competence, and confidence in use of AVT, crashes, citations, and count of vehicle damage were the secondary outcomes. Program fidelity was also evaluated using a checklist
Nguyen, Helen, Ren, Kerrie, Coxon, Kristy, Neville, Nick, O’Donnell, Joan, Cheal, Beth, Brown, Julie, Keay, Lisa
Are Drivers More Distracted with Level 2 Automated Technologies? A Naturalistic Driving Study Analysis of Frequency, Duration, and Proportion of Time Drivers Engage in Secondary Tasks09-14-01-00285/4/2026
This project was designed to better understand how the activation of SAE International Level 2 (L2) system features affect the duration of secondary task engagement. Four naturalistic driving datasets were used: one that included drivers without L2 experience, two that included drivers with L2 experienced, and one that included drivers of L0 vehicles. Dependent variables that were assessed include frequency of secondary tasks, duration of secondary task, and proportion of time that drivers engaged in cell phone tasks when L2 systems were active compared to when L2 systems were available but inactive. Results suggest that both the frequency and proportion of time drivers engaged in secondary tasks were significantly higher when L2 systems were active compared to when systems were available but inactive. Drivers without L2 experience took longer to perform tasks involving the center stack/instrument panel compared to experienced L2 drivers. These results suggest that drivers demonstrate
Klauer, Sheila, Dunn, Naomi, Anderson, Gabrial T., Barnes, Ellen, Han, Shu, Fincannon, Thomas, Weaver, Starla
Understanding and Modeling Effectiveness of Predictive Risk Notifications for Early Assistance for Safe Driving: A Public Road Testing Study09-14-01-00265/4/2026
While an enlarged lead time from risk notifications to collisions is widely acknowledged to facilitate safe driving, it remains challenging to effectively notify drivers of invisible risks and non-apparent risks coming from uncertain behaviors on the part of road users. The current study examined whether verbal notifications are able to assist early awareness of predictive risks. We also attempted to identify human and environmental factors that could possibly improve the effectiveness of predictive risk information. Twenty-eight licensed drivers participated in a public road test conducted in two different urban areas on 3 days. They drove predefined courses on which potential risk locations were identified prior to the test, using a sport utility vehicle equipped with an automatic verbal notification system triggered based on the distance to the potential risk locations. After passing through the locations each time, the participants were instructed to verbally evaluate the shift in
Maruyama, Masaki, Koyama, Keiichiro, Ezaki, Toru, Sakamoto, Junichi, Sawada, Yuta, Matsuoka, Takahiro
A Comparative Assessment of Fuel Cell and Battery Powertrains for Formula Student Electric Applications2026-01-50324/27/2026
The organizers of the most prominent Formula Student competitions have recently initiated a preliminary feasibility study on the application of hydrogen-based propulsion technologies in future single-seater race vehicles. These include electric powertrains with electrochemically converted hydrogen in fuel cell–powered vehicles, competing within the electric championship league. Based on the initial set of regulations, this study presents a model-based comparison between battery-powered (BEVs) and fuel cell–powered electric vehicles (FCVs) for Formula Student. The analysis is conducted using energy, power, and efficiency metrics from four candidate models of propulsion systems, implemented in an open and publicly available MATLAB script: two BEVs with varying battery capacities, and two FCVs employing different hybridization strategies. The aim of this study is to pinpoint and quantify the advantages and disadvantages of each technology for the Formula Student use case, and to identify
Martoccia, Lorenzo, Breda, Sebastiano, Fontanesi, Stefano, d’Adamo, Alessandro
Orchestrating Agents for Automotive Research2026-01-50314/24/2026
Automotive research landscape currently is driven by emerging technologies such as software-defined vehicles, advanced infotainment systems, and increasingly automated driving functions. This situation calls for a bigger need for efficient, comprehensive, and agile research methods. Traditional methods require significant manual effort, leading to information synthesis and dissemination bottlenecks. After doing a thorough research on how research is carried on in automotive companies, it is inferred that a lot of time is spent on gathering information and integrating it with proprietary knowledge rather than on analysis or synthesis of the information. There are tools and platforms with artificial intelligence (AI) advancement that help with deep research of a particular topic, and there are also tools and platforms that help with synthesis of proprietary information within automotive organizations. But there is a lack of a framework that dynamically integrates the aspect of deep
Vemuri, Pavan
Directional Stiffness Decoupling in Meta-Wheels via Three-Dimensional Discrete Curved Spokes15-19-01-00054/22/2026
Meta-wheels—non-pneumatic wheels whose performance is governed by structural geometry rather than internal pressure—offer new opportunities for directional stiffness control. Yet achieving independent tuning of longitudinal, lateral, and vertical stiffness within a single wheel architecture has remained challenging due to the inherent coupling in conventional radial and planar curved spokes. In this study, we introduce a three-dimensional (3D) discrete curved-spoke design that provides explicit geometric control through two independent parameters: the in-plane curvature angle (α) and the out-of-plane inclination angle (β). Using spoke-level and full-wheel finite-element (FE) simulations, supported by a simplified cantilever-beam analytical model, we show that these two geometric parameters govern stiffness in fundamentally different ways. The curvature angle α serves primarily as a geometric softener, reducing stiffness in all directions while maintaining a high top-loading ratio (TLR
Han, Heeseung, Liu, Zhipeng, Ju, Jaehyung
A Comparison between Leica RTC360 and Recon-3D Scan Data in Pre- and Post-Collision Vehicle Documentation2026-01-50304/22/2026
Documenting and mapping using three-dimensional (3D) technologies have become essential in crime- and crash-scene investigations in recent years. Traditionally, this has been accomplished using terrestrial laser scanners (TLS), which often come with significant upfront costs. In contrast, Recon-3D, launched in 2022, leverages the capabilities of Apple’s light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor, available in Pro and Pro Max models since 2020. This study aims to evaluate the relative accuracy of documenting vehicles in both pre- and post-collision conditions using these technologies. A deviation analysis was conducted utilizing CloudCompare software to compare point cloud data collected from the Leica RTC360 laser scanner with that obtained from Recon-3D for 7 vehicles in a pre- and post-impact condition for a total of n = 14 vehicles. At the 1, 2, and 3 cm deviation thresholds, the average percent of points which fell below each threshold level for all vehicles was 66%, 91%, and 97
Lim, Jihwa, Liscio, Eugene
Enhancing the Aerodynamic Performance of Diffusers in High-performance Vehicles Using Trapped Vortex Cavities2026-01-50274/9/2026
Motivated by the inclusion of active flow control provisions in the 2026 Formula One regulations, and building upon previous studies of Trapped Vortex Cavity (TVC) implementation in inverted front wings, this paper investigates the effectiveness of TVC as a flow control mechanism applied to vehicle diffusers. Both active and passive configurations were considered for three diffuser geometries: a base straight-line diffuser, an inverted airfoil-shaped diffuser, and a diffuser inspired by a Formula One car. The study employed numerical simulations to evaluate the aerodynamic performance and the potential benefits of integrating TVC systems. Across all types of diffusers, the implementation of a circular TVC cavity resulted in a significant improvement in the lift-to-drag ratio (CL/CD). In the active flow control configuration, a 10% improvement was observed in the straight diffuser under a limited mass-flow rate. With optimized cavity positioning and radius, the airfoil-shaped and
Ming Kin, NG, Teschner, Tom-Robin
Assessing a Safety Case: Bottom-up Guidance for Claims and Evidence Evaluation2026-01-05234/7/2026
As Automated Driving Systems (ADS) technology advances, ensuring safety and public trust requires robust assurance frameworks, with safety cases emerging as a critical tool toward such a goal. This paper explores an approach to assess how a safety case is supported by its claims and evidence, toward establishing credibility for the overall case. Starting from a description of the building blocks of a safety case (claims, evidence, and optional format-dependent entries), this paper delves into the assessment of support of each claim through the provided evidence. Two domains of assessment are outlined for each claim: procedural support (formalizing process specification) and implementation support (demonstrating process application). Additionally, an assessment of evidence status is also undertaken, independently from the claims support. Scoring strategies and evaluation guidelines are provided, including detailed scoring tables for claim support and evidence status assessment. The
Schnelle, Scott, Favaro, Francesca, Fraade-Blanar, Laura, Broce, Holland, Miranda, Justin, Wichner, David, Shrivastava, Mohit
Determining Video Frame Capture Rate through Reverse Engineering2026-01-05434/7/2026
The timing of video recordings, along with the spatial positioning of objects, is a fundamental parameter for calculating the speed time history. If the task involves determining the average speed of an object moving at approximately constant speed, it may be acceptable to average the speed over several to a dozen frames, using the fps (frames per second) parameter as the basic time unit.. However, if the objective is to compute speed from individual frames, the reliability of the timing becomes crucial. Without access to DVR hardware documentation, proprietary algorithms, or software – and considering the frequent hardware modifications and software updates - the most effective way to solve the problem is through a reverse-engineering approach. This study discusses several aspects of timing analysis, including: (1) making a test recording of a calibrated LED lightboard; (2) analyzing the relationship between the lightboard time and the presentation time stamp (pts) extracted from the
Wach, Wojciech
High Strain Rate Behaviors of Fiber Reinforced Composites in Principal and Off-Axis Directions2026-01-01754/7/2026
Materials can exhibit significantly different mechanical behaviors compared to quasi-static conditions at high strain rates (> 100 s-1). High strain rate tests using setups such as SHPB (Split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar) can provide, in a practicable manner, the stress-strain relations for a material at high strain rates. Such properties are vitally needed for activities such as simulation-driven impact safety design of composite structures deployed in the form of automotive body parts and assembly, and other sub-systems. Although the behaviors of isotropic and ductile materials such as various metallic alloys appear to have been extensively studied and reported in literature, dependence of mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced composites especially in different off-axis directions are extremely difficult to come across. To fill up this void, a detailed experimental study has been carried out on high strain rate mechanical characterization of a laminated orthotropic glass/epoxy
Bawa, Prashant, Deb, Anindya, Barui, Ananya, Zhu, Feng
ProGuard: A Real-Time Preemptive Artificial Intelligence-Based Anti-Pinch System for Bus Entryways on Low-Power Edge Devices2026-01-01004/7/2026
This paper proposes ProGuard, a novel approach to preemptive pinch detection systems for buses. ProGuard utilizes state-of-the-art AI object detection algorithms to identify potential pinching events in bus entryways before pinching occurs. Modern conventional anti-pinch systems, such as pressure sensors or hall effect sensors, often rely on mechanical contact before triggering. While these systems are established safety mechanisms, they are reactive and therefore require some level of pinching before triggering. This reactive approach presents numerous safety concerns for passengers, especially when considering children on school buses. Existing preemptive detection methods, such as infrared or ultrasonic sensors, solve the problems presented by these reactive detection systems. However, these systems either lack the range or environmental resilience needed for reliable operation in buses. The critical nature of anti-pinch systems requires a robust and reliable solution that can adapt
Bradley, Hudson, Zadeh, Mehrdad, Tan, Teik-Khoon
Forensic Acquisition and Analysis of Unsupported Lexus Infotainment Modules via CMD42 Bypass and Data Carving2026-01-05404/7/2026
Crashes involving passenger vehicles increasingly include vehicles equipped with infotainment systems that are unsupported by commercial vehicle system forensics hardware and software. Examiners facing these systems must overcome challenges in acquiring and analyzing user data, requiring an understanding of both digital forensics principles and the proprietary characteristics of the modules. This paper presents a methodology for acquiring data from previously unsupported Lexus infotainment modules, including techniques to bypass CMD42 security locks on SD cards and extract data. Once acquired, the paper outlines methods for analyzing user data through data carving techniques, enabling recovery of information from binary images even when the full file system cannot be reconstructed. Emphasis is placed on maintaining the integrity of the evidence and validating findings through controlled testing. These validation procedures ensure that the recovered information is both accurate and
Burgess, Shanon
A Large Language Model-Based Database for Analyzing the Battery Critical Minerals Supply Chain2026-01-04714/7/2026
Global geopolitical volatility is recognized as a critical threat to the resilience of the electric vehicle battery supply chain. Static, manually updated databases are inadequate for capturing the sector’s rapid dynamics, resulting in significant information gaps for strategic planning. To address this, an Artificial Intelligence-driven methodology is proposed for constructing a comprehensive and dynamic database. An automated pipeline was implemented. First, real-time textual data are collected from curated news and industry sources using specialized web crawlers. Then, the unstructured data obtained undergo preprocessing, including deduplication and cleansing, to ensure quality. A core innovation involves the application of Large Language Models (LLMs) for deep semantic parsing and extraction of structured information. These models are utilized to accurately identify key entities—such as corporations, facilities, and production capacities—and to delineate complex multi-tier
Zhu, Juntong, Luo, Wei, Zhang, Xiang, Yang, Zhifeng, Ou, Shiqi(Shawn), He, Xin
Operational Feasibility of Battery Swapping in U.S. Transit: A Case Study of King County Metro2026-01-04024/7/2026
Battery swapping technology has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional charging for electric bus fleets, offering rapid turnaround times and improved vehicle availability. This paper utilizes existing bus routing information to perform an initial site evaluation for battery swapping stations. A Seattle-based public transit agency—King County Metro, a partner on this project—is used as a case study. Using General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS) data from King County Metro, a MATLAB model was built to reconstruct blocks and layovers, extracts dwell-time opportunities, and performs block-distance and block-time analyses to understand operational rhythms. based bus model was developed that maps route mileage, efficiency, and layover availability for battery swap decisions, using a look-ahead rule that defers battery exchanges whenever the next feasible layover can still be reached while respecting a minimum state-of-charge. The workflow estimates how many swaps each block
Vadlapatla, Taraka Rishi, Jankord, Gregory, D'Arpino, Matilde
Benchmarking Driver Responses in Head-On Conflicts: Expanding the Framework for TTC, Affordances, and Uncertainty2026-01-05344/7/2026
Head-on emergency events present unique challenges for evaluating both human and automated-vehicle (AV) performance because they do not conform to a direct stimulus–response sequence. Instead, driver behavior in these scenarios follows a stimulus–wait–response pattern governed by time-to-conflict (TTC), uncertainty, and environmental affordances. Prior research has often failed to distinguish between conflict types, resulting in generalized reaction-time assumptions that do not account for contextual uncertainty. This study integrates simulator and naturalistic driving data from a four-part research program to establish objective benchmarks for driver responses in head-on encounters. When an encroaching vehicle crossed the centerline 2.5 s before impact, drivers initiated braking with a weighted average of approximately 1.0 s before impact. When the encroaching vehicle crossed or was first observed at approximately 3.5 s before impact, braking typically began with a weighted average of
Muttart, Jeffrey, Dinakar, Swaroop, Maloney, Timothy, Adikhari, Bikram, Gernhard-Macha, Suntasty
Introduction to Catesby Aero Research Facility, CARF, the Coast-Down Tunnel Proving Ground2026-01-06114/7/2026
This paper reports on the Catesby Aero Research Facility (CARF), which began commercial operation in 2019, and summarizes facility characteristics and associated measurement technologies, with an emphasis on vehicle-mounted component-force measurement devices. CARF is a proving ground converted from a former railway tunnel approximately 2.74 km in length and surfaced with high-quality tarmac. The road-surface quality was specified to be comparable to that of SUBARU's proving ground and was achieved using established construction methods. The course is approximately straight with a small longitudinal grade. Key course specifications include an approximately 40 m2 blockage area, a 6 m road width (maximum 8.4 m), flatness σ < 0.5 mm, and a gradient of 0.57%. Relative to outdoor coast-down testing, the tunnel length enables continuous measurement to very low speeds, thereby improving repeatability. A six-component force sensor integrated into the hub unit enables on-road measurement of
Shimoyama, Hiroshi
The Development of an Experimental Methodology for the Measurement of Aeroelastic Components2026-01-06484/7/2026
In high-end motorsport engineering, aerodynamic devices such as front and rear wings are prone to aeroelastic deformations under certain conditions, which can be exploited for vehicle performance gains. Considering the complex interactions between the aerodynamics and structures, experimental evaluation can prove to be a time-effective approach for design, optimisation, research and development regarding aeroelastic bodies. This study presents the development and experimental validation of a deformation tracking system using depth-sensing LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) camera technology. The system is based on the use of reflective markers mounted on a given model of interest; this project, a front wing model with a flexible, 3D printed flap element was used as a benchmark. Surface deformation is captured by post-processing point cloud data to extract three-dimensional displacement vectors. A series of controlled measurement tests were first conducted to assess accuracy and
Altinbas, Koray, Soares, Renan F.
A Novel Spot Joint Finite Element for Rapid Stress Analysis of Fasteners in Automotive Structures2026-01-01824/7/2026
Due to the spot weld and mechanical fastener share the similar characteristics to join sheets together with differences in deformation behavior around joint region, a novel spot joint element (user-defined element) consists of regular Mindlin shell elements and equations for different kinematic constraints is proposed to simplify the spot joint representation in lightweight automotive structures. The novel spot joint element can not only provide accurate deformation behavior around joint region but also output mesh-insensitive structural stresses at virtual nodes with the use of traction-based structural stress method for fatigue failure analysis. In this investigation, the structural stress distributions around joint circumference in the lap-shear specimens with spot weld or fastener are first calculated to validate the accuracy of the novel spot joint element. Then, the structural stresses along different cross-sections emanating from joint are also calculated for the specimens with
Wu, Shengjia, Zhang, Lunyu, Dong, Pingsha
Innovation Powered by High-Fidelity Multiphysics Modeling: A Holistic System Optimization of BorgWarner’s Next Generation Integrated Drive Modules2026-01-04974/7/2026
In the stringent market of BEV, the development of integrated Drive Modules (iDM) fitting environmental and customer needs is mandatory. It is important to extract the best from the less. To achieve those goals, a deep insight into complex multiphysics phenomena occurring in an iDM has been achieved by accurate and validated models. This engineering methodology is applied through the development of BorgWarner products, comprising non-exhaustively iDM 180-HF, Externally Excited Synchronous Machine and Multi-Level Inverter. The paper will review the methodology development for deeper understanding involving in-house technical excellence and complemented by strategic partnerships with academic institutions and start-ups. It will present the approach of integrating advanced multiphysics models with high-quality experimental validations, specifically on loss evaluation on electrical machines and inverters. Complex models involving multiphysics such as thermal/fluid coupling or electric
Leblay, Arnaud, Bourniche, Eric, Bossi, Adrien, David, Pascal, Nanjundaswamy, Harsha
Efficient Embedded Control of Nonlinear Systems for Software-Defined Vehicles2026-01-00754/7/2026
Software-defined vehicles (SDVs) are reshaping automotive control architectures by shifting intelligence to embedded systems, where computational efficiency is paramount. This paper presents a systematic evaluation of control strategies (PID, LQR, MPC) for the classical control problem involving inverted pendulum on a cart under strict embedded constraints representative of software-defined vehicle ECUs. The objective is to evaluate and compare the performance of advanced control algorithms under varying control objectives when deployed on microcontrollers with constrained computational and memory resources, representative of the limitations encountered in embedded platforms used for SDVs. Furthermore, the study illustrates systematic optimization strategies that enable these algorithms to achieve real-time execution within such resource-constrained environments. Each control strategy is implemented with careful consideration of algorithmic complexity, real-time responsiveness, and
Vupparige, Varun, Pandya, Vidit
Total Cost of Ownership Reduction Using Passive Pre-Chamber Ignition in Natural Gas Engines2026-01-03094/7/2026
Spark plug durability is a factor affecting the total cost of ownership (TCO) of spark-ignited natural gas engines, with some heavy-duty platforms requiring plug replacement after only 750 hours of operation. The high ignition energy demand under lean or diluted conditions accelerates electrode wear, shortening plug life and increasing maintenance frequency. This work evaluates passive pre-chamber (PC) ignition operating at lowered spark energies as a strategy to reduce spark energy requirements and extend plug durability, thereby lowering TCO. Experiments were conducted on a medium-duty Cummins 6.7L ISB engine at 1600 RPM and 50% load under varying exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) dilution levels (0–40%). Two passive pre-chambers with 1.1 mm and 1.6 mm nozzle diameters were compared with conventional spark ignition (SI). SI was operated with a fixed coil dwell of 4 ms (~90 mJ), while the PC configuration was tested across 2–4 ms dwell times (~30–90 mJ). Cylinder pressure analysis
Dhotre, Akash, Voris, Alex, Okey, Nathan, Kane, Seamus, Rajasegar, Rajavasanth, Northrop, William
AI-Powered Requirements Engineering & Design Optimization of Electric Powertrains2026-01-05004/7/2026
The development of electric vehicle powertrains is driven by diverse and often conflicting requirements. In early development phases, these requirements are often vague, incomplete, continuously refined and subject to change as development progresses. Moreover, powertrain designs must be competitive regarding multiple key performance indicators (KPIs) such as performance, cost, energy efficiency, and package integration. This challenges engineers to concurrently develop the powertrain design alongside the requirements on which the design is based on. Managing this combination of uncertain requirements and multi-KPI design optimization represents a complex challenge in automotive engineering. The present work introduces a requirements engineering approach based on OPED (Optimization of Electric Drives). OPED digitalizes the transition from requirements to technical solutions by integrating parametric system models with an AI-based evolutionary optimization algorithm. This enables
Hofstetter, Martin, Lechleitner, Dominik
From Reactive to Proactive: Applying Data Analysis and Automation to Mitigate PLC Communication Disruptions2026-01-02504/7/2026
PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) are critical devices in manufacturing, enabling the functioning of machinery and the transmission of build data to other systems in a production facility. Thus, maintaining uptime of these devices is crucial for ensuring that a facility can keep its line running, as even a few minutes of downtime can cost a company thousands in lost units and revenue. One particular pain point that causes downtime is broken communication between the devices and downstream applications, especially those that track orders and traceability. While advances in computing and digital technology have enabled the quick detection of lost signaling and the quick restoration of communication channels, there is much work left to be done in this realm. Besides causing downtime, an incident disrupts the flow of the line, leading to significant effort to restore normal production flow, even after resolution of the incident. In addition, the outage and the post-incident recovery
Jan, Jonathan, Preston, Joshua
Investigation of CDI and TCI Ignition Characteristics for Lean Hydrogen-Air Mixtures in a Constant Volume Combustion Chamber2026-01-03274/7/2026
The discharge characteristics of ignition systems critically influence flame kernel formation and ignition stability under lean-burn conditions. This study experimentally compares a transistor coil ignition (TCI) and a capacitor discharge ignition (CDI) system in a constant-volume combustion chamber using hydrogen–air mixtures. The electrical behavior of both systems was first characterized through synchronized measurements of voltage, current, and high-speed imaging under various operating conditions with a resistive spark plug. The CDI system exhibited high-current (≈750 mA), short-duration (≈250 μs) discharges with strong instantaneous power but limited total spark-gap energy (≈5 mJ), while the TCI system produced lower-current, longer-duration (≈3 ms) discharges with higher cumulative energy (≈30 mJ). Flow-field tests revealed that the TCI discharge duration and energy release were strongly influenced by airflow, whereas CDI discharge behavior remained largely unchanged at flow
Cong, Binghao, Jin, Long, Yu, Xiao, Zhou, Qing, Tjong, Jimi, Zheng, Ming
Improving Winter Driving Range of EVs with a Novel Desiccant Device: Ceramic Humidity Regulator (CHR)2026-01-01174/7/2026
With rapid growth of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in the market, challenges such as driving range, charging infrastructure, and reducing charging time needs to be addressed. Unlike traditional Internal combustion vehicles, EVs have limited heating sources and primarily uses electricity from the running battery, which reduces driving range. Additionally, during winter operation, it is necessary to prevent window fogging to ensure better visibility, which requires introducing cold outside air into the cabin. This significantly increases the energy consumption for heating and the driving range can be reduced to half of the normal range. This study introduces the Ceramic Humidity Regulator (CHR), a compact and energy-efficient device developed to address driving range improvement. The CHR uses a desiccant system to dehumidify the cabin, which can prevent window fogging without introducing cold outside air, thereby reducing heating energy consumption. CHR is based on desiccant dehumidification
Sakai, Naoki, Takahiko, Nakatani, Shinoda, Narimasa, Ihara, Yukio, Wakida, Norihiro, Kato, Kyohei, Anoop, Reghunathan-Nair
Techno-Economic Evaluation of Electrified Vehicle Options in Drayage Fleets2026-01-04544/7/2026
The electrification of drayage fleets offers potential economic and operational benefits, but the financial viability of electrified vehicles remains sensitive to battery cost, energy price, and fleet usage patterns. While total cost of ownership (TCO) is a useful benchmark, fleet operators and investors are equally concerned with investment performance metrics such as payback period (PB) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR), which better reflect financial risks and investment return timelines. This study develops a unified techno-economic framework that jointly evaluates TCO, PB, and IRR to determine when electrified trucks become cost-effective alternatives to diesel trucks. Building on a previously developed cost modeling tool and using real-world telematics data from a Class 8 drayage fleet at the Port of Savannah, the analysis incorporates projected battery cost trajectories, electricity and diesel price trends, vehicle efficiency improvements, and multiple battery capacities
Sun, Ruixiao, Sujan, Vivek, Goulet, Nathan, Wang, Qixing
An Updated Correlation Study between the Full-Size Wind Tunnels of General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and FCA US LLC2026-01-06124/7/2026
As automotive aerodynamic testing facilities evolve to capture more real-world behavior, updating the correlation between old and new technologies is essential. Recently, the three-member consortium of the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR) - General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and FCA US LLC - transitioned from full-size static ground plane facilities to 5-belt moving ground plane wind tunnel facilities. The primary objective of this study was to update the correlation data sets to maintain consistent and robust data sharing among companies, which is the cornerstone of USCAR efforts. To achieve this, a set of updated correlation data sets were calculated to replace the original correlation study results from 2008. Additionally, the methodology for applying correlation equations was revised from using averaged wind tunnel data to employing direct wind tunnel-to-wind tunnel correlation equations. In a two-phase correlation effort conducted in 2022 and 2025, the three
Nastov, Alexander, Lounsberry, Todd, Madin, Trevor, Langmeyer, Gregory, Fadler, Gregory, Skinner, Shaun, Horton, Damien
High Order Control Lyapunov Function - Control Barrier Function - Quadratic Programming Based Autonomous Driving Controller for Bicyclist Safety2026-01-00344/7/2026
Ensuring the safety of Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) is a critical challenge in the development of advanced autonomous driving systems in smart cities. Among vulnerable road users, bicyclists present unique characteristics that make their safety both critical and also manageable. Vehicles often travel at significantly higher relative speeds when interacting with bicyclists as compared to their interactions with pedestrians which makes collision avoidance system design for bicyclist safety more challenging. Yet, bicyclist movements are generally more predictable and governed by clear traffic rules as compared to the sudden and sometimes erratic pedestrian motion, offering opportunities for model-based control strategies. To address bicyclist safety in complex traffic environments, this study proposes and develops a High-Order Control Lyapunov Function–High-Order Control Barrier Function–Quadratic Programming (HOCLF-HOCBF-QP) control framework. Through this framework, CLFs constraints
Chen, Haochong, Cao, Xincheng, Guvenc, Levent, Aksun Guvenc, Bilin
Ensemble of Experts for Generating Digital Parking Maps from Remote Sensing Images2026-01-01074/7/2026
A digital parking map with precise parking spot geospatial information is crucial for tasks such as automatic valet parking, parking spot recommendations, and parking route optimization. This paper presents a parking map generation scheme that extracts high-definition parking spot geometry from remote sensing images. These images often suffer from occlusion, inconsistent resolution, and varying luminosity conditions. The proposed scheme utilizes a model ensemble paradigm, integrating multiple machine learning models to enhance the accuracy and quality of the generation of parking maps. The experiments demonstrate that the proposed scheme achieves an 80.5% parking spot detection precision and a center-to-center geometric representation error of 0.93 meters.
Shukla, Ajitesh, Cao, Xiaofei, Liu, Yongkang, Takeuchi, Yusuke, Sisbot, Akin
Optimizing Joint Efficiency in Stainless Steel-Aluminum Alloy FSW Joints through Advanced Parameter Control2026-01-02284/7/2026
The present study investigates optimization of ultimate tensile strength (UTS) in FSW of AA2024-T3 and SS304 in a butt joint configuration. An L18 mixed-level orthogonal array was used to design 18 experiments, varying tool rotational speed (450, 560, and 710 rpm), traverse speed (20, 25, and 40 mm/min), and pin offset (1 and 1.5 mm toward the Al side). The tool rotational speed had the greatest influence on UTS, contributing nearly one-third of the total variance, followed by pin offset and traverse speed. The optimal combination, 450 rpm, 20 mm/min, 1.5 mm offset, yielded a UTS of 344.7 MPa and a joint efficiency of 78.3%. At this setting, peak temperatures reached ~356 °C, ensuring sufficient plasticization and uniform mixing of the Al–SS interface, producing a refined stir zone with an average grain size of 4.2 μm. Fracture analysis revealed ductile failure at the optimal parameters, whereas suboptimal conditions resulted in brittle or mixed fractures due to either insufficient or
Mir, Fayaz Ahmad, Khan, Noor Zaman, Pali, Harveer Singh
Advancing Electric Drive Unit Design with Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics2026-01-04134/7/2026
Thermal and lubrication management is critical for the performance characteristics of Electric Drive Units (EDUs) in electrified powertrains. Accurate assessment of lubrication flow, particularly in terms of wetting behavior and churning losses, is essential for optimizing EDU performance across various driving conditions. This study presents a comprehensive numerical investigation of lubrication flow behavior within an EDU using an advanced Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method. The mesh-free SPH approach provides significant advantages in modeling intricate oil dynamics, such as oil splashing, and the behavior of oil in contact with rotating components. The primary focus of this study is to investigate the phenomena of oil splashing, wetting behavior characterized by the Wetting Fraction(WF), and churning losses within the gearbox environment. Key flow characteristics such as oil distribution, particle trajectories, torque resistance due to fluid drag, and oil volume fraction
Chintala, Paramesh, Inada, Jorge, Flores Solano, Cesar Alfonso, Gingade, Suresh
Planning Public Charging Infrastructure Locations for Electric Freight Highway Corridors2026-01-04694/7/2026
Developing efficient fast-charging infrastructure along highway corridors is critical for reducing range anxiety and promoting long-distance electric travel. However, traditional static location approaches often fail to account for the stochastic interactions between continuous traffic flows and the stochastic variability of remaining driving ranges. To address these methodological gaps, this study develops a demand-driven optimization framework that integrates an improved Genetic Algorithm with the flow-capturing location-allocation model (GA-FCLM). Unlike static facility location approaches, the flow-capturing location-allocation component is specifically selected to maximize the interception of continuous traffic flows under strict range constraints, while the genetic algorithm efficiently navigates the high-dimensional discrete search space of simultaneous siting and sizing decisions. By synthesizing segment-level traffic flows with Monte Carlo simulations of state of charge (SOC
Guo, Haifeng, Zhang, Jingzhong, Lian, Jintao
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