Browse Topic: Quality, Reliability, and Durability
The effective reduction of particulate emissions from modern vehicles has shifted the focus toward emissions from tire wear, brake wear, road surface wear, and re-suspended particulate emissions. To meet future EU air quality standards and even stricter WHO targets for PM2.5, a reduction in non-exhaust particulate (NEP) emissions seems to be essential. For this reason, the EURO 7 emissions regulation contains limits for PM and PN emissions from brakes and tire abrasion. Graz University of Technology develops test methods, simulation tools and evaluates technologies for the reduction of brake wear particles and is involved in and leads several international research projects on this topic. The results are applied in emission models such as HBEFA (Handbook on Emission Factors). In this paper, we present our brake emission simulation approach, which calculates the power at the wheels and mechanical brakes, as well as corresponding rotational speeds for vehicles using longitudinal dynamics
A fiber sensor inspired by the shape of DNA, developed by researchers at Shinshu University, introduces a new design for more durable, flexible fiber sensors in wearables. Traditional fiber sensors have electrodes at both ends, which often fail under repeated movement when placed on body joints. The proposed double-helical design, however, places both electrodes on one end, allowing the sensor to endure repeated stretching and movement, effectively addressing a key limitation of conventional wearable sensors.
Researchers in the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) have invented a new type of tunable semiconductor laser that combines the best attributes of today’s most advanced laser products, demonstrating smooth, reliable, wide-range wavelength tuning in a simple, chip-sized design.
Engineers at the University of California San Diego have achieved a long-sought milestone in photonics: creating tiny optical devices that are both highly sensitive and durable — two qualities that have long been considered fundamentally incompatible.
U.S. Army researchers, in collaboration with academic partners, invented a stronger copper that could help advance defense, energy and aerospace industries thanks to its ability to endure unprecedented temperature and pressure extremes. Extreme materials experts at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Army Research Laboratory built on a decade of scientific success to develop a new way to create alloys that enable Army-relevant properties that were previously unachievable. An alloy is a combination of a metal with other metals or nonmetals.
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have developed an innovative new technique using carbon nanofibers to enhance binding in carbon fiber and other fiber-reinforced polymer composites — an advance likely to improve structural materials for automobiles, airplanes and other applications that require lightweight and strong materials.
Solar panels are composed of dozens of solar cells, which are usually made of silicon. While silicon is the standard, producing and processing it is energy-intensive, making it costly to build new solar panel manufacturing facilities. Most of the world’s solar cells are made in China, which has an abundance of silicon. To increase solar cell production in the U.S., a new, easily produced domestic material is needed. “We’re developing technologies that we can easily produce without spending a ton of money on expensive equipment,” said Juan-Pablo Correa-Baena, an Associate Professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering.
ACT Expo 2025 had a fleet of new commercial vehicle launches as well as displays for models already on the market. One such existing chassis was the Workhorse W56, an electric step van designed for Class 5/6 last-mile delivery. Unlike many of its competitors, Workhorse did not set out to be a technological leader with the W56. Rather, the company took the approach of leveraging the best of the currently available and applicable technologies to produce a durable, reliable and producible product that just happened to be powered by electrons.
The continuous improvement of validation methodologies for mobility industry components is essential to ensure vehicle quality, safety, and performance. In the context of mechanical suspensions, leaf springs play a crucial role in vehicle dynamics, comfort, and durability. Material validation is based on steel production data, complemented by laboratory analyses such as tensile testing, hardness measurements, metallography, and residual stress analysis, ensuring that mechanical properties meet fatigue resistance requirements and expected durability. For performance evaluation, fatigue tests are conducted under vertical loads, with the possibility of including "windup" simulations when necessary. To enhance correlation accuracy, original suspension components are used during testing, allowing for a more precise validation of the entire system. Additionally, dynamic stiffness measurements provide valuable input for vehicle dynamics and suspension geometry analysis software, aiding in
This SAE Recommended Practice is intended to give information to engineers and designers in order that access to a passenger handgrip, when used, is easily obtained, and that such handgrips offer maximum safety for a person at least as large as a 95th percentile adult male during snowmobile operation.
This specification controls surface condition, manufacturing defects and inspection requirements, and defines methods of measurement for elastomeric toroidal sealing rings (O-rings) for static (including gasket) applications.
Boston Scientific entered 2025 with significant momentum. Fresh off a standout first quarter, the company’s leadership has outlined a compelling vision for sustainable long-term growth rooted in high-performing cardiology franchises, operational precision, and disruptive technologies in electrophysiology (EP). Leaders spoke at a recent Bank of America Healthcare Conference. The discussion marked outgoing CFO Dan Brennan’s final investor presentation and underscored Boston Scientific’s transformation into one of medtech’s most durable growth stories.
This specification covers an aluminum alloy in the form of plate 0.750 to 1.500 inches, incl (19.05 to 38.10 mm, incl) in thickness (see 8.6).
This specification covers grease for use on aircraft wheel bearings. It also defines the quality control requirements to assure batch conformance and materials traceability and the procedures to manage and communicate changes in the grease formulation and brand. This specification invokes the Performance Review Institute (PRI) product qualification process. Requests for submittal information may be made to the PRI at the address in 2.2, referencing this specification. Products qualified to this specification are listed on a qualified products list (QPL) managed by the PRI. Additional tests and evaluations may be required by individual equipment builders before a grease is approved for use in their equipment. Approval and/or certification for use of a specific grease in aero and aero-derived marine and industrial applications is the responsibility of the individual equipment builder and/or governmental authorities and is not implied by compliance with or qualification to this
This specification covers a leaded bronze in the form of sand and centrifugal castings (see 8.6).
This specification covers an aluminum bronze alloy in the form of centrifugal and chill castings (see 8.5).
For the team at SmartCap, building top-notch gear for outdoor adventurers isn’t just a business — it’s a passion driven by their own love for the wild. But as demand for their rugged, modular truck caps soared after their move to North America in 2022, they hit a snag: How do you ramp up production without sacrificing the meticulous quality you are known for, all while navigating a tough labor market? Their answer? A bold step into the world of intelligent automation, teaming up with GrayMatter Robotics, and employing the company’s innovative Scan&Sand™ system.
Repartly, a startup based in Guetersloh, Germany, is using ABB’s collaborative robots to repair and refurbish electronic circuit boards in household appliances. Three GoFa cobots handle the sorting, visual inspection and precise soldering tasks enabling the company to enhance efficiency and maintain high quality standards.
Letter from the Guest Editors
Design verification and quality control of automotive components require the analysis of the source location of ultra-short sound events, for instance the engaging event of an electromechanical clutch or the clicking noise of the aluminium frame of a passenger car seat under vibration. State-of-the-art acoustic cameras allow for a frame rate of about 100 acoustic images per second. Considering that most of the sound events introduced above can be far less than 10ms, an acoustic image generated at this rate resembles an hard-to-interpret overlay of multiple sources on the structure under test along with reflections from the surrounding test environment. This contribution introduces a novel method for visualizing impulse-like sound emissions from automotive components at 10x the frame rate of traditional acoustic cameras. A time resolution of less than 1ms eventually allows for the true localization of the initial and subsequent sound events as well as a clear separation of direct from
This SAE Aerospace Standard (AS) establishes minimum requirements for eddy current inspection of circular holes in nonferrous, metallic, low conductivity (less than 5% IACS) aircraft engine hardware with fasteners removed. The inspection is intended to be performed at maintenance and overhaul facilities on engine run hardware.
At a time when medical technology is advancing rapidly, the demand for precision in manufacturing has never been greater. The medical device industry is pushing the boundaries of design, requiring components that are not only smaller and more intricate but also biocompatible, reliable, and capable of meeting stringent regulatory standards. To address these challenges, manufacturers are increasingly turning to photochemical etching (PCE) — a process that is proving indispensable in high-precision medical applications.
In the highly regulated world of medical device manufacturing, post-production cleaning is essential for ensuring safety, compliance, and best performance. Beyond removing surface contamination, it must address intricate geometries, sensitive materials, and strict industry standards. Effectively managing these challenges is key to meeting regulatory requirements and ensuring reliable device function.
A continuous effort to improve reliability and efficiency of processes is at the forefront of any successful business. One methodology that can have a crucial impact in this effort is Lean Six Sigma (LSS), which aims to reduce variability and wasteful activities within a company’s processes, in turn leading to improvements in areas such as customer satisfaction, employee morale, regulatory compliance, and profitability. In the medical device industry, where a seemingly minor error could be life-threatening, LSS can play a pivotal role in patient safety. This article presents a case study illustrating the benefits of LSS for a medical device manufacturing company, as well as one of its key customers.
Researchers at the Beijing Institute of Technology have unveiled an innovative electrothermal microgripper that promises to improve microelectronics, biomedical engineering, and MEMS applications. With its remarkable deformation capabilities, excellent size compatibility and reliable catch strength, the microgripper enables the manipulation and assembly of micro- and nano-scale objects with exceptional efficiency. This technological advancement is poised to enhance microscale engineering and pave the way for innovations across various high-tech industries.
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