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Propulsion

2019’s Best Automotive Plastics Innovations

The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) annual Automotive Innovation Awards Competition, now in its 49th year, is considered the “Oscars” for those developing polymer and...

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Technical Innovation
Green Design & Manufacturing

Self-Driving Trucks Cut Fuel Consumption by 10%

Enhancing safety and helping combat driver shortages are two benefits that heavy-duty autonomous-truck proponents have preached during development. You can now add significant fuel savings to...

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News
AR/AI

Low-Latency Cameras, Onboard Computing Combine to Advance Operator Assistance

Modern industrial machines have been using cameras for years to improve visibility and eliminate blind spots. With the introduction of Ethernet cameras, an...

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Articles
Connectivity

Engineering the World’s Fastest Tractor

For farmers in a hurry, JCB’s Fastrac series agricultural tractors are capable of speeds up to 43 mph (69 km/h) in stock form. But the British company believes in challenging its engineers to...

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Articles
Manned Systems

‘Active Scents’ Show Potential to Enhance Cabin Experience and Improve Driver Safety

A Tel Aviv, Israel startup company is taking the now-familiar concept of aromatherapy to a new level. Saying its research into “active scents” can...

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Q&A
Propulsion

Parker Takes Electro-Hydrostatic Approach for Electric Machines

Off-highway industrial machines require multi-function implement operation with dynamic duty cycles. In many cases, machine implements demand short bursts of full engine power...

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News
Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Isuzu Simplifies Fuel Changeovers

Isuzu is making it easier for equipment owners to switch fuels from natural gas to liquid propane, letting users switch by merely sending a signal to the engine. Released in October 2019, the dual-fuel...

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Technical Innovation
Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Freudenberg Designs New Seal to Cut Contamination, Improve Top-Speed Performance

Maximum efficiency under extreme operating conditions is critical for off-highway machinery. Downtime and malfunctions lead to reductions in profitability....

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News
Unmanned Systems

Thermal Imaging Makes Its Case for ADAS, AVs

What specific sensor types will comprise the advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) of the 2020s? That’s a controversial subject among engineers who are developing SAE Level 2 and 3 (and...

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News
Software

CES 2020: Bosch Unveils Electronic Sun Visor

Bosch engineers have re-imagined the sun visor as a transparent liquid crystal display (LCD) panel that uses algorithms to darken only the area where sunlight hits the driver’s eyes. The rest...

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Editorial
Communications

SAE Publishes On-Route Mechanized Conductive EV Charging Systems Recommended Practices

SAE International published SAE J-3105 Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System Using Conductive Automated Connection Devices Recommended Practice in...

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News
Test & Measurement

The Key to Autonomous Vehicle Safety Is ODD

In a perfect world, an automated vehicle (AV) would be all-knowing. Its sensors, communication systems and computing power could predict every road hazard and avoid all risks. But until a wholly...

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News
Test & Measurement

Autonomy Already Influencing Vehicle Interior Design

Just about everyone’s seen a recent rendering of future vehicle interiors, but high-function driver assistance, automated driving and mobility as a service (MaaS) are new dimensions...

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News
Manufacturing & Prototyping

New Digital Tools Driving Restructuring for Autonomy

The seemingly unending explosions of fast-changing automotive technologies continue to drive massive restructurings for both management staffs and system architectures. Automakers are...

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News
Power

New GM, LG Chem Joint Venture to Build EV Battery Plant in U.S.

General Motors and longtime battery partner LG Chem announced the companies are forming an equally-owned joint-venture (JV) company to mass-produce lithium-ion batteries for...

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News
Manned Systems

Silicon Valley Summit Refines Autonomous Safety Thinking

Until recently, leading autonomous vehicle (AV) technologists posited that ultra-safe, go-anywhere robotaxis would soon be on the road. But questions about those timelines –and the...

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News
Manned Systems

Commercial-Vehicle Battery Producer Sets up in U.S. as Electrification Takes Hold

Projecting the market for full-electric and hybrid-electric commercial vehicles will continue to expand, Germany-based lithium-ion battery specialist Akasol...

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News
Electronics & Computers

Removing Complexity for Autonomous Trucks

Developers of driverless trucks are eliminating some of the complexity of autonomous driving in hope of shortening time to market. They are limiting the immeasurable circumstances that face...

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News
Energy

Mahle and Partners Develop Super-Efficient Engine for Stationary Power

Mahle Powertrain, with partners Oak Ridge National Laboratories, Kohler Co., Louthan Engineering and Intellichoice Energy, has developed a prototype single-cylinder...

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News
Energy

Narrower Focus, Bigger Payoff for Commercial EVs

Government regulations are prompting a changeover to electric powertrains, with early growth coming in commercial vehicle applications where range and recharging are more easily managed....

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News
Energy

Caterpillar Launches Next-Gen Mini Hydraulic Excavator, Skid Steer and Compact Track Loaders

Covering about 2.5 million ft2 and including roughly 2,800 exhibitors, the triennial ConExpo-Con/Agg event boasts an even-larger footprint for...

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News
Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Insights into Heavy-Duty Engine Design

Engine developers face numerous challenges in their work. When building the new clean-sheet design C3.6 engine, Caterpillar Industrial Power Systems considered several factors including customer...

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News
Manned Systems

Leak Testing of Commercial-Vehicle AC Systems Critical as Move to HFO Refrigerants Looms

Passenger car and light-truck makers in the U.S. already have switched to more environmentally friendly hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerants from...

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News
Manned Systems

Air Exchange System Shows Potential to Reduce Winter BEV Range Loss

Battery-electric vehicle (BEV) range loss from winter use of PTC (positive temperature coefficient) heating has become a source of major concern as the industry works to...

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News
Energy

How Battery Technology Will Drive Truck Electrification

The past three years have seen a major shift in the perception around electrified commercial vehicles, including trucks, driven by a variety of factors that have come together at this...

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News
Power

EV Startup Rivian Gets More Funding from Ford, Amazon

Rivian, the startup electric vehicle (EV) developer focusing on pickup trucks, SUVs and commercial delivery vehicles, announced on Dec. 23 that it completed a new $1.3-billion round of...

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Q&A
Connectivity

ZF Advancing ADAS, Autonomy with Next-Gen Sensors

Together with its many partners, ZF supplies camera and radar technology and advanced components for both the passenger car and truck markets, the latter being especially suited for the move...

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