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Top technologies of 2003 A review of the 10 most significant stories published in SAE Off-Highway Engineering over the past years, as selected by the magazine's readers and editors. manufacturing gets a makeover Supply-chain management and automation add efficiency to the process. Simulation goes off road The off-highway industry is using computer modeling to reduce cost and save time in a variety of ways. Full-throttleflexibility Design, engineering, supply-chain management, and other factors pave the way for "manufacturing-that-can-turn-on-a-dime" capability at Oshkosh Truck Corp. High-speed-hauling system The global market for articulated dump trucks continues to be increasingly competitive with a seemingly endless stream of new model introductions.

Telling the future Technology and the environment, BWBs and UAVs, and nuclear power may be the forces for the future of aerospace engineering. Top technologies for 2003 "Aerospace Engineering's" annual review of the technologies chosen by its editors and readers to be the most significant. Supporting aerospace design The proper use of COTS technologies can change the range of new processes and products in the electrical sector. American attack UAVs- Part II The second article in a two-part series of a perspective on more than 100 years of unmanned flight details some of the major developments in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for combat.

Concepts from 2003 Tokyo Motor Show Environmental, safety, and information technology were strongly emphasized in an impressive array of fuel-cell, hybrid, and pure electric concept cars. LEDs shine on The lighting technology's compact size, power, and durability excite designers who still long for flexibility in interior and exterior styling. GM, software, and electronics At its annual media preview of new models, the company demonstrated how its technology investments will pay off in more features, for more people, in more market segments. Plastics roll into new territory From structural members to Class A surfaces, plastics continue to find increasingly broad application in the automotive industry. 2003 technology in review AEI editors look back at some of the most significant production-intent innovations introduced over the past year. Forging ahead in metal forming Crude though the means may have been, humans began making and shaping metal several millenia ago.

Off-highway CVTs A continuously variable transmission can improve the fuel efficiency of heavy-duty diesels by matching the engine's torque/speed to the applied load through the smooth torque multiplication of the transmission. Hydraulics for economics The design of a digitally controlled hydraulic fan drive from Denison Hydraulics is said to help diesel engines run leaner and cleaner. Telematics boosts productivity Advances in electronic technology enables equipment owners and operators to monitor not only usage, but location of equipment. A dumper on tracks Industrial vehicles featuring composite rubber-tracked drive systems have become increasingly popular over the past 10 years, carving out a respectable niche in many specialized industries.

A different automatic Developed in conjunction with BorgWarner, Volkswagen's DSG automatic six-speed gearbox is aimed at enthusiasts and has fuel consumption superior to a manual gearbox. Accident avoidance GM and Delphi are testing adaptive cruise control and collision-warning technologies in the hope of ultimately increasing driver awareness and reducing driving behaviors that can lead to accidents. Branding vehicle dynamics The use of active systems and common hardware across several vehicle platforms, with different calibrations and control algorithms, can offer variations in character and brand, according to Prodrive Automotive technology. The drive for improved dynamics For the new XJ, Mike Cross, Jaguar's Chief Engineer for Vehicle Integrity, and his team aimed to preserve the isolation and feel of the previous car, but instill the handling precision and steering accuracy of the S-Type.

The dawn of the jet age: the first 10 years One of the ironies of aviation history is that the most obvious potential power source for a fixed-wing aircraft was barely considered by the early pioneers. Airflow simulation for winglets Embraer engineers used CFD to visualize flow patterns around wings for a design retrofit. Aircraft-engine-mounting analysis Engineers from Honeywell adapted a rapid analysis approach to develop and validate a complex propulsion system. Reshaping F-16 production Following its contract with the Joint Strike Fighter program, Lockheed Martin is reconfiguring its F-16 assembly line in preparation for long-term JSF production starting later this year.

The evolution of diesel emissions control The development of clean diesel has been a saga of evolution punctuated by occasional milestones. Heavy-duty engine emissions tests Ricardo recently commissioned from Emprise a new full-dilution emissions measurement system at its Chicago Technical Center. Air entrainment in hydraulic systems Researchers from Opus Systems and Hosei University designed a device to remove bubbles or foam in working oils for improved performance. Turbocompounding revisited Scania has introduced a new in-line six-cylinder engine that uses technology developed 20 years ago to meet tomorrow's emissions requirements.

Fuel-tank inerting A series of aircraft flight and ground tests evaluated the effectiveness of ground-based inerting as a means of reducing the flammability of center wing furl tanks used in the commercial transport fleet. Making sense of quality management The International Aerospace Quality Group is a unique vehicle for communicating quality system standards and initiatives through the supply base. Top technologies for 2002 "Aerospace Engineering's" annual review of the technologies chosen by its readers to be the most significant.

Bending light Lighting technology is becoming more intelligent and adaptive as OEMs and suppliers develop systems that are more integrated into vehicle electronics systems for greater performance and safety. Top technologies of the year The world's automakers and suppliers were busy in 2002 equipping production vehicles with significant new technology. The editors review some of those significant "game changing" innovations for the past model year. Testing on the move Advances in mobile data acquisition, such as those from HBM, have helped engineers move the testing of vehicles from the laboratory to the road. Producing an all-new powertrain Ford and International each revamped a plant to build a new powertrain for Ford's super-duty trucks and Excursion sport utility vehicle. Making plastic parts New ways of forming plastics for automotive components were revealed at an annual contest sponsored by the Society of Plastics Engineers.

Europe's double-decker giant "Aerospace Engineering" provides an overview of the issues and technocal challenges faced by Airbus in the development of the A380. Quiet please Several technologies are under development at GE Aircraft Engines that address strigent demands from the airlines for reduced noise emissions from new aircraft engines. Thermal material solutions Astrium has begun investigating several new metallic thermal protection system concepts for reusable launch vehicles. Bringing the best of both worlds in engine technology GE Aircraft Engines and Pratt & Whitney together developed the GP7000, a powerplant alternative for the Airbus A380 superjumbo aircraft.

From motorsports to aerospace Pi Research brings its motorsports digital data-acquisition technology to the aerospace industry. New testing solutions Aerospace Engineering editors review the latest testing products, equipment, and technologies from the idustry's suppliers. The world of business jet technology "Aerospace Engineering" provides an overview of new business jets and the technological innovations that make them fly in the first installment of a two part series. Dassault adds another Falcon The Falcon 7X featurs a host of new technologies, including an advanced wing design, making it Dassault's next-generation business jet. Eclipse makes business jets affordable New manufacturing techniques and high-volume approaches are enabling Eclipse to bring an affordable aircraft to the business jet market. Cessna establishes its Sovereignty The company finalizes development of the Sovereign and prepares it for FAA certification, which is expected late this year.

NAIAS production vehicles Editors review the engineering highlights of the show's production-vehicle introductions. BMW 7 Series: AEI's Best Engineered Vehicle for 2002 With help from its suppliers, BMW has produced a vehicle that blazes the engineering trail with innovations that will influence passenger vehicles for years to come. Developments in fuel cells Automotive engineers are concentrating on providing quick startup, cost reduction, mass manufacturability, and crash safety. AEI Tech 2002 Awards Automotive Engineering International editors highlight the top products and technologies that were displayed at the SAE 2002 World Congress. Introducing S.M. Shahed, SAE President for 2002 From humble beginnings, S.M. Shahed carves out a seat at the society's top spot. Urea selective catalytic reduction Testing by Ford researchers of a small-diesel emissions-control system proved successful in meeting ULEV emissions standards.

Safeguarding aircraft systems How several systems suppliers, airframers, and researchers have approached the need for increased system safeguards and protection against lightning strikes. One last look back A review of the technology news, discussions, and announcements from the first Aerospace Congress & Exhibition held September 10-13 in Seattle, WA. Powering unmanned aircraft Pratt & Whitney Canada is developing and testing a commercial turbofan engine derivative for high-altitude unmanned air vehicle applications. 737-800 winglet integration A joint venture between Boeing and Aviation Partners Inc. is involved in developing a performance improvement for in-service aircraft.

More with less through electronic components Off-highway engineers have had to walk a precarious path in recent years by developing engine technologies that offer customers better vehicle performance and regulators lower emissions. The promises and problems of electrohydraulics Engineers acknowledge that electrohydraulics are the way of the future for the off-highway industry, and that the field itself could use a good public-relations campaign to attract more engineering students. Deere goes all out for agriculture To some, it may seem odd that John Deere picked this particular economy to launch over 50 new products, the most in its 164-year history. To others it reeks of confidence. Switching control in hydraulic drives Researchers from Johannes Kepler University believe agricultural machinery can be improved by further advances in motion generation.

Driven to test As automotive manufacturers and suppliers continually attempt to cut costs and reduce development cycle times, outsourcing of testing is becoming more prevalent in the industry. Testing resources This section highlights some of the latest testing products, equipment, and technologies used in sundry automotive applications from the industry's suppliers. Transmission options In this comprehensive review of technology, ZF's Group Vice President for Product Development concludes that the future belongs to automated manual, continously variable, and six-speed automatic and manual transmissions with increased capacities. Automotive moodular developments Engineers from Plastic Omnium Auto Exterieur and Inoplastic Omnium discuss design considerations for front-end module and plastic tailgate concepts. Flexible controls architecture for hybrid-electric vehicles General Motors and Motorola collaborate on a prototype vehicle for PNGV.

E-business: the new game in town With the initial formation of Covisint in February 2000, and with other online ventures established over the past couple of years, the automotive industry has thrown its chips into the B2B e-commerce game. The following is an update on how the industry is faring now that its cards are on the table. Simulation: redefining the development process Just as companies sought to shorten the development cycle with intergrated product teams, they do so again with up-front computer-aided analysis and simulation. New connections for automobiles Thanks to innovative technologies and applications, flexible circuitry is helping drive new trends, such as modularity, in automotive design, according to Sheldahl. NAIAS highlights: production Since becoming an international event in 1989, the North American International Auto Show in Detroit has hosted 620 North American and worldwide vehicle introductions.

Ford's new four The largest engine development program in company history will lead to at least 200 applications, starting with the new Mondeo's Duratec HE and replacement of its existing cast-iron-block four-cylinders with higher aluminum content powerplants. GM Powertrain's new inline six for SUV's For the first time in nearly two decades, three new General Motors vehicles will feature an inline six-cylinder engine developed by GM Powertrain. Fuel-stratified injection from VW Though gasoline direct-injection technology is being introduced in the Lupo FSI, VW says it easily can be adapted for high-volume use in larger vehicles such as the Polo and Golf. LS6 for Z06 The latest high-performance Corvette engine features improved breathing, new pistons, an increased compression ratio, and a new high-profile camshaft.

Designing a high-performance electrohydraulic actuator Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Toronto adopted a new design strategy for development of a new high-performance acutation system. Off-highway, online The Big Three automakers made big news in February by announcing the formation of a single Internet portal for conducting business-to-business e-commerce. Although no such B2B megasite yet exists for the off-highway industry, a number of separate Internet sites offer similar services to the agricultural and construction segments. Off-highway transient driving cycle Southwest Research Institute and the EPA teamed to determine the necessary emissions tests and certification cycles needed for off-highway engines. Benchmarks in tractor development Norm Swinford discussed the evolution of tractor technology at the 2000 SAE International Off-Highway & Powerplant Congress & Exposition in September.

Technology for small-engine emissions reduction Swiss researchers used a modern four-stroke engine in conjunction with a commercially available catalytic converter and special gasoline to develop a significantly cleaner-running walk-behind mower. Large-scale application of J1939 The SAE electronic systems communication standard provides a method for achieving engineering flexibility, product standardization, parts rationalization, service, and customer convenience. Focus on electronics OEMs and their suppliers are developing vehicle systems for improved vehicle operation and reliability/durability with the help of electronics. The following pages review some recent industry advancements. 2000 SAE International Off-Highway Congress: one for the ages From antique off-highway equipment to the latest in intelligent vehicle technology, the 2000 SAE International Off-Highway & Powerplant Congress & Exposition brings yesterday and tomorrow together today.

Car of 2100 A.D. AEI gave readers a chance to speak out on what they thought people in 2100 would be driving. We have chosen the best submissions. Also, the AEI editors have included their best guess as to what cars will be in 2100. We realize that this is a guess but the real answer will not be known for 100 years. V8 power for BMW's M5 The new 294-kW (400-hp) S62 engine developed by BMW's M GmbH features Double VANOS variable intake and exhaust valve timing, electronic drive-by-wire, and oil circulation boosted as a function of lateral cornering force. Northstar revised for 2000 Improvements to the powerplant include a roller-follower valvetrain, improved combustion chamber, center-feed intake manifold, coil-on-plug cassette ignition system, and a Siemens powertrain controller. Aston Martin's first V12 Available in both the DB7 Vantage Coupe and Volante, the flexible all-alloy engine delivers 85% of its peak torque at just 1500 rpm.