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Heavy-duty engine design What are the most significant factors influencing the way engine developers approach near-term design and development cycles? Two experts provide their insights from recent programs. Reducing winter range loss for electric trucks Researchers at the Austrian Institute of Technology have developed an air exchange system that's capable of reducing heat load by 37% in real-world tests. Narrower focus, bigger payoff Design teams are targeting focused markets for their commercial electric-vehicle programs to combat challenges like range and infrastructure. Removing complexity for autonomous trucks Narrowing the operating domains for driverless commercial vehicles reduces the requirements of autonomous technology and speeds time to market. Plastics innovations 2019 The 49th annual SPE Automotive Awards highlight the ongoing benefits of lightweight polymers and composites.

Electric machines find their niche Smaller machines working in cities are particularly ripe for electrification, but most off-highway applications will retain the internal-combustion engine. Big data, big benefits Data mining helps users and equipment developers use data from on-vehicle sensors to work more efficiently. Data connectivity in harsh environments Ensuring high-speed data transmission requires OEM designers to think more about components, placement and the impact of environmental conditions early in design. Trucks with intuition Perceptive Automata partners with Volvo Trucks to demonstrate AI technology that can determine when pedestrians will cross the road. Change is afoot Cummins and its CTO help focus the 2019 SAE COMVEC on the fast-shifting technology landscape that faces both on- and off-highway sectors. Editorial AI, ADAS & AVs-oh my!

Bullish on biomethane The CEO of CNH Industrial says biomethane is cleaner path than electric, as Case demos the alt fuel in cool wheel-loader concept. Unique hybrids required Power systems expert at Perkins stresses that on-highway electric solutions cannot be directly applied to the more-rugged and varied applications in off-highway. Getting driverless trucks onto roadways Autonomous developers at TuSimple address many technical issues, but they also must consider regulations and operating modes. Stronger, quieter cabs Worthington expert sees AHSS and active noise cancellation making off-highway cabs safer and less-stressful places to work. Hydrogen boom! Nikola reveals Two and Tre fuel-cell trucks and its H2 fueling roadmap, as well as battery-electric military and powersports vehicles. Rearview cameras come into sight Momentum is building behind replacing mirrors with camera monitor systems as the technology edges closer to regulatory approval.

Connections dig deeper More aspects of vehicle operation are being improved by leveraging cellular links. An OBE for the SAE Meet Paul Mascarenas-SAE International's 2019 president. He's a staunch advocate for professional development for engineers, amid the mobility industry's transformation. Advancing aftertreatment Engineers push for more efficient, cost-effective, and smaller aftertreatment systems for off-highway diesel engines, addressing challenges such as better particulate filtering and low-temp NOx conversion. Developing for defense Suppliers to the commercial vehicle segment optimize-read: ruggedize-their product offerings for the tougher terrain encountered by military vehicles. Going digital & electric @ bauma 2019 Digitalization and electrification are dominant themes in the equipment and technology being revealed at this year's largest trade show for construction and mining. Editorial Bigger barrier to CBEVs: Batteries or infrastructure?

Over-the-air affair Remote updating of software and firmware on commercial trucks and off-highway machines is on the rise, not only for maintenance functions but also to add new features like operator-assist technology. Developments in engine-based gensets With demand for generator sets steady and regulatory change settling, suppliers can rationalize their offerings and push improvements in areas like noise abatement and economy. Testing, testing and even more testing The commercial-vehicle market is eager to adopt more ADAS and automated-driving innovations, but before those technologies get to the road they must first pass rigorous testing practices that prove their efficacy. Smart and connected powertrains FPT Tech Day reveals multi-power Cursor X concept, other "4.0 innovations" for hydrogen fuel cell, electric and natural gas propulsion.

Editorial The consolidation plot thickens The Navigator As the world turns to C-V2X, Europe picks WiFi Complexity of Autonomous-Systems Simulation, Validation Soars to the Clouds Scalable, cloud-based architectures are gaining greater acceptance for simulating and testing the myriad development aspects of automated driving. Connectivity Solutions for AVs The promises of fully connected autonomous vehicles are great, but so are the challenges. What M&E Can Teach the AV Industry About Data Media & entertainment offers important learnings on data retention, management, scalability and security. The Rodney Dangerfield of Automated-Driving Sensors Radar and lidar get all the attention, but Inertial Measurement Units are the backbone of sensor fusion. Suppliers are scrambling to make IMUs more accurate-and much less expensive. The Sense-itive Side of Autonomous Vehicles BASF is exploring how specific materials-and even paint colors and finishes-can improve the capabilities of AV sensors.

Shifting design of autonomous architectures Electronic controls centralize while providing commercial-level reliability. Next steps toward battery-electric Class 8 trucks Employing a common architecture and shared technologies allows Volvo Trucks to speed up electric-truck conversion, but battery technology and infrastructure still prove challenging. Moving metal AM forward Additive-manufacturing system providers still see technical and throughput challenges, but significant developments and market inroads will be made in 2020. ConExpo roundup New equipment launched in Las Vegas ranges from small electric machines to large next-gen excavators and everything in between.

ICE advances Engine developers employ revised electronic architectures, mechanical tweaks to boost fuel efficiency, performance of internal-combustion engines. Autonomous construction sites Equipment makers are testing the emerging technologies required to advance automation beyond individual machines. Modeling electric motors How to develop a traction drive using a multiphysics-based approach with 3D modeling and simulation. Solving the "telehandler problem" Two-stage overcenter valves create stability in machines with highly dynamic loads. Engineering the world's fastest tractor JCB worked with design and engineering specialists to build a spectacular speed record-breaker that topped 150 mph.

Big future for e-axles, advanced motors Top transmission engineers claim driveline electrification will transform everything from all-wheel drive to Class 8 tractor-trailers. Big data's benefits keep a-comin' Gigabytes of data are being collected and increasingly mined to improve field operations, maintenance and even vehicle design. Transformative times Despite a challenging climate, technology development progresses - as does the sharing of innovative ideas - virtually. Editorial Zeroing in on zero emissions Softing envisions secure, reliable predictive maintenance Reconstructing accidents in the ADAS age Paving the way to improved truck fuel efficiency Nikola looks to accelerate production, hydrogen infrastructure Mecalac designs unique-pivoting swing loader Q&A' Horiba's Joshua Israel discusses complex regulatory landscape's impact on commercial-vehicle development and shift to electrification.

Battery of issues surrounds large-vehicle electrification Converting heavy-duty vehicles to battery power will require advances in weight reduction and thermal management. Autonomy kicks up some dust Machines that move, haul and plow earth can capitalize on autonomous systems today via increased safety and productivity in the field and significant cost savings. Digitalizing to deliver actionable data Mobile hydraulics expert details key trends in controls and IoT connectivity to improve machine design and end-user operations.

Embedded systems help drive autonomy forward Kontron provides high-end knowledge for image processing, analysis with fewer control modules. Open approach to propulsion Deutz CEO sees combination of sustainable-fuel combustion engines and electric drive systems powering the off-highway market. Increasing connectivity, leveraging intelligence Parker Hannifin expert discusses IoT for mobile equipment and moving beyond standard telematics by integrating systems controllers and smart components. Cummins, Tula test 'dynamic' cylinder deactivation Tula's Dynamic Skip Fire technology already used in light-duty gasoline engines shows potential in heavy-duty diesels to significantly reduce NOx emissions. Supplier Directory Complete listing of industry suppliers categorized by technology area.

Steel sector aids sustainability Volvo Group partners with SSAB on 'green steel' for off-highway machines and with Ovako for access to fossil-free hydrogen. CV autonomy: Picking the 'low-hanging fruit' Increasingly automated commercial vehicles offer challenges and opportunities in simulation, data management and standardization. Developing EV-specific lubes As electric-vehicle technology accelerates, dedicated e-fluids are necessary to maintain proper levels of drivetrain performance. Editorial Real-world emphasis on electric Mahle, Liebherr develop active pre-chamber for hydrogen ICE ABS ramps up commercial-vehicle battery-pack assembly Navistar updates A26 engine, improves FE by 4% Bosch debuts new CV-specific electric motor and inverter Western Star adds 'weight sensitive' 47X to vocational lineup Hyundai CE launches next-gen electric forklift Q&A Mahle's Laurent Art discusses thermal-management challenges, solutions for battery and fuel-cell electric commercial vehicles.

Defending the heavy-vehicle cyber domain Cybersecurity experts explained at SAE COMVEC 2021 how they're preparing the next generation of thwarters to protect increasingly electrified, connected and automated trucks. Digitalization of product engineering ESI proposes "sustainable" product development via virtual prototyping to ensure operational safety and comfort for off-highway machines. Developing a next-gen VGT Engineers from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries refine the design of a variable geometry turbocharger for commercial vehicles. Editorial Insightful comments from COMVEC Lidar lets Vermeer automate baling processes Extending a Wankel future on hydrogen fuel Next-gen HMI crucial for ADAS efficacy Altair honors weight-saving innovations A bevy of battery and fuel-cell electric truck reveals Q&A Dr. Philip Stephenson, general manager of the PACCAR Technical Center, hones in on the potential efficacy of E-fuels, commercial-vehicle battery-swapping.

Accelerating truck autonomy Platform-agnostic interfaces, field data analytics and smart diagnostics will help the commercial-vehicle industry reach SAE Level 4 and 5 operations sooner. Upswing in outsourced EV testing As testing for electric commercial-vehicle propulsion systems surges, Drive System Design is rushing to expand its testing capabilities in the U.S. to keep up with the demand. Global emissions regs demand differing engine strategies The best choice in emissions-reducing technology varies for the U.S. versus Europe and elsewhere, a Jacobs expert details. Precision ag aids sustainability Deere expert Deanna Kovar, a 2021 SAE COMVEC keynoter, provides her thoughts on the future of autonomy, computer vision and machine learning, data management and more.

Material selection for battery enclosures Mass reduction is the main reason BEV makers choose aluminum for battery enclosures, but cost and thermal requirements favor steel and polymer composites. Startup targets medium-duty EVs Atlis Motors purpose-engineers nearly all the vital components for an electric pickup and platform capable of spanning several market segments. High-voltage hybrids FEV engineers evaluate 48V and high-voltage parallel hybrid architectures for Class 6-7 commercial vehicles. Certain setups show more promise than others. Hemphill's mission: Support the innovation ecosystem Schaeffler America CTO Jeff Hemphill brings impressive technical chops and well-honed communication skills to his new role as 2021 SAE International president.

No shortage of challenges Supply chain struggles join perennial challenges for Cummins' off-highway business, namely meeting shifting global emissions standards and satisfying emerging technology trends. Batteries not the only route to EV efficiency Allison CTO stresses efficiency and safety of propulsion units also are critical to reducing cost, improving performance and ultimately winning over customers. Batteries go underground A Saft expert evaluates various Li-ion chemistries and strategies - battery swapping vs. fast charging - for electric mining vehicles. Platooning: an evolving pathway to full autonomy Human-guided convoys can provide real-world benefits sooner than individual driverless trucks, but safety and operational issues still need to be resolved to optimize platoon configurations. Supplier Directory Complete listing of industry suppliers categorized by technology area.

Bigger processors, smaller engines Engine designers are using electronics, networks to downsize engines while upping performance, efficiency and NVH characteristics. A testing powerhouse Allison Transmission's new Vehicle Environmental Test center in Indianapolis is open for business for external and in-house customers alike. 'Revolutionizing' digital hydraulics Volvo CE teams with Norrhydro to commercialize an advanced electro-hydraulic system that promises fuel-efficiency gains of up to 50%.

Editorial Fool Self-Driving II The Navigator What will result from NHTSA's Tesla Autopilot investigation? Data Drives Driverless Truck Launch Smart diagnostics and advanced validation help support the reliability metrics required to gain confidence that autonomous trucks are ready for the road. Peering into the Distance New sensors of all types look out longer distances - and provide higher resolutions - for engineers pushing ADAS capabilities and higher-level vehicle automation. Ford Drives into SAE Level 2 Driver monitoring was an essential component to engineering the new "hands-free" BlueCruise/Active Glide enhanced ADAS system. A Chore No More? The Detroit Smart Parking Lab opens to develop and test emerging parking technology in real-world settings. Share and Share Alike The concepts of rideshare and urban mobility continue to evolve as new projects test what's possible.

Editorial Follow the money The Navigator C-V2X is finally gaining momentum in the U.S. Making the Strategic Move Into AV Testing Having built its global engineering reputation in the combustion-engine era, FEV makes a critical leap into automated-vehicle testing. Sony Jumps Into AV Sensors, Software The consumer-electronics giant leverages its innovative technologies for ADAS prototypes and partners with Hungary-based AImotive for automated-driving software. Mitigating Radar-to-Radar Interference An effective radar interference mitigation strategy should have the right balance between complexity and capability for dealing with the interferers. Amending the Automated-driving 'Constitution' SAE International's J3016 standard has been comprehensively revised with new distinctions and definitions. The Committee chairperson, Barbara Wendling, addresses the fine points behind the industry-defining - and perpetually controversial - classification for automated-driving capability.