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Frankfurt Motor Show concepts Visitors to the 60th IAA held in September were greeted with 125 world premieres, 60 of which were new vehicles by the world's automotive manufacturers. Prior to the public event, AEI editors scoured the show to put together this special section of Global Vehicles highlighting the best-in-show concept cars. Dynamic rollover testing on the way NHTSA announces that the 'fishhook' manuever, along with the static stability factor, will be used to rate vehicles for rollover propensity beginning with the 2004 model year. Shortening the chain Despite the trend toward increased outsourcing, the integration of compounding and molding operations at molded composite parts maker Composite Products resulted in a leaner and more economical supply chain. NASCAR research and development With the help of a new managing director and R&D center, the popular racing series is pursuing technology to improve safety and level competition.

Technical highlights from Geneva The high-profile event combined new technology, fresh design, debuts of major production models, and styling concepts in a compact venue. North American technology trends Every year in the May issue, Automotive Engineering International explores the major technology trends defining the auotmotive industry in North America. In June, it will do the same Europe, and in August Asia. Internal-combustion engineering Despite a century of refinement, the gasoline engine still has untapped potential, say industry executives. Body building The quest for light, quieter, and safer cars and light trucks influences the design and engineering of most vehicle areas--body not excluded. Chassis integration keeps the rubber on the road U.S. OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers are collaborating to deliver the latest technology for performance and safety, but integration stays in-house.

The need for speeds The recent automatic-transmission introductions by Toyota, DaimlerChrysler, and ZF highlight the trend toward greater gear-ratio spreads for better launch performance and cruising efficiency. Mechanical advantage Ride and handling can be influenced and controlled by the latest electronics, but careful mechanical design of the suspension can deliver significant benefits. Hard drives Driven by the insatiable demand for more usable navigation information and entertainment content, automotive disk drives will become commonplace, but not until cost and other issues are overcome, experts predict. Trucks get aerodynamic touch Light truck and SUV designers must reconcile conservative customer tastes with the need for reduced drag to bost efficiency. Pedestrian protection possibilities Carmakers consider a variety of solutions to the problem of saving lives outside the vehicle.

NAIAS concepts Though industry sales projections for 2009 were dire, automakers pushed forward with new environmentally friendly technology in concept vehicles with an eye on sportiness. Electrifying changes for F1 Teams adopt hybrid power and adapt to slick tires. Memorable advances Bigger memories, faster cores let engineers boost efficiency and reduce emissions in engines. Material opportunities Compacted graphite iron, aluminum, and composites have significant roles in engine downsizing, but steel's capability and potential endures. Building blocks Engineering a good engine is half the battle; getting it through the assembly process without introducing flaws is the final victory. Innovative Thinking 101 West Virginia University professor Dr. James E. Smith issues a call for innovation as one of the central themes of his term as SAE's 2009 President. New 7 Series improves all over From better fuel efficiency to more luxury accoutrements, BMW does more than one-up its flagship.

North American concepts Cars and car-based crossovers took the concept-vehicle spotlight this year at the 2004 North American International Auto Show in Detroit last month. Renault F1 opens up The company has provided unprecedented access to its new Formula One racecar and surprisingly detailed information on its engine. Cleaner, safer, quieter Testing companies are working to improve equipment and procedures to better match real-world situations in an effort to help automotive suppliers and OEMs in development of future vehicles. Microprocessor requirements soar Networks and emissions control are driving the switch to more powerful 32-bit chips. Hondra brings the hydrogen economy closer The next generation of fuel-cell stacks from Honda offers more power from a smaller package, and a prototype solar-power refueling station delivers the hydrogen fuel. GM hybrid story on SAE Congress agenda General Motors Corp. sees several avenues to a hybrid future, a transit bus leading the way.

Seats of power Car users are sitting on more advanced features than ever before, but increasing demands for "comfort" and other considerations have focused industry brainpower on slimmer seat designs, new trim materials, and innovative technology solutions. Big changes for powertrain control Electronics innovations are behind many of the advances in hybrid, diesel, and conventional gasoline engines. Plastic on the outside For many new vehicles, light weight is paramount, and so too is eye-catching design. That's why plastic body panels will become more prevalent. Toyota powers ahead The company's powertrain strategy follows Toyota President Watanabe's dream that a Toyota car be able to cross the American continent with no refueling while cleansing the atmosphere as it travels. The Honda way In the pipeline are a "dedicated hybrid car for family use," a super-clean diesel that meets U.S.

The advent of stop-start technology As environmental concerns grow for R&D teams, OEMs look to bring the strategy further into the mainstream. Recycling opportunities for hybrid/electric vehicle lithium-ion batteries With limited reserves and strict environmental regulations, re-cyclers look to established extraction means to reuse, recycle, and dispose of the used batteries. Cameras look to go the distance Automakers seek vision systems with greater distances, improved reliability, and more functionality, thanks to ruggedized complementary metal-oxide semiconductor technologies. Getting right with composites With composites now a mainstay in most new aircraft de-signs, the engineering emphasis has switched from understanding if they work to thinking through the most efficient way to manufacture them, such as using design-for-manufacturing software.

Electrochemical reactions Students from the Department of Automotive Engineering at the NED University of Engineering and Technology build the first onboard fuel-cell vehicle of Pakistan. The Baja balance How to combine heavy homework load with your CDS team responsibilities. Embraer progresses on clean-sheet military program It has been over two years since Embraer announced that it would be developing the KC-390 military airlift and tanker jet under a contract with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), which established the requirements for the aircraft as it did with other Embraer military programs. Calling all recruiters Lack of response to distributed resumes leaves many wondering, is anyone out there?

ETS Baja parts failure analysis: Geared for success When the ETS Baja team had to withdraw from the Baja Auburn 2012 event due to abnormal gear failure, an extensive analysis was required to ensure that problems of this nature would not surface again. After some serious investigation, the conclusion of almost 30 hours of research was unexpected and proved surprisingly simple. Body and soul rule at 2012 Formula SAE Months before the Formula SAE Michigan competition in May, teams were hashing out product development decisions. The end-game was presenting a racecar that had the right stuff for earning high points in the challenge's vehicle design evaluation as well as the acceleration, skid pad, endurance, and autocross dynamic performance events.

Types of aircraft passenger-escape systems An overview of existing and potential new methods for assuring aircraft occupant safety. SAE Skill India Initiative: S2I2 A new SAEINDIA collaboration aims to help young engineers acquire "industry-ready" skills. A technology-driven sustainable-agriculture solution Pumping more air into the cylinder is key to solving the CAFE puzzle, and engineers are hard at work figuring out the best ways to do it with turbocharger and supercharger innovation. Rotorcraft icing computational tool development 3D printing machines can't be built fast enough In the additive-manufacturing world, the costs of components are dropping, the technology is becoming more reliable and parts are fabricated faster, allowing industries beyond aerospace to adopt additive technologies, says Oak Ridge Lab's Ryan Dehoff.

Focus on advanced safety systems and human-factor interventions The impact of REACH on the aviation sector Considered the most comprehensive chemical-regulation legislation to date, REACH presents serious ramifications for the aircraft industry. Lightweighting: What's Next? Experts weigh in on the challenges and future enablers in the battle to reduce vehicle mass. The best of COMVEC 2016 Autonomous vehicles and improved fuel efficiency via advanced powertrain solutions are pressing topics detailed in this select group of technical papers from the SAE Commercial Vehicle Engineering Congress. Optimizing waste heat recovery for long-haul trucks Autonomous solutions in agriculture Downsizing a HD diesel engine for off-highway applications Zero-emissions electric aircraft: Theory vs. reality

Rockets re-engineered-a step further into the cosmos Powertrain design for reliability Ice breaker Mazda's Skyactiv-X beats the big companies to market with a promising new engine that marries Otto and Diesel attributes. Advances for off-highway engine design As manufacturers continue to drive out cost and meet a worldwide patchwork of regulatory frameworks, the tools for developing those engines are advancing. From showcase prototypes to advanced analytical techniques, suppliers are helping the cause. Aeroacoustic simulation delivers breakthroughs in aircraft noise reduction Autonomy testing: Simulation to the rescue Autonomous technology development injects new rigors on vehicle-development testing.

Inductive approach An engineering professor from Ryerson uses MapleSim to introduce more exploratory methods of teaching. Monash University scores fourth Formula SAE-A win The Monash University Formula SAE-A team demonstrated its dominance by winning its fourth consecutive Australasian event in Melbourne last December. Audi Urban Intelligent Assist The three-year joint effort between Audi AG, the Volkswagen Group Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL) in Belmont, CA, the University of Southern California, the University of California at Berkeley, and the University of California at San Diego aimed at improving drivers' information and decision-making capabilities. Hovering aircraft programs The AW609 tiltrotor and the X3 compound helicopter offer different technology solutions to the challenge of achieving higher speeds and higher-quality point-to-point air transport.

Giving the blind the freedom to drive A Virginia Tech student team answers a call to action by the National Federation of the Blind's Jernigan Institute. 'Ultimate Youthmobile' of 2030 At the 2009 LA Auto Show, California designers envision the future. BMW's six-cylinder motorcycle Concept points to possible production bike. Modeling and simulation put emphasis on early planning The shift to model-based design and simulation is changing the way aircraft are designed, shifting the focus to the early phases of development. Early planning is critical for success, as is establishing techniques that ensure that files move freely between various work teams.

High-speed education @ formula hybrid event Annual competition provides a hands-on learning experience for undergraduate and graduate engineering students. Body-shaped for supermileage Six different single-occupant vehicles designed and built by teams of collegiate engineering students snared four-digit fuel economy at Eaton Corp.'s Marshall, MI, test track during the 31st annual SAE Supermileage competition in June. Mercedes-AMG goes with the current flow Opening the doors on new technology. First flight approaches for 'disruptive' new UAV engine An earlier iteration of UAS' Nightwind 2 in flight, powered by an off-the-shelf industrial engine. Three resume tips for college grads Employers often hire recent graduates to mold new hires to their own corporate culture and work philosophy, leading some employers to look more for potential than for specific experience.

Autonomous vehicles: impact on society Self-driving technology offers plenty of promise, but not everything about autonomous vehicles will be a panacea. Crankshaft reliability by integrated design, simulation, and testing This testing method is proven and beneficial for the design and development of the crankshaft and could be applied to other critical engine components, thereby extending to system reliability. New Engines 2016 Highlighting the design, engineering, and technologies inside some of the most competitive gasoline and light-duty diesel ICEs. Touch and go Avionics developments are changing life in the cockpit and at airborne work stations. Improving heavy-duty engine component efficiencies Cylinder deactivation can improve fuel economy by using a reduced number of cylinders that operate at higher loads and thermal efficiency, while other cylinders are turned off, when the engine operates at partial load conditions.

On-Orbit Satellite Refueling Flow Measurement The Path from Concept to Operational Status Radiation Tolerant "Smart Backplanes" for Spacecraft Avionics Using Heat Pipes to Cool Embedded Computers Electronically Dimmable Aircraft Windows How do you block the light of the sun? Eliminating Electrical Arcing in Satellite Systems NASA Miniaturizes Century-Old Radio Sounder Technology Developing an Airborne Optical Systems Testbed (AOSTB) New Class of Excimer-Pumped Atomic Lasers (XPALS) Research demonstrates the viability of an atomic laser having a quantum efficiency greater than one. Hydrodynamic Drag Force Measurement of a Functionalized Surface Exhibiting Superhydrophobic Properties Comparing the skin friction drag effects of a superhydrophobic flat plate to an untreated flat plate of the same material and geometry.

The Rapid Rise of Beryllium-Aluminum Alloys in Aerospace Aeroacoustic Simulation Delivers Breakthroughs in Aircraft Noise Reduction Using System Simulation to Manage Increasing Thermal Loads on Aircraft Fuel Systems Ensuring the Compliance of Avionics Software with DO-178C Microwave Photonic Notch Filter Helps Ensure Critical Mission Success Measuring Propellant Stress Relaxation Modulus Using Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer New testing technique requires less material, gives more accurate results. Combustion Characteristics of Hydrocarbon Droplets Induced by Photoignition of Aluminum Nanoparticles Test methodology allows analysis of combustion dynamics for subscale rocket injectors under super critical conditions. Vapor Pressure Data and Analysis for Selected Organophosphorous Compounds: DIBMP, DCMP, IMMP, IMPA, EMPA, and MPFA Determining the thermophysical properties of chemical warfare agent simulants can help evaluate the performance of defensive equipment.