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Training / Education

High-Performance Brake Systems

While most passenger car brake systems are quite robust and reliable under typical operating conditions, high-performance driving and/or racetrack operation generally require alternative design solutions to optimize consistency and longevity. Whether it is brake fluid fade, cracked rotor discs, chronic knockback, or insufficient brake pad life, the stresses of motorsports can pose unique challenges to even the very best brake system designs.

Training / Education

Electrohydraulic Servovalves in Flight Control and Utility Actuators

This four-hour short course intends to present an overview of electrohydraulic flow control servovalves commonly used in flight control and utility actuators. The scope of this course covers the history and design of servovalves, as well as their most common performance characteristics. This course will provide participants an understanding of the application of electrohydraulic servovalves in hydraulically powered actuators and preparation of the servovalve procurement specification.

Training / Education

Design Considerations for Electrohydrostatic Actuators

This course is verified by Probitas Authentication as meeting the AS9104/3A requirements for continuing Professional Development. This four-hour short course will provide an overview of design considerations for electrohydrostatic actuation for transport and business aircraft applications.  The instructor will present the critical topics of electrohydrostatic actuation (EHA) from a systems development perspective (V-Approach).  Beginning with aircraft system requirements, the instructors will then guide participants through EHA subsystem requirements, component design, component verification test, aircraft integration, and use. 

Training / Education

Introduction to Aircraft Hydraulic System Design and Certification

This four-hour short course provides an overview of hydraulic system design of typical business and commercial aircraft. Topics will include the principles, system architectures, power sources, and the main components and technologies of hydraulic systems including hydraulic power generation, filtration, fluid storage, distribution, sensing and control. The step by step process of designing a hydraulic system will also be reviewed. Additionally, future trends in hydraulic systems will be discussed.

Training / Education

Filtration and Contamination Control for Aerospace Hydraulic Systems

This four-hour short course provides an introduction to contamination control principles in aircraft hydraulic systems. Topics covered include an introduction to the types of contamination in aircraft hydraulic systems, contaminant measurement, and reporting methods. In addition, the impact of contamination on hydraulic components is discussed in detail. Along with an introduction to filtration mechanisms, information on testing, rating, and specifying filters will be provided.

Training / Education

Seals and Sealing System Design of Actuation Systems in Military and Commercial Aircraft

This half day course presents an overview of seals and sealing system design for military and commercial aircraft. It is aimed to provide engineers having some previous actuator and control valve design background with an understanding of the general hardware groove standards, standard parts for static applications and how seal designs and sealing systems can be best used in dynamic reciprocating and rotary applications. Information will be provided regarding seal material and fluid compatibility, friction drag, expected wear rates depending on operating conditions and duty cycle, hardware surface finish and topography.

Training / Education

Design Considerations for Electromechanical Flight Control Actuation Systems

This four-hour short course intends to present an overview of electrically powered flight control actuation systems, covering commercial applications. The scope covers issues related to the mechanical design of actuators themselves, with limited reference to their control electronics. Additionally, this course will provide participants an understanding of the design considerations behind these actuation systems.

Training / Education

Key Considerations for the Comparison of Power‐by‐Wire and Hydraulically Supplied Solutions for Aerospace Actuation

This four-hour short course provides key considerations for the comparison of electrically supplied (Power-by-Wire, or PbW) and hydraulically supplied (Power-by-Pipe, of PbP) actuation for aerospace. The focus is put on the consequence, for designers, of changing the physical principles and the technology used. A particular attention is paid to the unavoidable side effects introduced by the technological realization. Simple examples with realistic numerical values are used to make the comparisons quantitatively realistic.

Training / Education

Tire and Wheel Safety Issues

One of the most important safety critical components on cars, trucks, and aircraft is the pneumatic tire. Vehicle tires primarily control stopping distances on wet and dry roads or runways and strongly influence over-steer/under-steer behavior in handling maneuvers of cars and trucks. The inflated tire-wheel assembly also acts as a pressure vessel that releases a large amount of energy when catastrophically deflated. The tire can also serve as a fulcrum, both directly and indirectly, in contributing to vehicle rollover. This course covers these facets of tire safety phenomena.

Training / Education

The Tire as a Vehicle Component

The principal functions of the pneumatic tire are to generate driving, braking, and cornering forces while safely carrying the vehicle load and providing adequate levels of ride comfort. This course explains how tire forces and moments are generated under different operating and service conditions and, in turn, demonstrates how these forces and moments influence various vehicle responses such as braking, handling, ride, and high-speed performance. The content focuses on the fundamentals of tire behavior in automobiles, trucks, and farm tractors, but also includes experimental and empirical results, when necessary. 

Training / Education

Power Electronics for Mechanical Engineers

This 4-hour short course provides an overview of Power Electronics (PE) in use in modern transport aircraft. This course includes the context, principles, design drivers, and the main PE components of various flight applications, including those for harsh environments. This course is designed to deliver and demystify the basic theories and best practices of mechanical, electronics, thermal management, safety, reliability and maintainability disciplines. In addition, future trends in Power Electronics will be discussed.

Training / Education

Aircraft Hydraulic Pumps and Motors - Application, Design and Integration

This 4-hour short course offers an overview of aircraft hydraulic pumps focusing on their application in hydraulic systems, design and performance characteristics, and integration issues. These topics will examine the various pump technologies available for aircraft system applications, their design, performance and operational characteristics and limitations, and discusses the challenges and lessons learned in the integration of pumps in hydraulic systems.

Training / Education

Applied Brake Controls Test Track Experience ABS, TCS, and ESC

  Take notes.  Take a spin.  Repeat.  Six classroom modules (2 each for ABS, TCS and ESC!) are paired with six driving modules on a real-world ice and snow development test track in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  There's no better way to reinforce classroom learning than by grabbing the steering wheel.  All of the driving exercises have been specifically developed so that anyone can hop in the car and immediately link what you have just learned in the classroom.  

Training / Education

Fluids for Aerospace Hydraulic Systems

This four-hour short course provides an introduction to fluids for aerospace hydraulic systems. Topics covered include an introduction to basics fluid properties, rheology, tribology, and fluid product development. In addition, the history and performance of different classes of fluids are discussed in detail, and specific failure modes such as erosion and sludge formation will be described. Along with an introduction to fluid degradation, information on used oil analysis test methods and interpretation will be provided.

Training / Education

Applied Vehicle Dynamics

2024-09-23

Take notes! Take the wheel! There is no better place to gain an appreciation for vehicle dynamics than from the driver’s seat. Spend three, intense days with a world-renowned vehicle dynamics engineer and SAE Master Instructor, his team of experienced industry engineers, and the BMW-trained professional driving instructors. They will guide you as you work your way through 12 classroom modules learning how and why vehicles go, stop and turn. Each classroom module is immediately followed by an engaging driving exercise on BMW’s private test track.

Training / Education

Introduction to Brake Control Systems ABS, TCS, and ESC

2024-09-19

Electronic brake control systems are required standard equipment on cars and trucks. Vehicles benefit from optimized braking, enhanced acceleration, and improved stability that these systems provide. The instructor introduces participants to system-level design considerations, vehicle interface requirements, and inevitable performance compromises that need to be addressed when implementing these technologies. Participants will begin by defining the tire-road interface and analyzing fundamental vehicle dynamics.

Training / Education

ADAS Application Automatic Emergency Braking

2024-09-19

Active safety and (ADAS) are now being introduced to the marketplace as they serve as key enablers for anticipated autonomous driving systems. Automatic emergency braking (AEB) is one ADAS application which is either in the marketplace presently or under development as nearly all automakers have pledged to offer this technology by the year 2022. This one-day course is designed to provide an overview of the typical ADAS AEB system from multiple perspectives.

Training / Education

Fundamentals of Steering Systems

2024-08-13

Design and development of a modern steering system influences vehicle response to steering wheel input, driver effort, comfort, safety and fuel economy. In this interactive course participants will analyze the steering system from the road wheel to the steering wheel. Day one will begin with a deep dive into the anatomy and architecture of the lower steering system (wheel end, suspension geometry, linkages and steering gear), its effect on vehicle response and how forces and moments at the contact patch are converted to a torque at the pinion.

Training / Education

Tire Forensics and Markings

2024-06-24

This course introduces basic tire mechanics, including tire construction components based on application type, required sidewall stamping in accordance with DoT/ECE regulations, tread patterns, regulatory and research testing on quality, tire inspections and basic tire failure identification. The course will provide you with information that you can use immediately on-the-job and apply to your own vehicle. This course is practical in nature and supplemented with samples and hands-on activities.

Training / Education

Fundamentals of Vehicle Suspension Design

2024-05-14

The design and development of vehicle suspensions significantly influences vehicle handling and ride comfort. Suspension system design excellence follows the basic laws of physics using design synthesis techniques, a methodical process for suspension geometry development. Suspension geometry is the foundation of vehicle performance from which high-confidence suspension components and tunings can be developed. Suspension component design continues to move toward mass and cost efficient designs with high levels of stiffness being essential to achieving design requirements.