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The big engine that could With the stringent EPA 2015 regulations on large diesel engines for locomotive, marine, and stationary generator applications, the need for NOx reduction via urea SCR catalyst arises given the proven performance of urea SCR. Monitoring hydraulics Component producers and vehicle service providers offer their views of hydraulic diagnostics as the industry moves toward real-time, intelligent health monitoring, predictive failure software algorithms, and wireless notification. Engine management expands from minute movements to full vehicle Electronic controls grow in complexity as engine designers extend their scope to include hydraulics.

After diesel A look at some offshoots-hybrids, HCCI, and alternative fuels-to the ever-popular diesel engine in the off-highway industry. Software gains (hydraulic) power Development processes are being revised as software becomes a centerpiece of electrohydraulic designs. Virtual sensing gets real As emissions regulations get more strict, emissions measurement must get more precise for onboard diagnostics, engine control, and model-based controller design.

Look Ma, no driver Unmanned vehicles evolve quickly as processors, sensors improve performance. Calling all hydraulics engineers As the industry knows all too well, hydraulics engineers are hard to come by; a look at how companies are hiring, training, and, most important, retaining engineers. Making diesels quiet and clear Researchers look at the relative influence of gear design parameters on the rattle noise of a diesel engine timing gear train.

Biofuel opportunities and pitfalls Annual growth in biofuels has been strong but is expected to slow in the near future. User interfaces going mainstream Off-highway HMIs use consumer technologies to add functions, simplify tasks. Reducing the environmental impact of hydraulic systems OEMS and their suppliers are creating new hydraulic systems and components, using new fluids and remanufacturing to save energy and reduce the environmental impact of off-highway equipment. Multiple controllers add to EV complexity Model-based design has revolutionized the way products are developed, with design shifting from parts to the whole.

Simulating off-highway hybrids With customers squeezed by fuel costs, off-highway OEMs are showing some interest in developing hybrid equipment. CAE simulation tools are needed because of lack of experience with such devices. Their functional complexity requires control system simulation throughout their lives. A hose is a hose is a hose Researchers develop a method for the precise mounting of a hydraulic hose model. Integrity sensing for safety Researchers from Purdue developed a capacitance-based method for monitoring the integrity of tires, hoses, and other polymeric products during manufacturing and throughout the useful product life.

Operators see bright screens in their future HMIs borrow from tablets, phones to help operators perform a broad range of tasks Small engine landscape Kubota engineers developed new small-displacement engines that adopt a common-rail system while optimizing the combustion system and injection characteristics. Sensitive to safety A growing number of digital sensors are among the tools being used to make sure failures are rare and injuries are even more infrequent.

Heavy-duty designs on aftertreatment The introduction of stringent EPA 2015 regulations for locomotive/marine engines and IMO 2016 Tier III marine engines precipitated the need to develop large diesel engine aftertreatment systems. Gaining control of damping Strong nonlinearities of hydraulic systems and the unpredictable operating conditions of the specific application (e.g., uneven ground, varying loads) are the main challenges to the development of satisfactory general vibration damping methods and controls. Getting real about test cycles Fuel consumption of working machines is strongly influenced by machine specification, working environment, and operator behavior, therefore a mix of several test cycles is necessary. The case for Class 8 hybrids Hybrid technology may not be the best solution for all heavy-truck applications, but a Caron Engineering expert explains how it can still benefit Class 8 vehicles.

Tackling biodiesel's technical challenges Caterpillar researchers are working to mitigate biodiesel's negative effects on engine components and aftertreatment systems. More for less Telematic systems are offering more features and functions for lower prices. Improving actuation speed and controllability With high-speed hydraulic proportional valves, the performance of existing cam phasing systems can be improved or the actuation mechanisms can be applied directly to engine valve actuation.

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.

On the verge of the Digital Age Increasingly connected electrohydraulic systems and machine controls allow the high degree of controllability that's essential for automated operations. Miserly power systems Engineers push engine, transmission technologies to turn off fuel usage. All options on the table Powertrain developers who spoke at SAE COMVEC are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to trim emissions. Cab air quality: A critical component of operator comfort Focus on defining cab air quality, measuring it, and designing the needed performance into cabin designs and HVAC systems is intensifying. Expanding fast charging faster Tritium works to accelerate installation of DC fast-charging infrastructure to keep up with growing demand for commercial EVs.

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 Fool Self-Driving The Navigator The end of vehicle ownership Sanitary Solutions for AVs Gentex engineers are bridging mobility and medical technologies to tackle vital public-health issues of vehicle cabin cleanliness. 'Software, Start Your Engines' The 2021 Indy Autonomous Challenge is a high-speed laboratory for advancing automated driving. Getting to the 'Core' of AV Thermal Management Data-gobbling processors require new cooling solutions - and the AV industry needs standards, says a veteran engineer. Autonomy Takes Off-highway Integrating automation systems in mining, agricultural and construction machines can increase safety and productivity in the field and bring significant economic benefits. Boaring in on Vehicle-to-Animal Road Safety Researchers are using micro-Doppler radar, neural nets and machine learning to protect drivers from the wild critters that enter the road.

Editorial AV lidar enters a new reality The Navigator UNECE takes first step toward AV regulation Special Delivery - by 'Bot Michigan start-up Refraction AI aims to be the go-to for last-mile, semi-autonomous, all-weather delivery robots. Lidar Infiltrates ADAS Once considered a necessity only in fully autonomous vehicles, lidar sensors are now being evaluated for lower-level driver-assistance systems. Training Data-hungry AI Algorithms Large-scale data refinement is key to bringing more sophisticated automated-driving functions to series production. Simulation's Next Generation Do autonomous-vehicle developers have their simulation strategies all wrong? Some experts think so - but suggest there's a practical solution. Marelli's COVID-killing HVAC Insert With big implications for shared mobility, a new photocatalytic cabin-air purifier claims to kill viruses - including COVID-19. Is Ground-penetrating Radar Next for AV Sensing?

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.