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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.

Hybrids step forward Electric and hydraulic systems trim fuel consumption and emissions, boost performance. Braking for safety Researchers developed a simplified ABS/EBS ECU test bench to research the brake force control function of the EBS system using HIL simulation technology. A metered look at dosing pumps High delivery accuracy, low weight, and dependably long life have made solenoid-operated pumps widely used in mobile applications.

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.

Editorial Autonomy's data binge is more like a 5-course meal. Big Data, Big Challenges Cloud services and multiple partnerships are issues the mobility industry grapples with as data implications expand outside the vehicle. Reinventing the Automobile's Design The convergence of electric propulsion, Level 5 autonomy, and the advent of car-free urban zones, is driving new approaches to vehicle design and engineering. When Steering Isn't Steering Anymore High-level autonomy requires new thinking for even basic vehicle controls. Steer-by-wire technology eases some of the complexities automated driving presents-and offers desirable new possibilities. Autonomy and Electrification: A Perfect Match? Combining SAE Level 4/5 functionality and EV platforms brings chal-lenges-and opportunities for cost reduction and systems optimization. Who's Ahead in the Automated-Driving Race? The 2018 Navigant Research Leaderboard study brings interesting insights on the industry's progress.

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!

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.

Editorial Bill Visnic: Expect the unexpected The Navigator Sam Abuelsamid: Separating illusion from magic in AV deployment The Road to Automobility The era of electrified, self-driving vehicles is upon us. Engineers are key to the transformation - with much hard work still to be done. Far and Away: Remote Drivers Monitor Autonomous Vehicles Remote operators are helping autonomous shuttles and other AVs navigate through complex situations. Mapping Canada - Centimeter by Centimeter A Montreal-based company leverages artificial intelligence to take on the task of developing high-definition maps of Canada. You've Lost That Queasy Feeling… Transcontinental research aims to understand the complex nature of motion sickness to help improve the automated-vehicle experience. 3D Sonar Sees Objects Overlooked by Costlier Sensors A dream of robotic fish inspires inexpensive automated-driving sensing technology that works for the critical areas close to the vehicle.

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.

Editorial The new 'face' of privacy The Navigator No trust in AI systems without data protection Innovation Nation In the mobility space, Israel is rivaling Silicon Valley for smarts and start-ups - and beats it in chutzpah. Autonomy in your Face Biometric technology is deemed essential to ensuring AV driving safety and advancing the user experience-if privacy issues don't derail its deployment. About Face! To win acceptance, deployment of facial-recognition technology needs to fit within a picture-perfect consumer and legal framework that balances benefits with privacy protection. The Vehicle as Gaming Device Audi spin-off Holoride uses VR to turn the back seat into an entertainment platform. BlackBerry Tech Duo Sees Emergence of Vehicle-based Platforms Though likely to provide the OS of autonomy, BlackBerry also anticipates a larger shift to automobiles as software platforms.

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?

Editorial Autonomous 'Uncola' bubbles up The Navigator Cruise Origin points the way for AV architecture The Mind of Argo AI Co-founder and CEO Bryan Salesky brings a realistic approach to the self-driving technology "mission." Metamoto Goes Deep on AV Simulation Simulation based on the actual physics of vehicles and sensors continues expanding to replace millions of miles of potentially dangerous real-world testing. ZF Establishes Level 2+ ADAS Cost-effective technology solutions to meet diverse customer needs are what the "new pragmatism" in driver-assistance tech is all about. Senior VP Aine Denari explains. Lidar in a Flash Continental delivers a short-range 3D flash lidar sensor that's expected to find increasing application in commercial vehicles and off-highway ma-chines in 2020. Sensor Heat Relief Canatu's carbon nanobots keep critical sensor surfaces - and LED head-lamps - clear in sub-freezing weather.

Editorial High noon for high-level autonomy The Navigator A fork in the road for the AV business The Electric, Autonomous Revolution Lifts Off Engineering the new generation of electric and hybrid vertical-take-off-and-landing vehicles at Wisk and Elroy Air. New SAE Standard for Automated-Driving Developers Developed in less than a year, SAE's new J3216 standard will impact traffic management, operations and safety for automated mobility. Making Data Logging, Replay and Prototyping More Efficient High levels of continuity and compatibility are vital to avoid interruptions in the development process - and reduce cost. Radar Death Star ELunewave's 3D-printed spherical antenna makes for fast, 360-degree single-snapshot readings that are claimed to beat the slower sweeps of conventional radar. The Case for FOTA in AV Data Security Firmware over-the-air data transmission helps OEMs drive secure vehicle autonomy.

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.

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.