Search Results

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.

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.

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.

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.

Connectivity continues its advance More OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers are focusing on embedded telematic systems, hoping to displace aftermarket hardware. Tailoring fuel injection to control NOx The next big step to help heavy-duty diesel engines meet stricter emissions regulations involves adapting the fuel-injection system to the combustion needs. Active on safety Crash-avoidance technologies are vital "building blocks" to automate commercial vehicles, implement truck platooning and ultimately achieve zero accidents. Engineering with simulation and data Companies are discovering new simulation techniques, especially optimization; the next step is to combine simulation with sensor data and predictive analytics to create even more robust off-highway equipment.

Next-generation power Additional benefits for commercial customers may drive hybrid technology adoption. Shake and bake: a recipe for testing Vehicles, components endure much in-lab abuse before they enter the commercial-vehicle market. Fuel for thought The performance and emissions of a stationary single-cylinder diesel engine is evaluated using an ethanol blend with diesel and jet fuels.

In search of the perfect burn The simultaneous download pressures on NOx and PM continue to make research into higher injection pressures and alternative combustion solutions such as homogenous-charge compression ignition attractive. One way to stop a train A new self-energizing electrohydraulic brake offers the advantages of hydraulic brake actuation without the disadvantages of a centralized hydraulic power supply. A model combustion: from art to science Analysis tools, advanced hardware provide insight into combustion process, refining the cylinder's 'big bang.' The datalinked vehicle In the fields and on the job site with GPS.

The diesel engine diet Researchers correlate engine performance and durability with the properties of alternative fuels that consist of vegetable oils and animal fats. Looking at a safer future Software, other sensors will augment cameras as safety's role in the off-highway industry takes an upward spiral. Plastics expand their range From high-speed train exterior panels to powertrain components, plastics and composite materials are finding their way into more off-highway applications.

What we have here is a desire to communicate Telematic service and equipment providers are racing to gain market share in what's expected to become a solid long-term market. Sizing up accumulators No other feature of a hydraulic hybrid has more effect on the end performance of the powertrain than the accumulator. modeling helps to provide specific guidance with regard to establishing pre-charge pressure. Beating a path to biodiesel Multiple pathways are being pursued to increase biodiesel use, reduce dependence on petroleum, and improve the environment, but the best route is not yet known.

The man challenges of Tier 4 engineering Cutting and controlling emissions are the surface goals, but designers must also manage to cut and control costs, while adding complexity. A cool look at heat protection CFD is used to predict flow and thermal fields within the engine compartment both at steady state and transient conditions. Hushing hydraulics Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology put their energies into novel, compact devices for reducing fluid-borne noise.

Integration helps fuel push for conservation As rising fuel prices and looming environmental regulations bring fuel economy to the fore, hydraulic system developers are pitching in to improve efficiency and help conserve precious resources. Simulating hydraulic valve pressure drop CFD software is being used more and more frequently during the design of off-highway systems and components. 2006 Commercial Vehicle Congress Preview International Truck and Engine executives head the charge for "positive industry change" at SAE's third Congress for the on-and off-highway communities. Position sensing in machine controls As performance requirements for off-highway equipment become more demanding, the need for greater control of motion and power grows as well.

Bridging the power gap An alliance between Cummins and Komatsu provides an intriguing prospect to the industrial engine market with the new QSK78 industrial engine. Large eddy simulation in hydraulic valves Cavitation in hydraulic spool valaves involves large-scale vortical structures in an unsteady submerged jet. According to engineers from Purdue University, curent CFD approaches do not accurately predict these unsteady vortices, nor do they properly account for bubble-dynamics/flow-structure interactions. Proving heavy-vehicle performance The Nevada Automotive Test Center and Mechanical Dynamics joined forces to redesign and improve the drivetrain, frame, steering, and other subsystems of a heavy-duty military-vehicle for the USMC. Tying it all together GPS. Engine diagnostics. Wireless communications. So much technology. So many voices. Is it a chorus of the Tower of Babel?

Simulating air-conditioning performance A computer program developed by Modine Climate Systems and Modelogics helps determine and optimize air-conditioning system performance. Reduced mass haul-truck design concepts Liebherr Mining trucks adopted a reduced structural mass approach to convert unladen weight directly into payload, while simultaneously incorporating state-of-the-art driveline technology. Optimizing a tractor frame for improved cabin NVH To address an aging agricultural workforce and modern ergonomic guidelines, researchers at Doshisha University and Kubota modeled medium- and large-sized agricultural tractors to reduce vibration and noise and increase comfort. Applying 3d-CAD to turbocharger development Ishkawajima-Harima Heavy Industries has developed a 3d-CAD system for turbochargers. satisfying requirements for digital mockup development.

Making sense of engines Heavy-duty equipment is known for its ruggedness in harsh environments, but vehicles are not neglecting their sensitive side. The world's fastest digger gets closer JCB's Dieselmax goes 350 mph and teaches engineers much about engine capability, extreme testing, and program management. The whole system, and nothing but the system Properly implemented, an electrohydraulic system can add a great deal of automatic control, advanced performance, advanced diagnostics, and remote monitoring to a mobile application. Regenerative hydraulics The use of multiple hydraulic pumps can satisfy the needs of various circuits in off-highway equipment. The gas is greener Biofuels promise to help reduce petroleum cinsumption and CO2 emissions, but much of the potential depends on production and infrastructure investments. Material returns Effective use of materials information is important to engineers in development of parts and components.

Off-highway CVTs A continuously variable transmission can improve the fuel efficiency of heavy-duty diesels by matching the engine's torque/speed to the applied load through the smooth torque multiplication of the transmission. Hydraulics for economics The design of a digitally controlled hydraulic fan drive from Denison Hydraulics is said to help diesel engines run leaner and cleaner. Telematics boosts productivity Advances in electronic technology enables equipment owners and operators to monitor not only usage, but location of equipment. A dumper on tracks Industrial vehicles featuring composite rubber-tracked drive systems have become increasingly popular over the past 10 years, carving out a respectable niche in many specialized industries.

Mining for silence According to an engineer from Cooper-Standard Automotive, active noise control is finally making the transition from marketing hype to viable product. Making a mining engine Customer demands for higher-speed diesel power provided the motivation behind the design of MTU's new 20-cylinder engine. Reader's Choice: Top technologies of the Year Readers have selected the ten most interesting stories in SAE Off-Highway Engineering during the past year. Results are based on the reader-response choices following feature articles and shorter technology items. The supply chain gang No longer in its infancy, e-business proves its worth by streamlining operations along the supply chain.

Lightpipe design According to Breault Research Organization, any off-highway instrument or control that needs illumination is a candidate for a lightpipe to take light from where it is generated to where it is needed. The biodiesel choice Experts from the Natural Biodiesel Board believe it is time to consider alternatives to the current fuel structure. One solution to rising fuel prices is the pursuit of biodiesel fuels. Understanding machining difficulties in gray iron Bosch Braking Systems' engineers look more closely than usual at iron brake rotor samples to give new insights into critical characteristics of the material. Caterpillar mining for customers With commodity prices low, Caterpillar wants to make mining as productive an enterprise as possible for customers.