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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.

Materials mature The growth of air travel has always been dependent on the development of materials technology for structures and engines. Keeping track of production Aircraft manufacturers are making greater use of RFID and bar code technology, while also using new software that helps them keep production lines running smoothly. Breaking records via fuel management Onboard sensors reported lower-than-expectedfuel-tank readings not far into the around-the-world flight of the GlobalFlyer, jeopardizing the entire mission.

From part to plane: the fastest machine wins Next-gen machining centers and controllers brings new precision and capabilities to both metal and composite manufacturing. Files moved around the world As aircraft manufacturers distribute more jobs to contractors, streamlining the transfer of information has become an important part of both design and manufacturing. Top technologies of 2008 A look back at some of the most significant technological innovations during the past year. VLJ power Some engine programs for very light jets are full swing while certification awaits others.

Wiring UAVs The development of electronic architectures for UAVs and UCAVs marks a major step-change in the evolution of military aircraft as significant as the emergence of jet propulsion more than 60 years ago. Distributed simulation A new modeling technique is applied to a HALE UAV power system using detailed subsystem simulations of the turbine engine, generators, and loads. Tradition, transition, and transformation SAE 100 Future look: As the sun sets on the first 100 years of SAE, we refllect on a proud and rich tradition of contribution to the transportation industry. The battle for information flow SAE 100 Future look: Epic Data recognizes that the recent development of highly secure, futuristic real-time information flows provide a tremendous competitive advantage to field commanders making life or death decisions.

Simulation from the inside Software applications are now being developed to make air travel safer and more comfortable for the people in the cabin. American attack UAVs-Part 1 The first article in a two-part series of a perspective on more than 100 years of unmanned flight details some of the major developments in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for combat. Certifying airworthiness MIL-HDBK-5 is an especially valuable tool for the Federal Aviation Administration and is essential to the health of the entire aviation manufacturing industry. Boeing takes leap forward with composites The use of composites is not new to the aerospace industry, but with its 7E7 airplane, Boeing plans to stretch the material technology to new limits.

Quality in the integrated product team In the early phases of product development, quality must be engineered and managed into the product. Advancing icing detection Engineers are working to develop a capability to detect icing conditions ahead of aircraft using onboard and ground-based remote sensing systems. Testing times Methods for testing aircraft engines have changed dramatically over the years for Rolls-Royce- almost as much as the engines themselves. This is the last installment of a three-part series on aircraft engine testing.

Systematically silencing Industry trends demonstrate aerospace companies such as Lord are evolving from supplying just components to entire systems. Resolving conflicts for the F/A-22 cockpit canopy Diverse requirements made design and production of the fighter's cockpit canopy a challenging systems integration enterprise for Lockheed Martin. No man in the machine Unmanned aerial vehicles have proven their worth in recent real-time confrontations, but there is still a need for continued technological growth toward their maturity.

Safeguarding aircraft systems How several systems suppliers, airframers, and researchers have approached the need for increased system safeguards and protection against lightning strikes. One last look back A review of the technology news, discussions, and announcements from the first Aerospace Congress & Exhibition held September 10-13 in Seattle, WA. Powering unmanned aircraft Pratt & Whitney Canada is developing and testing a commercial turbofan engine derivative for high-altitude unmanned air vehicle applications. 737-800 winglet integration A joint venture between Boeing and Aviation Partners Inc. is involved in developing a performance improvement for in-service aircraft.

High hopes or just dreaming? A look at how Asia's aircraft manufacturers are trying to break into new markets to challenge the status quo. Camelina-based biofuel shows advantages in turboprop Researchers within the government of Canada see the need to improve the emissions performance of the Rolls-Royce T56 engine, which despite its age remains a workhorse for its military aircraft fleet.

PEFCs to transform UAVs Advancements in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells have resulted in longer endurance missions for smaller UAVs as well as an enabler for electric aircraft that require vertical takeoff and landing capability. 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.

Software shifts into automatic mode Automatic code generation is speeding up development and helping to improve automotive system reliability. Coming out party Plastics abound inside vehicles, but they are increasingly finding new applications outside the cockpit thanks to a heavy push for lightweight solutions. Cutting emissions down to size While the long-term future may deliver an efficient alternative to the internal-combustion engine, a few UK-led projects are tackling short-to medium-term solutions for improving engine-out emissions and efficiency of gasoline and diesel engines.

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.

Global Viewpoints North America North American automakers and suppliers know that moving the ball forward technologically is their best bet for survival, if not success. In the special section on the following pages, some of the automotive industry's top executives discuss the latest trends and their strategies for game-changing vehicle engineering and development. GM's new battery boss Denise Gray has global responsiblity for bringing the best energy storagte systems to GM's expanding hybrid program. Energy, environment, and engineering The drive toward energy security and environmental responsiblity is leading many automakers, Chrysler Group included, down a variety of technological avenues--diesels, biofuels, and hydrogen fuel cells among them. Investing in future business Delphi has had its ups and downs since departing from the General Motors umbrella in 1999 as a fully independent publicly traded company, but 2007 may reign as the ultimate watershed year for the supplier.

Bouncing back The economic slowdown of the past year or so tooks its toll on the U.S. automotive industry, with U.S. OEMs suffering the brunt of lost sales. This four-section article explores some of the issues shaping the U.S. auto industry and some of the technologies U.S. OEMs and suppliers are using to combat their emboldened overseas competitors. Powering the future It's anyone's guess as to what type of power source will ultimately drive the majority of future vehicles in North America, but one thing is certain: advancements in various powertrain technologies from industry players are ready to make today's and tomorrow's cars more environmentally--and customer--friendly. Inside North American vehicles Vehicle interiors are incorporating more and more electronics, telematics, and other advanced technologies, challenging engineers and desginers to make them simple, safe, comfortable, and appealing.

Connectors Lighten the SWaP Burden in UAV/MUMT Aircraft Electronics Playing Defense Uncertain Regulations Stall the Implementation of Counter-UAS Technology in The U.S. Drone Swarms A Transformational Technology Robotic Combat Vehicles Putting the Brains Behind the Brawn Effectiveness of Inter-Vehicle Communications and On-Board Processing for Close Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle Flight Formations Developing an effective cooperative communication system for unmanned aerial vehicles can increase their autonomy, reduce manpower requirements, and improve mission capabilities. Systems Engineering Approach to Develop Guidance, Navigation and Control Algorithms for Unmanned Ground Vehicle This research explores the development of a UGV capable of operating autonomously in a densely cluttered environment such as the tropical jungles or plantation estates commonly found in Asia.

Designing Battery Packs for Harsh Environment Mission-Critical Devices High-Energy Laser Weapon Systems Advanced Assembly Solutions for the Airbus RACER Joined-Wing Configuration Digital Twins How The Digital Replica Concept Is Used By Robotic Systems Practical 3D Printing of Antennas and RF Electronics Photonic Microwave Generation Using On-Chip Optical Frequency Combs DDDAMS-based Urban Surveillance and Crowd Control via UAVs and UGVs Investigating algorithmic approaches to create scalable, robust, multi-scale, and effective urban surveillance and crowd control strategies using UAVs and UGVs. Covariance and Uncertainty Realism in Space Surveillance and Tracking Characterizing uncertainty in estimating the state of a resident space object is one of the fundamentals of many space surveillance tasks.

Radiation-Tolerant FPGAs Solve Spacecraft Design Challenges Thermal Management for Directed Energy Weapons New Diamond Super-Material Enhances Aircraft Survivability Development of a Secure Private Neural Network Capability From DC to Daylight - How Innovations in Microwave Absorbers Shield the Warfighter Army Advances Materials for New Low-Profile Antenna Directed-Energy System to Defeat Small Unmanned Aircraft System Swarms New weapons technology is needed to combat the proliferation of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), miniaturization of sensor technology, and advancement of UAS swarm logic that will enable swarms of sUAS to threaten US airbases by the 2025 timeframe.

Rad-Hard Microelectronics for Space Applications Outsourcing Plasma Treatments for Surface Modification Adding Context to Full-Motion Video for Improved Surveillance and Situational Awareness Implementing an Aerospace Factory of the Future 90° Hybrid Coupled Power Amplifier - Pros and Cons A New Network Design for the "Internet from Space" Future Advances in Electronic Materials and Processes - Flexible Hybrid Electronics Despite progress being made, there are still significant obstacles to the manufacture and use of flexi-ble hybrid electronics in military applications. Heterogeneous Integration Technology Integrating different types of devices and materials could increase their functional density, improving the performance of electro-optic systems for sensor applications. The Impact of Cyber Cameras on the Intelligence Community The ability to covertly access and manipulate cyber cameras could provide valuable strategic data for the US intelligence community.

The Role of Autonomous Unmanned Ground Vehicle Technologies in Defense Applications Information Warfare - Staying Protected at the Edge Designing Connectivity Solutions for an Electric Aircraft Future Redesigning the Systems Engineering Process to Speed Development of E-Propulsion Aircraft Four RF Technology Trends You Need to Know for Satellite Communication Device Design Manufacturer Reduces Risk and Improves Quality of Military Radar Receivers Instrumentation for Fabrication and Testing of High-Speed Single-Rotor and Compound-Rotor Systems Precision data acquisition is required to generate a comprehensive set of measurements of the blade surface pressures, pitch link loads, hub loads, rotor wakes and performance of high-speed single-rotor and compound-rotor systems to support the development of next-generation rotorcraft.

How Solid-State Technology Impacts A&D Equipment Testing The Role of Prototype/Test Systems in Next-Generation C5ISR Development Using Advanced Computational Engineering Software to Meet Aerospace & Defense Industry Challenges How Advanced Vacuum Bag Kits Streamline Composite Parts Manufacturing Replacing Multiple RF Receivers with Just One Using Channelization Air Force Technology Tracks "Sporadic E" Progress on Zirconia-Polyurea Matrix Hybrid Composites Incorporating zirconia particles into polyurea elastomers to form hybrid composites and designing them into state-of-the-art body armor has the potential to achieve lightweight ballistic efficiency. Bioenvironmental Engineering Guide for Composite Materials Developing a comprehensive baseline for identifying, evaluating, and controlling occupational and environmental hazards associated with composite fibers and materials for base-level Bioenvironmental Engineering (BE) personnel.