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Harley-Davidson's e-bike shocker (video) Is the motorcycle market ready for a Harley-Davidson EV? Project LiveWire was designed to provide answers, said Chief Engineer Jeff Richlen. Airbus has its eye on the future of cleaner flight CleanSky 2 targets are to increase aircraft fuel efficiency enough to reduce CO2 emissions by 20-30% and reduce aircraft NOx and noise emissions by 20-30% compared to newly designed aircraft entering into service in 2014-or essentially halve 2005 CO2 emissions levels by 2050. Soul EV extends the range frontier (video) Specially formulated NCM battery cells are key in giving the vehicle class-leading EV range while enabling engineers to fit a high-energy-density battery pack underfloor with little sacrifice of passenger cabin space.

Into the DEAP The Distributed Electrical Aerospace Propulsion project looks toward a future optimized integrated propulsion system that will allow cleaner, quieter, and more efficient performance incorporated into a radically innovative airframe that will feature enclosed electrically powered fans.

A new Formula for racing The new Formula E series' electric racecars are intended to pioneer new technology for broader use in production, encouraging fans to think differently about the technologies they use. Production of satellite with first all-electric propulsion system advances Electric propulsion has been limited so far to small movements of the satellites once it is in its geostationary orbit. The Boeing 702SP innovation is its use of electric propulsion to raise the satellite from its launch-vehicle drop-off point to geostationary orbit. Using CAE to assess whining noise of electric powertrains To develop an electric powertrain with a minimum noise level and minimized whining it is necessary to have accurate CAE simulation and precise criteria to assess whining noise.

Lithium-ion refinement Even as high-profile fires create concern, battery and car makers accelerate their move toward lithium-ion technology with advances in cost, performance, and safety. NASA's quest for maximum efficiency As part of its hybrid body wing aircraft with turboelectric distributed propulsion system, NASA has proposed to use a superconducting and cryogenic electrical system to connect the electrical output of the generators to the motors.

Alternative fuels heat up This is a rich time for combustion researchers. The need for better fuel efficiency and improved emissions has never been greater. New software model to help engine makers meet diesel soot standards Simulation enables engineers to predict particulate formation early in the design process.

Rotary SI/CI combustion engines: A thing of the future? The internal combustion engine enjoys widespread use as an inexpensive and reliable power conversion system. While piston engines date back 150 years, various alternative engine architectures and cycles have been considered. Aftertreatment comes with challenging diagnosis Diagnosing engine and aftertreatment systems is forcing design teams to look at new ways to diagnose problems over long vehicle lifetimes. Taking on NVH reduction techniques A look at the enhanced durability benefits obtained by changing the polymer composition, manufacturing methods, and design optimization of a powertrain mount for an off-highway vehicle.

UMich-Ann Arbor team takes home Baja season's Iron Team Award Cornell University also had a strong 2014 season, but not strong enough to fend off Michigan Baja Racing. Georgia Tech and Warsaw University were double-winners at SAE Aero Design competitions University of Akron and University of Cincinnati were the other winners at the twin 3-class competitions, the former setting a record in the process. West Coast teams win 2 of 3 Formula SAE events Oregon State captures its fifth crown while Jose State enjoys its first overall victory and UPenn tops the electric field. Taking action early to conquer the STEM crisis Interest in STEM subjects falls precipitously as students progress through elementary and middle school.

Have diesel will race (and learn) Mazda's factory SkyActiv diesel race program switched to the Prototype class in 2014, teaching the SpeedSource team valuable engineering lessons for 2015. Starting and developing an engineering career: barriers and opportunities Very strong role models who have a marked enthusiasm for their subject are needed at every point along an employee's education and work career. The knock on gasoline engines Two major strategies to increase the efficiency of SI engines are to raise the compression ratio and to downsize the engine using a turbocharger, but both have issues with knock. Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan Automotive Laboratory tackle the problem. Minecraft: getting kids into coding Stephen Foster, CEO and Co-founder of THOUGHTSTEM, has a new outlook on STEM education and the utilities that can be used to get kids involved in software coding.

Taking on the Valeo Innovation Challenge Two Canadian teams-the University of Ottawa and the University of Waterloo-finished in the top 3 among about 1,000 other universities from around the world in this challenge devoted to spurring innovative ideas for transportation. Colorado State University designs fuel-cell plug-in hybrid system Competing in the EcoCAR2 competition using a Chevrolet Malibu, the Colorado State team designed a system that features a 15-kW polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell system, an 18.9-kW•h/177-kW lithium-ion battery, and a 145-kW motor. Cal State Fullerton combines art and engineering Team's submission on its Formula SAE car won first place in the second annual Generation Auto video contest organized in part by SAE International. Collaborative research project leads to potentially swarming VTOL UAVs The AVIGLE VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) unmanned aerial vehicle was developed via collaboration by a variety of entities for a variety of applications.

Evaluation of heavy-vehicle aerodynamic drag In an attempt to achieve a balance between Reynolds number, model scale, and tunnel blockage issues, a 1:3 scale heavy-vehicle testing program has been initiated at the Monash University 1.4-MW wind tunnel. Validating performance suspension parts advances A forum at the 2013 SEMA Show discussed three approaches to ensure performance parts compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 126. Panelists also explained how simulation data, and kinematics and compliance measurements, can improve performance parts design. Active safety starts in the pilot's seat Dassault Aviation's next-generation integrated digital avionics systems contribute to enhanced air safety in civil applications. Chevrolet ups the performance ante with MY2015 Corvette Z06 Stiffer-bodied sports car gains wind-aided performance with supercharging and downforce for faster lap times.

Methodology developed for safer hood design The methodology enables material selection and design optimization of energy absorbers for pedestrian protection based on a simple laboratory test and FE model, eliminating the need for extensive vehicle testing. Developing a winning formula It's been 20 years since the University of Michigan won a Formula SAE championship. Sick of getting smoked in recent years by top teams from Germany and the U.S., MRacing is going "big aero" for a better crack at the 2014 crown.

When real life and FEA meet Model validation becomes the focus for building the chassis of a BAJA SAE vehicle. One student offers his advice for making smart choices while using FEA. Wait...where is Manitoba? Andrew Smith, Executive Vice Chair for the University of Manitoba's SAE International Chapter faces limited resources and the growth of what was once a small team. 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. Operators see bright screens in their future HMIs borrow from tablets, phones to help operators perform a broad range of tasks.

Inductive approach An engineering professor from Ryerson uses MapleSim to introduce more exploratory methods of teaching. Monash University scores fourth Formula SAE-A win The Monash University Formula SAE-A team demonstrated its dominance by winning its fourth consecutive Australasian event in Melbourne last December. Audi Urban Intelligent Assist The three-year joint effort between Audi AG, the Volkswagen Group Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL) in Belmont, CA, the University of Southern California, the University of California at Berkeley, and the University of California at San Diego aimed at improving drivers' information and decision-making capabilities. 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.

The Nano in retrospect A senior graduate student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology looks at the development of the world's cheapest car and its effect on Indian car users. A different riff on your basic two-seat electric car Markus Lienkamp, Chair of Automotive Engineering at the Technical University of Munich, is leading the Visio.M project, a German government-supported R&D effort to produce a low-cost, high-utility electric car that might attract the interest of the middle European mass market. Materials lead the way to vehicle mass reduction Reducing a vehicle's mass opens the door for a downsized engine and transmission, a lighter cradle and body structure, smaller wheels and brakes, as well as a weight-slimmed suspension. The start point for this ripple effect is materials.

Shed a few joules with better aerodynamics A team of engineering students from Laval University has managed to reduce the energy demand due to wind resistance of its Supermileage vehicle by 10% after carefully designing a new vehicle body with a 25% larger frontal area. Telemetry helps Formula SAE team close the loop on design Once a year, a team of students at Virginia Tech get to do something that ought to put a grin on any aspiring engineer's face: build a racecar. Unconventional steel wheel designs The drawings done by collegiate students for a steel wheel design competition had industry professionals thinking about future production possibilities.

ETS Baja parts failure analysis: Geared for success When the ETS Baja team had to withdraw from the Baja Auburn 2012 event due to abnormal gear failure, an extensive analysis was required to ensure that problems of this nature would not surface again. After some serious investigation, the conclusion of almost 30 hours of research was unexpected and proved surprisingly simple. Body and soul rule at 2012 Formula SAE Months before the Formula SAE Michigan competition in May, teams were hashing out product development decisions. The end-game was presenting a racecar that had the right stuff for earning high points in the challenge's vehicle design evaluation as well as the acceleration, skid pad, endurance, and autocross dynamic performance events.

Electrochemical reactions Students from the Department of Automotive Engineering at the NED University of Engineering and Technology build the first onboard fuel-cell vehicle of Pakistan. The Baja balance How to combine heavy homework load with your CDS team responsibilities. Embraer progresses on clean-sheet military program It has been over two years since Embraer announced that it would be developing the KC-390 military airlift and tanker jet under a contract with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), which established the requirements for the aircraft as it did with other Embraer military programs. Calling all recruiters Lack of response to distributed resumes leaves many wondering, is anyone out there?

I was promised flying cars Though flying cars seem unlikely to become reality anytime soon, driverless vehicle technology is improving more quickly than you might expect. Quantum leaps toward world solar car title Armed with a dramatically lighter and aerodynamically cleaner racecar, the University of Michigan team likes its chances down under in the 2011 World Solar Challenge. Designing an aerodynamic undertray for a Formula style racecar Using CFD analysis, a master's student discovers an effective design for the undertray of a Formula SAE racecar. Hypersonic possibilities When it comes to reviving high-speed air travel, it all comes down to propulsion, propulsion, propulsion.

A new model for University research The robotics team at Carnegie Mellon University innovates with a new approach for the funding and commercialization of University research. Automotive and Aerospace engineering education: today and tomorrow Student opportunites in specialized programs continue to grow. Lamborghini is bullish about new flagship Of all the models making their world debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini's Aventador LP 700-4 could claim top honors for new technology. B-Max launches downsized EcoBoost engines The small B-Max MAV uses familiar Ford "kinetic" design cues. Diesel/electric-drive military vehicle at Chicago auto show A military vehicle is designed to perform specific missions, not serve as an environmental showcase.

Competitions demonstrate effectiveness of project-based learning Mississippi State University students designed and fabricated award-winning hybrid-electric vehicles with support from industrial mentors. The journey of Lakehead University's rookies (of the year) Ryan Clark, communications manager, tells the two-year story behind a Formula SAE team with meager resources but big dreams. Chevrolet Volt When General Motors management approved its 2011 E-REV for production, the batteries-and other technologies-did not exist. Finding off-highway's top model Modeling, simulation advances help engineers get complex designs to market quickly. Behavioral interviews-3 steps to great answers Sometimes referred to as a competency-based interview, how a candidate responds to questions about previous behaviors can make or break the chances of landing a job.