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A Mechanical Computer-Aided Engineering (MCAE) workstation supplied as a Beta test unit by the Aries Corporation was evaluated in the concept design process. This unit had six software modules including materials database, solid modeler, mass and section properties, and finite element analysis program, and finite element post-processors. Specific applications and the user experience with the configured workstation are presented.

Smaller, hotter engine compartments, increased electrical loads, and stringent customer requirements place ever increasing demands on automotive battery performance. Current battery designs and shortcomings are discussed as well as the necessity for improved designs. Topics also include temperature effects, state of charge, charge efficiency, customer usage and requirements, battery age, and dealership handling practices. Present SAE test procedures are reviewed and new rating requirements are suggested to meet today's vehicle applications. Special dealership programs also reveal various methods to improve performance. In addition, power and thermal management for tomorrow's vehicles is discussed. The supporting documents are compiled from various studies conducted between 1984 and 1988 encompassing over 5,000,000 Chrysler vehicles. The data reflects direct comparisons from the field on a warm versus cold climate basis.

THE NEW CHRYSLER ULTRADRIVE four-speed transaxle is the first production transmission to employ fully-adaptive electronic controls. Adaptive controls are those which perform their functions based on real-time feedback sensor information, just as is done by electronic anti-skid brake controls. Although the transmission is conventional in that it uses hydraulically-applied clutches to shift a planetary geartrain, its use of electronic logic to replace the function of many mechanical and hydraulic components is unique. This paper describes the adaptive controls, how they function in upshifts and downshifts, the simplicity they permit in the clutch and geartrain arrangement, their effect on the design of certain components, and the advantages they offer in diagnostics. It also describes the hydraulics and how certain unique challenges are met in the Ultradrive transmission.