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Technology Report
Connectivity

SAE and IEEE Join Forces to Explore Potential IoT Standards

SAE International and IEEE are jointly exploring a standards framework related to the rapidly emerging Internet of Things (IoT)—the billions of interconnected “smart” devices...

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News
Automotive

Aluminum Frame Rails, New Alloy Castings from Alcoa Help Cut 2500 Lb from Tractor-Trailers

A custom tractor-trailer technology demonstrator built by Alcoa is outfitted with various current and “soon-to-be-available” aluminum...

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Technology Report
Research Lab

Johnson Controls Invests in LTU Research Lab

The newly named Johnson Controls Vehicle Engineering Systems Laboratory recognizes the supplier’s investment in a Lawrence Technological University (LTU) lab that will serve as a vital link...

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Technology Report
Power

Audi Evolves the Miller Cycle in Its New 2.0-L Spark-Ignition Engine

Audi’s next generation A4 due later this year will be the first model to receive a new 2.0-L engine that takes gasoline spark-ignition technology a step further...

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News
Design

Unstoppable Formula-SAE Team Leader Earns Rumbaugh Award

An uncertain product development budget didn’t derail the Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU)’s Formula SAE team from scoring the school’s highest overall finish in...

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Briefs
Defense

Infrared Stereo Calibration for Unmanned Ground Vehicle Navigation

Many challenges still persist in the area of autonomous (and even semi-autonomous) vehicle navigation for unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). One challenge is in detecting and...

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Briefs
Unmanned Systems

Simultaneous Vibration Suppression and Energy Harvesting for a Multifunctional UAV Spar

The goal of this work was to investigate using harvested energy to directly control the vibration response of flexible aerospace systems. Small,...

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Briefs
Defense

Development and Evaluation of the Stingray Amphibious Maritime Unmanned Ground Vehicle

Every year, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps conduct thousands of Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIOs) to enforce embargoes, intercept contraband,...

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Briefs
Aerospace

Pushbroom Stereo for High-Speed UAV Navigation in Cluttered Environments

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) rely on an external motion-capture apparatus that gives the vehicles almost perfect state information at high rates. Major challenges in...

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Briefs
Unmanned Systems

Modeling and Simulation of an Unmanned Ground Vehicle Power System

Robotic vehicles such as unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) have multiple sources of power, including batteries, fuel cells, combustion engines, ultracapacitors, and solar cells...

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News
Automotive

Increasing the Pace of Fuel-Cell Expansion

James Batchelor is a fuel cell advocate. As Managing Director of Intelligent Energy’s Motive Div., he is undaunted by the cost and hydrogen infrastructure challenges that have so far bedeviled...

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News
RF & Microwave Electronics

GM Prognostics Use 4G for Data Acquisition, Cloud Analysis

“How much longer will it last?” is a common question that motorists in for repairs ask service technicians. And although a “best guess” may be fine for deciding when to...

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News
Energy

Ohio State's ‘Bullet’ EV Has a Short Range, but Could Surpass 400 Mph

There were several electric vehicles (EVs) on display at the New York International Auto Show, but one of them is 38 ft (11.6 m) long, and weighs 8000 lb (3630...

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News
Electronics & Computers

Cars Look Inside Themselves

Rear- and forward-facing cameras have made big inroads, but cameras that monitor interiors haven’t seen much acceptance. That may change, driven partially by the shift to semi-autonomous driving.

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News
Manufacturing & Prototyping

Dana Reveals 'Dual-Range Disconnect' 6x4-6x2 Tandem Concept

Many technologies that improve the fuel efficiency of heavy trucks were announced at the recent Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville, KY, one such innovation being a...

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Briefs
Mechanical & Fluid Systems

Damping Measurement for Wafer-Level Packaged MEMS Acceleration Sensors

Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) three-axis acceleration threshold sensors have been developed to measure acceleration threshold levels using voltage switching when...

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Briefs
Test & Measurement

Sensing Suspicious Powders Using Noncontact Optical Methods

Suspicious powder incidents continue to be a disruptive and costly problem. In-situ assessment of suspicious powders within inorganic matrices, particularly with powders of...

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Briefs
Test & Measurement

Isotope Beta-Battery Approaches for Long-Lived Sensors

The energy density of isotopes exceeds that of chemical energy storage by six orders of magnitude. Isotopes are used in many commercial applications, and are produced and available at modest prices. The power requirements of many sensors and communications equipment can greatly reduce the...

Briefs
Sensors/Data Acquisition

Selective, Sensitive, and Robust Electrochemical Detection of Anthrax

There exists an unmet need for rapid, sensitive, and field-stable assays for pathogen detection. Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax poisoning. This Gram-positive bacterium secretes a tripartite toxin including a cell-binding protective antigen (PA), and the...

Technology Report
Manufacturing & Prototyping

NanoSteel Powder Alloys Advance 3-D Printing of High-Hardness Parts

NanoSteel has expanded its additive manufacturing (AM) material capabilities to support metal 3-D printing of complex high-hardness parts and the ability to customize...

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Technology Report
Propulsion

Bentley Develops W12 Cylinder Deactivation

Luxury car manufacturers around the world are devising multiple solutions for improving fuel economy and emissions while maintaining the high-performance multi-cylinder engines their customers...

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News
Automotive

Audi’s Tunnel of Light Leads to the Future

Audi is seeing light at the end of its new research tunnel; and it is a laser. But not just any laser: this is a matrix laser that the Volkswagen brand is confident illuminates the way forward...

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Technology Report
RF & Microwave Electronics

Automakers See Possibilities, Limits for Gesture Controls

Volkswagen made its first ever appearance at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, in January 2015. In a display of Vegas-style razzle-dazzle, the German automaker unveiled...

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News
Electronics & Computers

SanDisk Targets Infotainment with Automotive-Grade Flash

Conventional vehicle radios are morphing into increasingly powerful infotainment systems, prompting a need for storage to hold apps, navigation, and other data. Flash storage...

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News
Energy

GM Fuel Cell Powers U.S. Navy Sub as Collaboration with Honda Aims for Cars by 2020

General Motors’ hydrogen fuel cell development program has been operating in “stealth” mode in recent years, as the collaboration with Honda quietly...

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News
Electronics & Computers

Ford Accelerates Research on 48-V Mild Hybrid Systems

The “sweet spot” between the capability and efficiency of 200-V plus systems and the low cost of 12-V stop-start in future hybrid systems will likely use a belt-driven electric...

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Briefs
Physical Sciences

Detecting Trace Levels of Explosives Using Vibrational Sum Frequency Spectroscopy

The threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to human life is grave, and countering this threat is a high priority for force protection during military...

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Briefs
Information Technology

Reduced Order Modeling for Rapid Simulation of Blast Events of a Military Ground Vehicle and its Occupants

Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) pose a significant threat to military ground vehicles and soldiers in the field. Full-system...

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Briefs
Aerospace

Software Tool Enables High-Fidelity Simulation of Explosive Device Effects

High-fidelity simulation tools are used as an acceptable surrogate for real-world tests. These tools accelerate development and reduce cost, while informing weapons...

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