Production Systems

Latest Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automobile Engineering

Seminar 13: Manufacturing for Automotive Parts

Jenna M. Eason

 

Summarize this lecture.

Today’s lecture was presented by Furuhashi-san and Kodama-san of DENSO’s Production Engineering.  DENSO is a global supplier of automotive technology, systems, and components.  They operate in 32 countries and regions with approximately 119,000 associates.  Global consolidation sales totaled US$40.2 billion for fiscal year ended March 31.2008.  DENSO aims to “make things that last”- monozukuri (art of making things), pursue innovation and quality (focusing on the environment, safety, comfort, and convenience), and “contribute to a better world”. [1]

During the lecture, the History of the Production System was outlined.  This began as “Point” in 1950, and then became “Line”, followed by “Area”, then “Cube”.  The latest system employed, as of 2000 is known as “Network”.  The goal is to have an automated production system with high flexibility for volume fluxuation.  [2]

The final portion of the lecture introduced the newest form of production system.  This is known as the “Protean Production System” (PPS).  Under the keen competition between industry worldwide, the products’ improvement cycle and the model-change cycle become shorter and shorter.  In such circumstances, the facility life cycle also becomes shorter in automated production lines.  In consequence, the facility life cycle cost increases.  To cope with that, DENSO has developed this process, which can have longer life, and lower facility life cycle cost than existing production systems.  The PPS is attributed by several unique features such as “Lot Circulation Flow System”, “Function Divided Modules” and “Plug and Play techniques”, and has been applied to the DENSO plant since 1998. [3]

Sources

(1) “About DENSON”, Copyright 2008 DENSO CORPORATIONS, www.globaldenso.com, July 8, 2008.

(2) Furuhashi, H., Kodama, K., (DENSO Corp.) ,“Manufacturing for Automotive Parts”, presentation for Latest Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automobile Engineering course at Nagoya University, July 4, 2008.

(3) Katsuhiko, S., et.al. (DENSO Corp.), “The Protean Production System as a Method for Improving Production System Responsiveness” (Abstract Only), 2004

Car and Recycling

Latest Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automobile Engineering

Seminar 12: Cars and Recycling

Jenna M. Eason

Current state of recycling of scrap aluminum and the recycling technologies.

In 2005 North America’s passenger cars contained an average of 170kg of aluminum [2].  With this number growing, it is necessary to find new developments in recycling technologies in order to decrease wastes.

US Patent: 4282044

Method of Recycling Aluminum Scarp into Sheet Metal for Aluminum Containers. [1]

This patent describes a method where scrap (including consumer, plant, and can) is melted in a heated furnace with minimum adjustment to create an alloy composition of silicon, iron, manganese, magnesium, copper and titanium.  The composition is then cast and fabricated into sheets with strength and formability properties, which make it suitable for container manufacture.  The sheet fabrication includes direct chill casting, scalping, preheating, hot breakdown rolling, continuous hot rolling, annealling, cold rolling, and shearing.  The sheet manufacture may be drawn-and-ironed, easy-opening, continuous strip casting, and/or solution heat treatment.

Recycling Light Metals from End-of-Life Vehicles [2]

Using aluminum drastically reduces weight, which translates into improved fuel economy and reduced greenhouse gas and polluting emissions, while offering the same or better stiffness and crashworthiness.  However, using a recycled aluminum can reduce energy required to produce.  Remelting of recycled metal saves almost 95% of the energy needed to produce prime aluminum from ore, and, thus triggers associated reductions in pollution and greenhouse emissions from mining, ore refining, and melting.  Already in 2001, more than half the aluminum content in cars and light trucks is from recycled material. 

The metal recycling system in North America (2001) includes approximately 6000 scrap collection and dismantling yards, 200 scrapshredders, ten sink-float plants and – one sole metal sorter separating wrought from cast aluminum.  An ELV traveling through this system is first dismantled for parts for reuse and rebuild.  Parts that are not in demand retain on the hulk, which is flattened and bailed with other hulks for reduction of transportation costs to the scrap shredder.  The entire hulk then has its 45 seconds in the shredder, where it is reduced to 0.10 diameter.  The pieces then undergo a variety of separation processes for material recovery at the shredder facility and are magnetically separated, then separated by air suction.  What is left is NMSF.  That concentrate is sold for farther separation at sink-float plants (separated by specific gravity).  Aluminum particles are present in both of the larger separations.  Metal particles are separated again from non-metallics by ECS, yielding a mixed-alloy aluminum product and an aluminum-magnesium mix.

The aluminum industry must work with alloys designated for high recycled content to further improve metal-treatment methods, forming and fabrication processes to match the formability and product properties of the current prime-sourced products, and, if possible, to further relax the limits on the content of impurity elements in these alloys.  Current developments include tinting the sheet/extrusion aluminum using an Alcoa-patented etching process and color-sorting the aluminum into tighter family groupings, and chemically analyzing each shred particle and piece-by-piece batch automotive aluminum sheet/extrusion alloys from the analyzed shred- a technology that also has promising future applications in the separation of MgAlZn alloys from MgAlMn alloys in batching magnesium-alloy compositions.

One goal is to be able to take scrap metal from one market segment (building demolition, shredded machinery, etc.) and use it in another for long-term sustainability and best economics of the overall light-metal recycling system.  The challenge for the recycling industry will be to industrially implement the new recycling technologies fast enough to match the growing flow of light-metal scrap from ELV. 

Sources:

1) United States Patent: 4282044: Method of Recycling Aluminum Scarp into Sheet Metal for Aluminum Containers.

2) Gesing, A., and Wolanski, R., “Recycling Light Materials from End-of-Life Vehicles”, pp. 21-23, November 2001

Environment Friendly Fuels and Catalysts

Latest Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automobile Engineering

Seminar 11: Fuels and Automobile Catalysts for Environmental Friendly Cars

Jenna M. Eason

1) Both fuel economy and clean exhaust are serious subjects of automobiles in near future.  How do you solve this problem? 

Below I have suggested alternative sources including processing wastes to create fuels, and using wind or solar power.  A third more creative solution may be reverting to human-powered vehicles.  I would like to see the Flintstone’s car come to life.  There must be a simple mechanical way to convert simple motions into high power.  Instead of foot power, maybe finger power is all that is necessary: the vibrations of a steady tap will be converted into mechanical energy in order to initiate rotary motion of the wheels. 

This thinking may be a little far out, especially for an engineer or fuel chemist, but I believe it is the role of a designer to suggest the “impossible” in order to encourage new ideas.

2) Do you think what is the most appropriate energy source in

(1) near future?

One thing I have certainly learned from this lecture series is that alternative energy sources and options are plentiful, but not perfected.  Throughout the series we have been introduced to hybrid technology, fuel cells, catalytic and even atomic reactions.  The key is to make the technology simple, efficient, and affordable.  I don’t think there is a correct answer in the near future, but the effort is certainly developing and growing.  I was particularly interested in today’s introduction into biomass fuel sources.  Perhaps this technology will lead to options in fuel sources from waste, solving two problems at once towards sustainability.

(2) 100 years later

The future has so much in store, and so many ideas exist, but technology must play catch-up.  The amazing part is that as technology improves, so do our ideas…maybe all cars will fly.  One solution that interest me the most is using natural energy sources such as solar and wind energy.  A common issue in maintaining an automobile is to limit exposure to the harsh and damaging conditions of nature and weather: wind, rain, snow, UV light, etc…  I propose harnessing these elements and storing their energy to power the automobile.  I am confident that in 100 years, these technologies can be improved to the point that this can easily be accomplished with limited effort.

Energy Saving Technologies

Latest Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automobile Engineering

Seminar 10: Energy-saving Technologies for Automobiles

Jenna M. Eason

 

1) Describe your impression and opinion for “Energy-saving Automobiles” in this class.

Energy-saving automobiles are a relatively new concept in the 100 years of automotive history.  The world has been aware of the effects of automotive production and emissions on the environment, but only recently have the full devastation of these effects been realized, and only recently have automotive manufactures acknowledge the dire need to change the trend.  It is up to the manufacturers to develop solutions, but the customers must support their efforts and be socially responsible by accepting necessary innovations. 

Throughout this course we have been introduced to many new energy-saving and sustainable fuel and production solutions.  They all have advantages as well as disadvantages.  In many cases, the idealistic thoughts have been proposed although the technology has yet to be developed.  Often, one solution creates an additional difficulty.  For example, adding safety features to vehicles improve customer satisfaction but also create excess vehicle weight.  Heavier vehicles require more energy to power, using more fuel and creating more emissions. 

 

2) Describe your opinion or concrete action against “Environment Issues and Energy Issues” for sustainable society in the future.

 Toyota Motor Corporation has the right idea: “Zeronize and Maximize”.  This concept addresses their current approach to automotive development and focuses on “Today for Tomorrow- Think to the Future and Take Action Right Now”.  Zeronize refers to minimizing and eliminating the negative aspects vehicles have such as environmental impact, traffic congestion and traffic accidents.  Maximize symbolizes Toyota’s efforts to focus on the positive: fun, delight, excitement, and comfort.  Vehicles such as the Prius are being developed with these ideals in mind. 

For Americans and American automotive manufacturers, the efforts towards answering vital environmental and energy sustaining issues are not as concrete.  US auto manufacturers are facing difficult times and are trying to survive in the American market, which is the primary objective over sustainability.  Because of this, they also do not have the funding to develop as extensive research in these areas as Japanese automakers, creating a vicious cycle.  The companies, however, are not to blame.  American customers have not yet fully realized the negative effects their vehicles are having on the environment and how crucial it is to find solutions.  As an affluent society where almost everyone of driving age has a personal vehicle (or more than one), Americans can still buy whatever vehicles they desire, which are often overweight, over-seized fuel hogs.  In order to create a sustainable society in the future of America, sustainable vehicles must become a high-class and desirable trend.  This trend is slowly stepping forward and Americans are catching on, but the effort must grow immensely if Americans do not want to lose their auto companies to foreign competition.

Sources:

www.Toyota.com, “Toyota’s Its Vision”

Current Status of CAE Activity in the Vehicle Development

Latest Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automobile Engineering

Seminar 9: Current Status of CAE Activity in the Vehicle Development

Jenna M. Eason

1) State the features of the finite element method:

            Finite Element Method (FEM) is a general, yet the most powerful method used for finding approximate solutions of partial differential equations as well as integral equations.  Around 1982, FEM application became popular in the automotive industry and is an excellent way to conduct impact/crash analysis.  This weak form make it easy to create a mesh from arbitrary and complex shaped geometries and can be understood within about 3 months.  A major advantage of FEM is the ability for fast computation at a low storage rate.  Disadvantages are that FEM is intractable in handling an open space and that mesh generations for very complicated structures still remain costly.

And the boundary element method:

            Boundary Element Method (BEM) is the most difficult method to approximate equations and takes about 3 years to understand.  Once BEM is understood, however, mesh generation is easy.  BEM involves a small number of DoFs (Degrees of Freedom) and treats open space rigorously.  The solutions for gradient quantities are accurate.  BEM is suitable for shape optimization problems and complicated mathematical treatments.  This method of course has its pros and cons.  The storage rate is high, but so is the computation cost.

2) Pick up your most interesting topic and state your idea about it.

            I personally found the topics in CAE very interesting as it related to my CAD (Computer-Aided Design) background.  CAD does not work as directly with mathematical equation in order to develop a product.  I have experience in Autodesk Maya, which is a software that integrates 3D modeling, animation, effects and rendering solution based on open architecture.  The software reviewed in the lecture was similar and I enjoyed seeing how these software function mathematically.

            I was also interested in Okamoto-san’s, of Toyota Motor Corporation, introduction into the current status of CAE.  He reviewed the new (current) versus the old flow of vehicle development.  This flow used to be very linear and one process had to be completed before moving to the next, taking 4-6 years.  The flow now only takes 1 year to complete and is as follows:

(NOT INCLUDED FOR BLOG)

Sources

(1) Matsumoto, Toshiro, Nagoya University Dept. of Mechanical Science and Engineering, “Current Status of CAE Activity in the Vehicle Development”, Latest Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automobile Engineering course at Nagoya University, June 18, 2008.

(2) “FEM in Automotive Body Structures”,

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~kikuchi/GMcontents/fem1.pdf, June 25, 2008

Movement and Control of Car Vehicle Dynamic

Latest Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automobile Engineering

Seminar 8: Movement and Control of Car Vehicle Dynamic and Control

Jenna M. Eason

 

1) Derive an equation, which relates q with T from the model of “Sensation”.

(I have not included this answer because composing the html was too difficult for an equation)

2) Describe other examples of human centered design with a method devised by you. (What kind of characteristics of human should be examined for your example?)

Human centered design focuses on maximizing the driver’s impression.  As a textile major, it is vital to consider the driver during the design process.  The driver interacts daily with the vehicle’s interior more than any other part of the car.  The interior becomes the “living” space and must directly reflect the wants and needs of the driver and passengers.  Automotive fabrics that are human centered must be comfortable, soft, stain resistant, static-free, and breathable in addition to performing well and withstanding abrasion, UV light and degradation.  They must also convey an image that reflects the driver’s desires.  If the driver chooses a practical minivan, the fabric must be durable and hide stains tracked in from the kids’ soccer team.  If the vehicle is as customized as the Volkwagen Beetle, the driver most likely wants an interior that can be customized to meet their personal taste. 

Many other interior decisions should be made with the driver in mind.  These include lighting options, and placement of controls.  Human centered design will ensure that the vehicle is as ergonomic as possible and should adjust to a variety of drivers.  Ergonomics and ease of use are keys to enjoying the driving experience, which is the ultimate goal of human centered design.

A Change in Thinking

This post serves more as a notification: 

After 3 weeks of thinking like an engineer, and an amazing weekend surrounded by the arts and culture of Kyoto, I have decided that it was time to switch my thinking to that of a designer.  I think the answers will be unexpected for the Japanese Engineering professors, but I hope to entertain new ideas amidst a world of rational.

Enjoy!

Communication Technology in ITS

Latest Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automobile Engineering

Seminar 7: Communication Technology in ITS

Jenna M. Eason, North Carolina State University

 

1) Short Range Communication will be widely used in ITS

            a) What are the merits and demerits of short range communication?

DSRC, Dedicated Short Range Communication, is effective in ITS such as electronic toll collection.  It provides less delay and is faster than long range technology because two units send signals, which means the distance and time each signal must travel is cut in half.  DSRC also provides for more privacy and security. Since the signal is limited, it is much less likely that another receiver will be able to get your information.  This technology also allows for frequent use.  DSRC has a limited bandwidth, which could be good or bad.  The limited bandwidth provides additional security so that other receivers are not contacted, but it may be more difficult to locate the correct receiver.  The signal must be standardized because of this.

            b) Why does ITS use short range communication?

The above merits justify ITS’s use of short range communication.  These systems are used in (or proposed to be used in) Electronic Toll Collection (ETC), information delivery, to receive traffic information, for electronic payment at the gas station, and for parking access management.  Currently, over 20 million units are used in Japan.

2) Travel time prediction is one of the key applications for ITS

            a) Describe characteristics of travel time, which enable travel time prediction

Travel time varies according to the change of traffic conditions after departure.  Travel time can be predicted if certain factors are taken into account throughout the journey.  Historical data fused with current conditions can help with an accurate prediction.  Historical data includes VICS, weather information, and probe information.  It is also important to keep in mind that historical data constantly changes with current conditions and there must be an accurate way to process this information.  Through a complex matrix complication, prediction accuracy is improved.  Also, predicted information can be received through real time data from the internet, mobile phone or car navigation system.  Currently, reviewing real-time data, historical data, the fusion of data, and Mitsubishi’s new prediction formulation, results in 4 very different solutions.

            b) Write your ideas about how to model the above characteristics

This is a completely unfamiliar area of research to me and I am excited about the advanced accuracy of combining historical data with real-time information.  I think it would also be interesting to fuse demographic information about the driver and their trends into the matrix.  This information could predict the driving style and speed of a typical 25-year-old female and compare this with a typical 57-year-old male.  The system should also take into account the driver’s personal driving style.  Are they a speeder, just-the-limit, or grandma style?

Sources

(1) Kumazawa, Hiroyuki, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Advanced Technology R&D Center, “Communication Technologies in ITS”, Latest Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automobile Engineering course at Nagoya University, June 23, 2008.

Crash Safety

Latest Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automobile Engineering

Seminar 6: Crash Safety

Jenna M. Eason

  

The full frontal ridge barrier test of a car (mass m) with an initial velocity of V₀ was modeled by a simple spring-mass model.  The stiffness of the car during loading is assumed to be k.  Assuming that there was no rebound, calculate the car acceleration, velocity, and displacement as a function of time t; and draw a schematic graph of the acceleration, velocity, and displacement as a function of time.

 

 (I could not post the context of this report because of errors within the HTML against the mathematical equations)

Automotive Embedded Computer Systems

Latest Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automobile Engineering

Seminar 4: Automotive Embedded Computing Systems

Jenna M. Eason

Investigate on one of the following systems/services and write a short paper on its purpose, function, and system structure.

I have chosen “immobiliser”.

An immobilizer is an electronic device fitted to an automobile, which prevents the engine from running unless the correct key, code, or token is present [1].  The primary purpose of this device to prevent theft and “hotwiring” of a vehicle.   This is achieved due to a tiny transponder most often embedded into the vehicles ignition key, which controls the immobilizer system.  The transponder contains a unique and unalterable identification code that corresponds to that particular vehicle.  Every time the key is inserted into the ignition, a radio frequency reader located in the steering column is triggered. As the ignition is turned, the reader is activated and sends out a wireless signal (unique binary code) to the transponder.  The signal powers up the transponder’s capacitor, allowing it to transmit its unique code back to the reader.  The reader is comprised of a very small antenna integrated with the ignition switch and the steering lock cylinder, and a transceiver, which is connected to a control module in the engine’s central computer.  The computer controls vital automotive functions, such as the ignition and fuel supply circuits [2].  The control module then compares this signal to the code stored in its memory.  If the two codes match, and the appropriate additional security challenges are passed, the control module enables the engine’s computer or the fuel pump relays.  If the codes do not match, an alarm indicator will show and the engine will not start [2]. To disarm the system, a special transponder key or code is required.  These systems arm automatically once a vehicle shuts down (called passive arming) [3].

One 1999 study reports that auto theft rates in Western Europe dropped by over 1/3 from a peak of 144,000 in 1993 to 95,349 in 1997 [2].  It is believed that this drastic decrease is the direct result of the introduction of Automotive Immobilizer Anti-Theft Systems in 1993.  Upon its introduction to the European market, the system became mandatory equipment on all new vehicles sold beginning in 1995 [2].

Following this success, factory and aftermarket immobilizer systems are now featured on many models sold throughout countries outside of Europe.  The companies employing this technology include Chrysler, Ford, Hyundai, and Toyota.  Aftermarket sales have also proved highly successful [2].   

Sources:

1. www.Wikipedia.com

2. http://www.theautochannel.com/news/press/date/19990601/press024256.html

3. http://www.absoluteautoguard.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=4  

Safety Engineering

Latest Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automobile Engineering

Seminar 5: Safety Engineering for Prevention of Accidents

Jenna M. Eason

 

Summarize information from today’s Lecture.

Safety engineering focuses on three categories of errors, which lead to accidents: Control Technology, Sensing Technology, and Human Science.  Human error is the cause of 80% of accidents and is the result of the perception, decision, and motion process.  The remaining 20% are caused by system failures.  The goal is to analyze human factors and create an assist system to help the driver and to create an infallible and redundant control system.

First, human behavior must be analyzed.  To do this, complex motions are decomposed into primitive motions and mode transitions between them in a scientific mode and graphing system.  Complex mathematical systems are able to quantify and classify human behavior and reactions.  This information can be graphed, which allows visual analysis.  From this information, assisting systems can be developed.  These systems may be also quantified, visualized, and analyzed for effectiveness.

Nissan employs this technology in developing a system, which responds to the “six level shield”.  Each level of the shield represents a varying level of risk from normal driving to an unavoidable contact zone.  Using sensor technology, as a vehicle approaches an obstacle, it responds at a different level based on which level of the shield the object is in.  For example, it may create visual and audio warning signals, release the gas, or even press the break, to avoid an accident.  This technology aims to decrease the number of serious and fatal injuries by making the driver more aware, and assisting them in a difficult situation.

Several of these systems are in the development process.  One such system is referred to as “fault tolerant control of lateral motion”.  This system operates with sensors, which detect the distance between two cars.  One goal is to maintain a constant range of a safe distance from the car in from.  The other goal is to detect deviations from the center of the road to ensure that the car is staying within the proper lane.  These systems were tested through simulations and an experimental site for accuracy and proved effective.  This technology will be available in September for US Nissans. 

 

Sources:

1) Akatsu, Yousuke, Nissan Motor Co. LTD, “Innovative Safety Concept and Solution”, presentation for Latest Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automobile Engineering course at Nagoya University, June 16, 2008.

2) Suzuki, Tatsuya, Nagoya University Dept. Of Mechanical Science and Engineering, “Safety Engineering for the Prevention of Accidents”, presentation for Latest Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automobile Engineering course at Nagoya University, June 16, 2008.

Car Materials and Its Processing

Latest Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automobile Engineering

Seminar 3: Car Materials and its Processing

Jenna M. Eason

 

Choose the impressive metal forming process or materials in the lecture and describe it in detail.

Carbon fiber is the current ideal material for many automotive components.  Carbon fiber is extremely strong because of microscopic bonding of carbon atoms.  The fibers that make up a strand of carbon fiber are extremely thin (0.005-0.010 mm in diameter) and are aligned along a relatively parallel axis [1].  Twisting these fibers results in a yarn that is incredibly strong, small, and lightweight.  Theses yarns may be processed into materials in the same processes as most other textile yarns.  Weaving and 3D Weaving are becoming the most common means of manufacture.

Carbon fiber can be combined with a plastic resin and wound or molded to form composite materials such as carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP).  This is the technology briefly discussed in Wednesday’s lecture.  This provides for a very high strength-to-weight ratio material.  The density of carbon fiber is also considerably lower than the density of steel, making it ideal for applications requiring low weight (such as automotive).  The properties of carbon fiber such as high tensile strength, low weight, and low thermal expansion make it a very ideal choice for transportation vehicles. [1] The downside to this technology is very high costs, which results in low usage for production vehicles. 

 Carbon fiber reinforced plastic is used extensively in high-end automobile racing.  The high cost of carbon fiber is mitigated by the material’s unsurpassed strength-to-weight ratio, and low weight is essential for high-performance automobile racing.  Racecar manufacturers have also developed methods to give carbon fiber pieces strength in a certain direction, making it strong in a load-bearing direction, but weak in directions where little or no load would be placed on the member.  Conversely, manufacturers developed omnidirectional carbon fiber weaves that apply strength in all directions [1].  Much of this research is being conducted at my home college: the North Carolina State University College of Textiles.

Currently, CFRP are being used in aerospace applications, sailboats, lightweight bicycles and motorcycles.  They are also used in many non-transportation good including fishing rods, computers, and guitar strings.   All at a high price tag.  Much research is being conducted to lower the costs of carbon fiber composites by combining recycled materials to the raw resources, but there is still much to be discovered so that this technology can be widely applied in order to lower emissions and improve performance.

 

Sources

(1) www.Wikipedia.com  

Evaluating Driver's Behavior

Latest Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automobile Engineering

Seminar 2: Observation and Evaluation of Driver’s Behavior

Jenna M. Eason

 

1. Look and touch the sensor car.  Observe what kind of sensors attached.  What sensors do you think yet need and why?

I believe there is a possibility of a device that can observe facial expressions and quantify this data.  For example, a static picture of the driver’s face can be taken in a relaxed environment.  Video will then record deviations in expression, notably in the eyes, 

brow, mouth, and possibly clenching of the teeth.  As a driver gets excited, upset, or drowsy, these expressions will be detected and analyzed.  For example, the level and angle the brow raises or droops is proportional to the level of the driver’s excitement.  Of course this data will vary greatly with different drivers, but the delta is what will be plotted.

Another sensor could record brain activity and map this data.  This information shows excitement vs. lack of activity and is a more direct measurement the physical actions.

A final sensor could detect the amount of pressure of the driver’s back against the seat.  If the driver is excited they may lean forward to see the road better and grip the steering wheel more tightly (another possible sensor) or press against the back if they are slamming the breaks.  This data is to be visualized next to normal.

A final thought is another option for test conditions.  The driver should be tested when eating and smoking to detect how these actions affect driving ability.

2. Plot a car trajectory of taking over.  Describe which part of the trajectory representing the driver’s characteristics and how.

A. Driver is calm, releasing pressure on the gas as he prepares to predict passing the vehicle in front.

B. Driver leans forward and begins to excite when he sees car in passing lane that was not visible from A.  Driver must accelerate.

C. Driver is very excited, palms are sweating, talking has completely ceased as he tries to maneuver between cars.  At the end of C driver has to break unexpectedly because of front car and is very excited.

Driver decides not to pass anymore after this excitement.  He is a very bad driver for trying to make this pass.

3. What do you think is a good measure to detect drowsiness?

Facial expressions are key to detecting drowsiness.  The same device described in Question 1 will work well.  Signals for drowsiness include droopy or blinking eyes, yawning, fidgeting, head dropping, and body position.  The control over the vehicle will decrease and the vehicle will start to swerve.  This motion can be recorded and if repetitive can signal an alert.   Also, often when drowsy, the driver will unintentionally “tailgate” the vehicle in front.  This can be recorded with the radar detection already placed on the front of the vehicle.  If there is mapping for the brain, a wandering mind is a sign of drowsiness

4. Describe overall impression of the class.

I thoroughly enjoyed this seminar and am very interested in detecting driver behavior and emotional response to improve the driving experience.  

What is the ideal car of the near future?

Latest Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automobile Engineering

Seminar 1: The Car Industry, Market Trend, Circumstance, and its Future

Jenna M. Eason

 

What is the ideal car of the near future?

The Eco-Glider is a luxury crossover vehicle, which appeals to the sustainable-minded young professionals of Generation Y.  This demographic is the most physically active, technology-dependent, and social group seen yet.  They have also been labeled the most educated generation in history, which results in the highest incomes to date.  With adventure and technology at the forefront of Gen Y’s desire to learn, this group hosts the biggest supporters of the Green Trend.  All these factors are taken into consideration when evaluating Generation Y’s buying habits in order to develop the Eco-Glider.

Similar to the technology employed in creating the Hyundai QarmaQ concept, 95% of the Eco-Glider’s exterior materials are developed from PET plastic bottles.  This technology recycles around 1000 bottles per vehicle but also results in a weight reduction of up to 60 kg and offers an average fuel savings of up to 80 liters/year.  Since this vehicle is lighter and constructed from a more flexible material, pedestrian safety is increased and the ability to create complex 3D shapes is improved.  The final result is a shell that is 100% recyclable and requires less energy to produce than the carbon fiber competitor. 

The cabin of the Eco-Glider comfortably hosts space for 5 passengers and enough technology to keep the active minds of Generation Y occupied on their 45-60 min daily commutes.  The vehicle can be programmed to near-full computer operation and voice command.  The central computer will control cruise speeds, obstacle avoidance, and adjust to environmental conditions.  Hundreds of mini computers will include GPS, Internet, phone, TV, surround sound, and voice-record reminder messages.  Cameras placed throughout the vehicle allow for 360-degree visibility inside and out.  The windshield wiper activation and speed is automatically adjusted through sensor monitoring.  The interior climate control system operates a near-silent AC and heating system, as well as seat warmers and coolers.  One of the most innovative features of the Eco-Glider is the ability to recognize when the owner is approaching the vehicle, which unlocks the driver-side door.  Once inside, the vehicle adjusts to memory of the driver’s preferences of all the above features.

The Eco-Glider is notable for its powerful performance and is safe at high speeds.  The vehicle is Generation Y’s ideal choice for a comfortable daily commute, but is also the top choice all-terrain vehicle for adventurous weekend enjoyment.  Another unique feature is Eco-Glider’s ability to automatically adjust interior and exterior lighting, steering, suspension, and drive (on- and off-road use) to respond to the environment.

The vehicle reduces carbon dioxide emissions by combining hybrid technology and using biofuels (similar the the Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept).  By the year of Eco-Glider’s introduction, biofuels will be available throughout most countries.  For the areas where bio-fuel is not a readily available option, a direct injection system designed to burn 100% ethanol or any mixture of ethanol and petrol.  Ethanol has a higher octane rating but packs less energy per gallon of gasoline; therefore Eco-Glider uses turbo charging to give the engine more power, without risk of “knocking”.  Performance is also enhanced via extra boost from the electric motors.  Another unique feature is the “zero-mode” button that gives the ability to drive all-electric at speeds lower than 20 mph (useful for sitting in traffic).

Sources: www.hybridcars.com, www.autoblog.com, www.wikipedia.com