Calendar

Current Events

3.30

Creating a Sustainable Society

3.16

Sustainable Energy Engineering

2.28

National Science Foundation Day

2.17

Reformulation-Based Approaches to Query Optimization

2.15

FREEDM Day

2.10

WEST: Cloning Data Cache Behavior using Stochastic Traces

2.09

Computer Vision and Image Analysis in the Study of Art

2.08

GSA Social

2.03

Skewed functional processes and their applications

Future Technical Needs in the Automobile Industry

Future Technical Needs in the Automobile Industry

The automobile industry is in a state of rapid technological and structural change.  In addition, the presence of the vehicle industry in North Carolina is substantial and growing.  For example, the State recently provided funding for the Advanced Research Vehicle Center (AVRC), a test track and engineering services nexus being built in Northampton County.  Another example can be found in the Insight Racing Team at NCSU that is preparing a vehicle as an entry for the 2007 DARPA Grand Challenge. Lotus Engineering donated the base vehicle. NCSU has considerable technical expertise that can be brought to bear to the vehicle and transportation sector in general, and the automobile industry specifically.  An effort is being made to coordinate these research and education activities across campus and to secure a combination of Federal, State and Industry funding for a substantial activity.   The long term goal is develop a University-Industry-Government partnership that enhances the impact of Vehicle Technology activities in the State of NC.

This lecture is a step towards that goal. The objective of this lecture is to inform the faculty of some of the technical challenges the automobile industry is facing.  In this particular talk, Simon Cobb will provide you with an overview of the industry as a whole, and particularly focus on technical issues in current and future power-trains.  Once exposed to this potential, the desired outcome is that individual researchers can best work out how their expertise and activity can be used to solve these problems. 

This lecture is a first in what is intended to be a short sequence.  Once exposed to these issues, via this format, the desired outcome is that individual researchers can best work out how their expertise and activity can be used to solve these problems.   This activity will work up to a joint Industry-University meeting to be held in Spring 2007.

All and any are welcome.  The technical breadth of activities that relate to transportation is very broad, and you might be surprised how relevant your own ideas might be!

For questions or further information, please contact Dr. Paul Franzon, Electrical and Computer Engineering, paul_franzon@ncsu.edu, 919-515-7351.