CAAT Tracks
November/December 2017
In This Issue:
AUTO STEAM DAYS PUTS AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Students participate in hands-on exhibit offered by KUKA
The CAAT sponsored and Macomb Community College hosted the second Auto STEAM Days event for 6 th - 12 th grade students December 5 & 6 at Macomb's Sports and Expo Center in Warren, MI. Nearly 2,700 students from 17 middle and junior high schools and 16 high schools registered to attend the event to learn about careers in automotive design, robotics, manufacturing, and the technology that makes it happen. Each day offered a morning and an afternoon session.

The Automotive Design and Engineering sector welcomed back three popular exhibitors from the highly successful 2016 event with exhibits by General Motors (GM) on clay/digital modeling, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) on sketching, and Ford Motor Company on production design (using virtual reality). New this year, Magna provided an exhibit on autonomous vehicles.

The Manufacturing and Technology sector welcomed back three popular exhibitors, American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) with an exhibit on vehicle electrification and drivetrains, KUKA with programming automation, and Siemens with programmable logic controls (PLC) specific to traffic lights. Comau joined us this year with an exhibit on robotic controls.

The event also featured an exciting car show (presented jointly by GM, FCA, and Ford) that gave students the exciting opportunity to sit behind the wheel and talk to some of the industry's best automobile designers and engineers. FCA provided 4 Jeep prototype vehicles, GM provided Chevy Bolt and Volt electrified vehicles, a production model Silverado, and a GM Impact concept car developed in 1990 that later led to GM mass producing the EV1 which was available for lease from 1996 to 1999. Ford provided three F150's, one of which was an Atlas concept vehicle, two Mustangs, one of which was a Shelby performance model with a 450HP engine, a Focus, and a Fusion.

CAAT thanks our Auto STEAM Days financial partners: Magna, Bosch, KUKA, Siemens/Electro-Matic, Comau, American Axle & Manufacturing, Macomb Intermediate School District, and the  Macomb County Department of Planning & Economic Development.

Read More:
CAAT SPONSORS EVENT FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS TO EXPLORE CAREERS IN MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGY

Students who attended the Auto STEAM Days event were encouraged to bring their parents, family, and others to a related event called Explore Careers in Manufacturing and Technology on Wednesday evening, December 6. And many of them did! More than 400 people attended this free and informative event.

The event was offered to provide students and their parents an opportunity to:
  • Learn about job skills that are in high demand and related careers
  • Hear from recent graduates who found good-paying jobs
  • Meet with local businesses and learn what skills employers are looking for
  • Explore career pathways such as apprenticeships, internships and work-based learning
Attendees also learned about manufacturing in the 21st century, where the floors are clean, the work areas are airy and open, the equipment is high tech, the pay is good and the future is promising. Attendees learned that:
  • There were 388,000 job openings in manufacturing in the US as of June this year
  • The average wage for manufacturing occupations that require a post-secondary certificate is $55,000 per year
  • Job growth in manufacturing in Michigan is expected to rise by 8.7% over the next 5 years
  • The average wage for skilled trades jobs is $21 per hour
Opening remarks were provided by Joe Petrosky, CAAT Principal Investigator, and Ben Saltsman, Director, Global Core STA, Magna. Following the opening remarks, a panel of students and industry experts/employers was moderated by Vikki Gordon, Macomb Community College's Apprentice Coordinator.

Student panelists were:
  • Damian Ward from Webasto Roof Systems
  • Alix Rivard from Ilmore Engineering
  • Vivian Johnson, FCA Electrical Apprentice Graduate
Industry Experts/Employers on the panel were:
  • Dave Bogdanski, Ford Motor Company, Apprentice Coordinator
  • Scott Kraemer, PTI Engineered Plastics, Manager, Corporate Design
  • Rick Hecker, Eifel Mold & Engineering, President
Before and after the panel discussion, attendees were able to visit the Auto STEAM Days exhibits (see article above) and 28 vendor tables hosted by 4 colleges and universities who provided information on their respective educational programs, 3 automotive manufacturers, 16 industry companies/employers and the Macomb/St. Clair Michigan Works office.

The event was presented by Macomb Community College, in collaboration with the college's Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Manufacturing (STEAM) partners, at its south campus in Warren, MI.

Visit the CAAT's Student Activities page for more detailed information about the event, participating organizations and sponsors.
CAAT HOSTS NATIONAL VISITING COMMITTEE

The CAAT hosted its annual National Visiting Committee (NVC) meeting at Macomb Community College (MCC) on November 27. The NVC is an outside group of advisers who serve voluntarily and are leaders in government, industry, and education. Their role is to assist the CAAT in meeting its goals and objectives, assessing plans and progress, and to be an advocate for the Center. The committee is chaired by Kristin Dziczek, director of the Industry, Labor & Economics Group at the Center for Automotive Research (CAR).

At this year's meeting, the NVC evaluated the CAAT's completion of the final year of its three-year renewal grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The committee reported that they were very impressed with the CAAT's progress in completing the grant's goals and objectives. Specifically, the NVC noted that the CAAT has done good work in the development of curriculum in advanced automotive technology, particularly through the CAAT's highly successful seed funding model, which has resulted in additional curriculum that further expands the reach of the Center. Discussions revolved around two new proposals recently submitted by the CAAT to the NSF and other sustainability considerations.
MDOT OPENS NEW FLEX ROUTE IN MICHIGAN

Flex Route is a new traffic management system deployed by the Michigan Department of Transportation on US 23. It uses overhead signs, electronic message boards and mounted cameras to provide lane control, especially during peak hours. The system will open the inside median shoulder lane to traffic during peak travel periods and during special events when traffic volumes are expected to be higher.

ALL ELECTRIC TESLA SEMI WITH 500-MILE RANGE
DUE OUT IN 2019

Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently unveiled the Tesla Semi at a private event in California. According to Musk, Tesla will offer a 300-mile range option for $150,000 or a 500-mile option for $180,000. The range estimates assume the Semi is loaded to the 80,000-pound maximum weight allowed under federal regulations and the Semis will have lower running costs than diesel. The Semi is expected to significantly reduce the cost of transporting goods from one place to another. Walmart, Anheuser-Busch, Sysco, and PepsiCo have reported ordering 15, 40, 50 and 100 Tesla Semis respectively. Shipping companies DSL and J.B. Hunt Transportation Services have also expressed their intentions to add Tesla Semis to their fleets of shipping trucks. According to reports, more than 1,200 orders for the Tesla Semi have already been placed with an planned delivery date of 2019.

CAAT ATTENDS 3rd ANNUAL DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING ALLIANCE CONFERENCE
Resources for 21 st Century Jobs

CAAT Assistant Director, Nelson Kelly, attended the 3rd annual Design and Manufacturing Alliance (DMA) Conference "Resources for 21st Century Jobs" held at the Oakland Community College (OCC) Auburn Hills campus on November 3, 2017. DMA Executive Director Keith Deyer hosted the meeting and Don Hutchison, Dean of Engineering, Manufacturing and Industrial Technologies from OCC welcomed the meeting attendees. Brian Kruger, CEO and Executive Producer at Stunt3 Multimedia, showed a very informative documentary on the Ford Piquette plant in Detroit.

The new film described the importance of the plant to the development of Ford and Ford's world-changing assembly process, and its early growing pains. Henry Ford's quote, "An airplane takes off into the wind" summarized the early difficulties. The building still stands as a major historical automotive heritage site and museum, and restoration and preservation continue. Some of the museum docents attended the DMA meeting to answer questions. Dressed in period clothing, and speaking in character, one of the docents gave a short talk on the plant, workers, and the Ford models built at the plant, including the Model T that is credited with starting the mass adoption of automobiles.

Jennifer Llewellyn spoke on the Oakland County Skills Needs Assessment Project. Jennifer provided a similar presentation at the CAAT conference in April. A panel discussion focused on how to inform parents of the job opportunities available in Michigan and surrounding areas in the automotive industry.

Attendees discussed possible solutions and strategies in addressing the shortage of students starting careers in the manufacturing sector during a working lunch. The day ended with an optional tour of the mechatronics, robotics, and CNC labs at OCC by Dean Hutchison.
COMING SOON TO A VEHICLE NEAR YOU:
EVASIVE STEERING ASSIST

Ford is currently developing technology that will assist drivers in steering around slow or stationary vehicles. Evasive Steering Assist technology will be available on some Ford 2018 model year vehicles. This new technology will be used in conjunction with automatic emergency braking, which uses a camera and radar to monitor traffic ahead and applies the brakes when a traffic situation provides a high risk of a collision. But in higher speed situations, sometimes maneuvering around a slow or stationary vehicle may be a better solution. With evasive steering assist, the vehicle will assist the driver with steering support. 


Learn more by viewing a video on the CAAT's ADAS Technology Available Now webpage or view the June 2017 article in Vision Zero International magazine (see page 18).
RESOURCE LIBRARY SPOTLIGHT ITEM
Accelerating the Future: The Economic Impact of the Emerging Passenger Economy

Accelerating the Future: The Economic Impact of the Emerging Passenger Economy is a report from Strategy Analytics at the behest of Intel that supports the idea that a "Passenger Economy" based on pilotless vehicles is on the horizon and that it holds massive economic potential.

An estimated value of $7 trillion in the year 2050 includes the products and services derived from the idle time riders will gain while using fully autonomous vehicles. It includes the indirect savings for both consumers and business users regarding time freed from driving and shorter commutes, increased productivity for businesses, and cost savings from the reduced need for emergency services, traffic accidents and congestion.

NEW MATERIALS ADDED TO THE CAAT RESOURCE LIBRARY!

SEMATA 10-26-17 Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles:
A presentation by CAAT highlighting fuel cell electric vehicles, the current state of the industry and future direction, the need for trained technicians, and the programs available or being developed to train them.

SEMATA 10-26-17 The Road to Autonomous Vehicles:
A presentation by CAAT highlighting advanced driver assistance systems, autonomous driving, connectivity and safety requirements, and the need for skilled technicians for the highly technical cars of the future.

Future Cities: Navigating the New Era of Mobility:
A report by the Center for Automotive Research on connected and automated vehicles and innovative mobility services and the impact they will have on communities.  The report develops guidelines to position Michigan as a leader in this sector.

EPA Mass Reduction Analysis Observations and Recommendations:
An analysis of the EPA's mass reduction analysis by the Center for Automotive Research, addressing perceived shortcomings in the EPA's analysis and proposing alternative research methods according to established standards.

Accelerating the Future: The Economic Impact of the Emerging Passenger Economy:
A report by Strategy Analytics and Intel on the potential of the emerging passenger economy of pilotless vehicles, including reduced costs and congestion, vehicle as transportation experience, new media and advertising possibilities, and the availability of mobility perks. (See article above.)

Improving Vehicle Cybersecurity, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Industry Experience and Perspectives:
A detailed overview of the types of cybersecurity risks and threats faced by connected vehicles by the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS). The report highlights the need for collaboration for increased safety, reliability, and user experience.

NEW INDUSTRY WEBINARS PAGE

The automotive industry is changing rapidly. New technologies in advanced driver assistance systems, automated and connected vehicle systems, engine performance and fuel systems, and vehicle lightweighting are developed continuously. It can be hard to keep up.

The CAAT is now posting links to industry webinars in these and related areas. Links to previous webinar recordings will also be available.

Stay up-to-date on what's happening in advanced automotive technology. Recent webinars include: Preparing the Energy Grid for Electrified and Autonomous Vehicles, Innovations for the Global Powertrain Revolution, and Autonomous Vehicle Standards: A Comprehensive Discussion.
FEATURED ON CAAT's SOCIAL MEDIA:

  • Phoenix, AZ passengers will be riding in Waymo cars without a driver behind the wheel. Read more
  • OEM's are still turning out big SUVs, because their profits fund development of advanced battery systems and robotic cars. Read more
  • Drivers only need to say "Alexa" to connect to their cars and homes. Read more
DID YOU KNOW...

Did you know CAAT's own Nelson Kelly will be presenting at the inaugural Michigan Automotive Teachers Association (MATA) Conference will be held April 12, 2018, at Lansing Community College? The MATA Conference will be similar in format to the Southeastern Michigan Automotive Teacher's Association (SEMATA) conference and will offer technical training classes, a trade show, raffles and live demos. As with the SEMATA Conference, the MATA event will also be free, will provide certificates for NATEF training hours and offer a complimentary continental breakfast and lunch. To RSVP for the MATA Conference, call Allyne Quatrine at 248-816-5199.

Did you know a link to the CAAT website is included in the Alternative Fuels and Designs chapter of the book Auto Upkeep: Maintenance, Light Repair, Auto Ownership and How Cars Work (2018, 4th Edition)? The book is written by Michael E. Gray and Linda E. Gray.
TECH TALK
You've probably heard a lot about connected and automated vehicles (CAV) lately. If you've ever been confused by the different terms and varying definitions, you're not alone. We hope the information below helps you better understand the lingo for these high-tech vehicles.

Connected vehicles enable safe, interoperable networked wireless communications among vehicles, the infrastructure, and passengers' personal communications devices. A connected car is generally equipped with internet access, and usually also with a wireless local area network. Such advanced, wireless communication is supported by dedicated short-range communications (DSRC).This allows the car to share internet access with other devices both inside and outside the vehicle. Communication among vehicles and between vehicles and the roadside helps to save lives and prevent injuries on roadways.

Fully automated vehicles (sometimes called autonomous) or "self-driving" vehicles are defined by the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as:
"those in which operation of the vehicle occurs without direct driver input to control the steering, acceleration, and braking and are designed so that the driver is not expected to constantly monitor the roadway while operating in self-driving mode."

There have been multiple definitions for various levels of vehicle automation and for some time there has been need for standardization to aid clarity and consistency. Therefore, NHTSA has adopted the SAE International definitions for levels of automation. The SAE definitions divide vehicles into levels based on "who does what, when". Generally:
Level 0: The human driver does everything.
Level 1: An automated system on the vehicle can sometimes assist the human driver conduct some parts of the driving work.
Level 2: An automated system on the vehicle can actually conduct some parts of the driving task, while the human driver continues to monitor the driving environment and performs the rest of the driving task.
Level 3: An automated system can both actually conduct some parts of the driving task and monitor the driving environment in some instances, but the human driver must be ready to take back control when the automated system requests it.
Level 4: An automated system can conduct the driving task and monitor the driving environment, and the human need not take back control, but the automated system can operate only in certain environments and under certain conditions.
Level 5: The automated system can perform all driving tasks, under all conditions that a human driver could perform them.

Visit the CAAT's Connected and Automated Vehicles pages to learn about the technology currently offered on CAV's and view videos demonstrating this technology.
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