Ford Motor Company (France)

<div class="section abstract"><div class="htmlview paragraph">The concept of “quality feel” in automotive interiors relates to how consumers perceive a product’s quality through touch and feel. While subjective, it’s crucial for satisfaction and differentiation and is defined by engineering requirements like displacement, especially for interior components. Assessing this early in development is vital. Traditionally, this evaluation happens virtually using Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) simulations, which measure displacement and stiffness. However, conventional simulation methods, like Finite Element Method (FEM), can be time-consuming to set up. This work presents two case studies where the evaluation of an interior panel’s quality feel, using structural numerical simulations combined with the Simulation Driven Design (SDD) method was performed. SDD is an iterative process where simulation results guide design modifications, optimizing the component until it meets quality criteria, which are based on simulated human touch and resulting displacement. To make this process more efficient, the study utilized the Meshless method (specifically with Altair SimSolid) for simulations. This method requires less setup time compared to FEM, significantly reducing computational cost and time. The results showed that SDD is a fundamental method to utilize during product conceptualization, not only because it helps in optimization, but also help in finding CAD incoherences. Combined with that, the meshless method was able to bring this information in a fast pace, being an efficient support to FEA simulations. This efficiency enabled redesigned components that didn’t initially meet the quality feel requirements, successfully achieving the required criteria.</div></div>

Intelligent manufacturing involves scheduling methods that maximize efficiency, use of energy, and cost. This paper introduces a hybrid metaheuristic framework which combines the exploration improvement capability of Genetic Algorithms (GA) and the exploitation power of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). The suggested merge GA-PSO model develops Job Shop Scheduling Problem (JSSP) as a multiobjective optimization task with the function of minimum makespan, energy consumed, and operational cost according to the induction function. The framework is validated by means of both standard JSSP benchmarks as well as Industry 4.0 inspired datasets. Experimental results show the significant performance improvements, i.e., 18.6 % makespan reduction, 12.4 % energy consumption reduction and 15.2 % operational cost reduction based on standalone GA, PSO and baseline methods. In addition, the Pareto-front diversity and convergence speed of GA--PSO are better, and hence, more effective trade-offs can be achieved among conflicting objectives. These outcomes have established GA-PSO as a strong and efficient scheduling approach for realtime, energy awareness and cost-optimized operations in the Industry 4.0 environment to pave the way for sustainable and intelligent manufacturing systems.

Abstract The straightness of a carburized pinion gear shaft is directly linked to the heat treatment process. When the distortion induced by the heat treatment process cannot be controlled, bending straightening is a common manufacturing practice used to correct the distortion without removing the hardened surface layer. The straightening process can be effectively simulated using computer-aided engineering (CAE) analysis, but its accuracy will be limited if information about the case depth and material composition is unavailable. Moreover, both the case depth and material composition are highly dependent on the specifics of the heat treatment process. Since distortion is caused by biased quenching, assuming uniform case depth and homogeneous material properties is unrealistic. To accurately simulate the straightening process, detailed information about the heat treatment history must first be obtained. The primary objective of this research is to develop a CAE methodology to extract heat treatment process parameters from distortion measurements using an inverse modeling approach. Given that distortion is a direct result of the heat treatment process, and assuming the quenching heat transfer coefficient is a function of surface temperature only, it can be shown that a one-to-one mapping exists between a biased quenching profile and the resulting distortion. Based on this finding, the inverse heat conduction method can be used to reconstruct the quenching profile from the distortion data. After determining the quenching profile, the case depth and material composition then are calculated, which enable a precise CAE simulation of the bending straightening process. The availability of both the quenching profile and distortion metrics also supports a secondary objective of this research: to reverse-engineer the flow conditions inside the quench tank. This information can be used to improve quench tank design and flow pattern, thereby minimizing quenching-induced distortion in future production.

The semiterrestrial leech Haemopis elegans Moquin-Tandon, 1846 is widely distributed across Europe, though its eastern range limit remains poorly defined. This study examines the hypothesis that environmental conditions east of the Lviv region in Ukraine are unsuitable for the establishment of H. elegans, resulting in its observed range limit. Specimens of H. elegans were collected from Pohulianka Park in Lviv, western Ukraine, and their morphological characteristics were examined. In addition, a specimen from Argentré, France, was included in the study. Molecular phylogenetic analysis was performed using mitochondrial DNA markers (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) to confirm species identity, assess genetic diversity, and reveal phylogenetic relationships within the species. To predict the species’ potential distribution under current environmental conditions, species distribution modeling was applied using occurrence records and key environmental variables. Morphological analysis confirmed the distinguishing features of H. elegans, such as body coloration and reproductive system traits, in comparison to the related and sympatric H. sanguisuga (Linnaeus, 1758). Our findings reveal distinct genetic differences among populations within the species’ range, including the identification of new haplotypes in Ukraine and France. Both morphological and molecular data support the co-occurrence of these two Haemopis species in Ukraine. Species distribution modeling indicates low habitat suitability for H. elegans east of its known range, while field surveys and genetic data confirm its absence or discontinuity in those areas.

The electrification of goods transport vehicles has emerged as a crucial solution for the environmental and economic issues associated with traditional transportation systems. Progress in battery technology has significantly improved the feasibility of electrifying goods transport vehicles. Nonetheless, there are notable challenges that need to be addressed, including limited charging infrastructure, limited range, and high upfront costs, which serve as significant barriers to widespread electrification adoption in India. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the status of electrification in goods transport vehicles, emphasizing the environmental benefits, technological advancements, existing challenges, and possible solutions in the Indian Heavy Commercial Vehicle (HCV) segment.

Abstract We consider the problem of enforcing safety in multi‐input systems with distinct input delays via the use of Control Barrier Functions (CBFs). For systems with input delay(s), a popular approach for enforcing safety is the combination of a CBF designed for the delay‐free system with state‐predictors that compensate the input delays. Typically, this comes with the assumption that the system does not violate safety constraints before all input delays have been compensated and the system is fully under control. In this paper, we introduce two control approaches that enforce safety before all input delays have been compensated, whenever it is possible to do so. We do this by utilizing a robust CBF formulation that treats longer‐delayed inputs as known disturbances when determining control effort for shorter delayed inputs. This formulation ensures that, whenever possible, a subset of input channels with shorter delays will be utilized for keeping the system in the admissible safe set before longer input delays have been compensated. The effectiveness of our approaches is demonstrated with two numerical examples.

With the increase in demand for more efficient systems that can bring us a series of benefits and in parallel help us adapt actual vehicles to future automotive legislation, belt starter generators have become an ally for bringing several advantages when compared to conventional systems. of combustion engines, in which a conventional starter and alternator are used. This article will present the integration process of this reversible alternator in a conventional combustion engine system, where the analyzes are initiated by software simulations, then mechanical integration studies are carried out via the project team and in the sequence the physical installation architecture is defined. for mechanical and electrical integration of the new system. The new features in the vehicle will be tested in order to bring the comparative results both in relation to fuel consumption and recovery of energy consumed in the running cycles, as well as the possible advantages related to the adaptation of conventional vehicles to the new regulations.