Power windows were once a tony option on cars; now they’re standard equipment. The same shift may be on the verge of taking place with suspension systems. At the recent Vehicle Dynamics Expo, held in Novi, MI, Wabco introduced a new line of high- and medium-power compressors for electronically controlled air suspension systems, specifically designed for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.
These systems, which originally appeared in BMW’s high-end 7 series cars, adjust constant vehicle ride height, even when the vehicle is fully loaded. This increases vehicle safety and enhances passenger comfort, the company said in a statement. The first generation of these compressors appeared in the rear axle air suspension in the new BMW 7 series. The newly announced compressor series is designed to improve suspension performance, while at the same time making air suspension systems potentially more affordable for end-users. “From 2000 to 2008, the global demand for air suspension systems for passenger cars has nearly tripled and we expect continued growth in this market,” said Daniel Samson, Wabco vice president car systems and products, said in the statement. “In addition, original equipment manufacturers seek to increase fuel efficiency further by introducing the air suspension function, which improves vehicle aerodynamics by appropriately lowering the vehicle body at high speeds.”
Inforbix is leveraging its CAD and product data access technology to power up a free iPad app that lets mobile users search and access engineering data.
Unlike his friends in engineering programs, blogger Jon Titus had little need for calculus except in a few of his college physical-chemistry labs and classes.
In the wake of the Chevy Volt fire investigations, sales are down, and General Motors' (GM) CEO Dan Akerson is blaming the downturn on a spate of bad publicity.
Thanks to embedded electronics, medical devices are getting smaller and smarter than ever. Pacemakers and implantable defibrillators are now able to call physicians. MRIs, CT scanners, and ultrasound machines are gaining mobility. And the venerable Band-Aid may soon be able to detect illnesses ranging from fevers to heart arrhythmias. On February 21, join Design News senior editor Charles Murray for a wide-ranging discussion, "Embedded Angles for Medical Products," which will explore the latest developments in medical electronics. The discussion will examine advances in medical device technology and offer an inside look at the embedded electronics behind it.
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