Transportation is one of the largest segment users of energy in the U.S., consuming 30 quadrillion (quads) of BTUs a year. Making up this segment are light-duty and beyond-light-duty transportation vehicles. Light duty refers to the cars that Americans drive every day. Beyond-light duty refers to everything else, from mobile machinery to large trucks. Mobile […]
Research
What manufacturing can learn from Thailand
Earlier this month, I was part of a journalist delegation to Thailand, the Southeast Asian country that’s probably known more for tourism than industrial engineering prowess. But after a week of touring manufacturing facilities that included such international heavyweights as Caterpillar and Nissan, I left with a new mindset for how industry needs to succeed […]
Q&A with igus’ CEO, Frank Blase
I had the pleasure of touring the international headquarters of igus just after the Hannover Fair this year, and also was able to sit with company CEO Frank Blase. The facility is enormous, yet intelligently designed—it doesn’t feel like a manufacturing plant, due to the light that comes in through strangely organic looking skylights. Walk […]
Bosch Community Fund grants support STEM education
Robert Bosch LLC and Bosch Rexroth Corporation have announced the latest Bosch Community Fund (BCF) grants in support of STEM education – which includes science, technology, engineering and math – important foundations for today’s students as they prepare for careers in the increasingly important fields of engineering and manufacturing. The Bosch Community Fund awarded four […]
CCEFP update: Varying pump flow rates
There are several hydraulic applications that require varied flow rates. Traditionally, this was achieved by using a fixed-displacement pump and a metering valve that throttles the flow across an orifice. This is an extremely inefficient control method that converts waste energy into heat. A better method of control is to use a variable displacement hydraulic […]
CCEFP update: Hydraulically actuated patient transfer device
One goal of the National Science Foundation’s Engineering Research Center on Compact and Efficient Fluid Power (CCEFP) is to explore how advanced fluid power technology can be used in a wider range of applications. A significant market need has been identified for an improved mobile device for transferring mobility limited people—particularly bariatric patients. Typical transfers […]
CCEFP update: Hydraulics and free piston engines
Contributed by Ke Li, PhD student, University of Minnesota (Advisor: Professor Zongxuan Sun) A conventional mobile fluid power generation system consists of a internal combustion engine (ICE) and a rotational hydraulic pump. An alternative is the use of a free piston engine (FPE)—this eliminates the crankshaft to enable unconstrained piston motion. With a FPE, linear […]
Fluid Power University Profiles: Tampere University of Technology
Tampere University brings hydraulics into the digital age The Tampere University of Technology in Tampere, Finland, is engaged in a wide assortment of fluid power research that falls under the school’s department of intelligent hydraulics and automation. This department is currently engaged in three main fields of study, remote handling, digital hydraulic technology and intelligent […]
Fluid Power Universtiy Profiles: RWTH Aachen (Germany)
RWTH Aachen brings efficiency to renewable energies The Institute for Fluid Power Drives and Controls is Germany’s RWTH Aachen University’s contribution to the world of fluid power research. The program tackles projects for both government agencies and commercial industries and covers five main areas of study, including: Tribology and fluid analysis, pump and motor technology, […]
Fluid Power University Profiles: Hennepin Technical College
Hennepin adds work experience to curriculum Hennepin Technical College, like many technician-level schools, works with industry leaders to provide students with an education that is both comprehensive and relevant to the demands of industry. Unlike other schools, however, Hennepin goes so far as to incorporate real-world experience with industry into the curriculum. Hennepin does its […]
