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Event cameras are biologically-inspired sensors that gather the temporal evolution of the scene. They capture pixel-wise brightness variations and output a corresponding stream of asynchronous events. Despite having multiple advantages with respect to conventional cameras, their use is limited due to the scarce compatibility of asynchronous event streams with traditional data processing and vision algorithms. In this regard, we present a framework that synthesizes RGB frames from the output stream of an event camera and an initial or a periodic set of color key-frames. The deep learning-based frame synthesis framework consists of an adversarial image-to-image architecture and a recurrent module. Two public event-based datasets, DDD17 and MVSEC, are used to obtain qualitative and quantitative per-pixel and perceptual results. In addition, we converted into event frames two additional well-known datasets, namely Kitti and Cityscapes, in order to present semantic results, in terms of object detection and semantic segmentation accuracy. Extensive experimental evaluation confirms the quality and the capability of the proposed approach of synthesizing frame sequences from color key-frames and sequences of intermediate events.

A detailed controller design for indirect constant power regulation of high intensity discharge (HID) electronic ballast and the experimental implementation of an adaptive passivity-based constant power (PBC) controller has been extensively studied through simulation and the findings are reported in this paper. An indirect method to regulate the inductor current to ensure the lamp constant output power is proposed in order to overcome the difficulties in measuring the output power of the HID ballast. The controller is derived using passivity theory which guarantees global stability and asymptotic convergence of all state errors. The simulation and controller design are based on an average model using the Euler–Lagrange (EL) equations of the system. As the lamp resistance will inevitably change with ageing, an adaptive method is used to compensate for the lamp performance as the lamp ages. This equips the controller the power to adapt to load variations and there is no need to tune the design parameters values each time manually. Another interconnection and damping assignment (IDA)-PBC method is analyzed and simulation results are provided for comparison. Computer simulation and hardware implementation are carried out to verify the system model and to demonstrate the controller is robust.

The increasing complexity of automotive electronics and the communication of cars with the external environment have led to extensive security issues. The car industry is moving towards the use of Ethernet backbones to improve the performance and reduce the complexity of in-car networks. In this paper, we propose a security solution for automotive Ethernet-based communications. We designed a hardware Media Access Control (MAC) layer based on the MAC Security Standard (MACsec) that considers the specific constraints of the automotive world in terms of latency, throughput and area. From a security point of view, our solution guarantees the confidentiality, integrity and authenticity of data. Furthermore, the system can be configured before synthesis to meet the security needs of the context in which the Ethernet communication is used. We synthesized our architecture on a low-power 28nm standard-cell CMOS technology, which is appropriate for automotive microcontrollers. The results show that our implementation is suitable for 100Mbps, 1Gbps and 10Gbps Ethernet speeds introducing less than 350ns of latency. The size of the circuit varies from 285 to 622 kgates depending on the required level of security and the required features.

An integrated framework for Virtual Verification and Validation (VVV) for a complete automotive system is proposed. The framework can simulate/emulate the system on three levels: System on Chip (SoC), Electronic control unit (ECU) and system level. The framework emulates the real system including hardware (HW) and software (SW). It enhances the automotive V-cycle and allows co-development of the automotive system SW and HW. The procedure for debugging AUTOSAR application on the virtual platform (VP) is shown. SW and HW profiling is feasible with the presented methodology. Verification and validation of automotive embedded SW is also presented. The proposed methodology is efficient as the system complexity increases which shortens the development cycle of automotive system. It also provides fault injection capability. With HW emulation, co-debugging mechanism is demonstrated. A case study covering the framework capability is presented. The case study demonstrates the proposed framework and methodology to design, simulate, trace, profile and debug AUTOSAR SW using VPs.

Ultrasonic tube forming is an innovative and promising technology that could replace the conventional thermoforming process for plastic automotive tubes. This process allows for the forming of extruded tubes four times faster, with a substantial increase in energy efficiency. This research focuses on the experimental study of this innovative process and its comparison to the conventional thermoforming in a hot air table. A prototype has been designed and assembled to study the main process variables that are significant to the forming result. A complete design of experiments (DOE) has been applied to quantify the effect of each process parameter, thereby obtaining a mathematical model that allows for the prediction of the curvature angle for a specific parameter combination. It has been concluded that the application of ultrasonic cycles, with short cooling cycles in between, is the best option, in comparison to a continuous application. The amplitude of vibration, ultrasonic time for the cycle, and number of cycles have proven to be the most significant variables of the process. Furthermore, the cooling time between cycles and the position of the squares for the initial bending angle are also important parameters that can be set up to refine the result. Quality control tests related to material degradation and geometry have been passed successfully, showing a high stability of the results. Consequently, this new process has a promising place in the future of plastic tube forming.

Paradigmatic shifts are challenging and consequently considerable efforts have been made to find concepts relating to the innovation process which lead from one paradigm to the next. This paper takes its inspiration from previous literature and studies of more than incremental innovations in the automotive industry. It outlines the concept of an interparadigmatic hybrid as a temporary combination (in one product or service) of technologies from an existing and a future paradigm in a way that facilitates the development toward the future paradigm. The proposed concept is tested on the product level using empirical data from the automotive industry, where it is assumed that hybrid electric vehicle technologies have the role of an interparadigmatic hybrid in the potential shift from the internal combustion engine to the paradigm of "pure" electric propulsion. The conclusions include an argument for the usefulness of the proposed concept for corporate managers, and perhaps even more so for policymakers and researchers, as it provides long-term strategic guidance and a (techno)logical order.

This research was directed at the impact of innovation strategy complexity on the breadth of innovation strategy objectives achievement. The context is automotive component manufacturing in developing economies. Given the risk associated with innovation activity, the question is whether firms can improve their success by adopting a complex market access strategy. The methodology was survey based, utilizing data on the innovation activities of some 530 automotive component manufacturing firms obtained by a questionnaire applied in the Pune region in India, Beijing region in China and in South Africa. Path analysis by structural equation modeling was applied to analyze the data for the hypothesized relationships. It was found that strategic complexity in the larger combined country data set is positively and significantly related to a greater breadth of impact of innovation in terms of the market access strategies implemented. It was also observed that diversity of technology and knowledge sources, and innovation types, play a fundamental role in this relationship. The results for individual countries are different from those of all countries combined and yielded varying conclusions. The SA data set was unfortunately too small to meet the requirements for reliable results on its own, but served to support understanding of the influence of its different environment. The findings support the proposition that a diverse innovation strategy should be developed and executed in a business strategy directed at innovation.

The case study of the Mayflower Vehicle Systems PLC supply chain improvement programme offers a window onto a change programme implemented by one supply chain cluster of the UK automotive industry. The discussion details the transformational nature of change agent empowerment, stakeholder engagement, team-working and the dynamics of intra-firm and customer-supplier collaboration between a first tier company and its sub-suppliers. It shows that improvement programmes have a crucial function in helping customer and suppliers to closer collaboration through enabling them to work towards common objectives, to understand each other's positions, and to build on a platform of mutual trust as they strive to improve their individual and collective competitiveness and establish mechanisms to ensure that improvements are sustainable. The study has further value in illuminating the adaptation of a lean production model akin to the Toyota Production System to a specific case supported by the Accelerate Initiative and facilitated by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' Industry Forum.

In spite of the increase of the concern on electric vehicles (which is called green cars) and electrically driven automotive air conditioning system, the conventional automotive air conditioning system for internal combustion engines has been still investigated widely due to the realistic consideration. This paper is intended to include many automotive air conditioning system articles published in 1997 to 2013. This review, although extensive cannot include every paper; some selection is necessary. Reviewed papers herein are related to the research and development on effective design and performance improvement for the automotive air conditioning system and components, including theoretical, numerical, analytical and experimental works. Therefore, a number of published articles about the automotive air conditioning system, which contain the belt-driven compressors, heat exchangers and refrigerants, were considered. Many researches have focused on improving the efficiency of automotive air conditioning system to decrease the usage rate of the internal combustion engines.

Automotive heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems are of particular interest from the viewpoint of improving fuel economy, especially in electric vehicles (EVs) such as hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), and battery electric vehicles (BEVs). This paper describes recent research on automotive air-conditioning and heating technologies after classifying them into heat pump applications, control and operation, heat exchangers, refrigerants, thermal comfort, localized HVAC systems, and additional energy-saving systems. Even though many researchers have applied the existing concepts and technologies for EVs, significant revamping efforts are necessary owing to the dynamic, transient, and local characteristics of vehicles.

Since interoperability in the operating room (OR) is considered a main factor to increase safety and improve the quality of surgeries, new challenges arise for the medical device industry in this increasingly connected environment. Therefore, new architectural approaches are needed, some of which may be inspired by other domains. In the meantime, novel communication paradigms are also gaining practical relevance in the automotive industry, which faces similar challenges. As a result, service-oriented architectures (SOAs) are often considered to provide a higher degree of flexibility for changes during the development and after product deployment. In this paper, we derive requirements of future networked OR tables from challenges and trends ahead. Based on these requirements, we propose a mixed electric and electronic architecture (E/E-architecture) inspired by the state-of-the-art measures from automotive domain and present an Identity and Access Management (IAM) approach to improve system security. In addition, a prototypical implementation is used to demonstrate the practicality of the proposed solution and to discuss necessary adjustments to the development process resulting from a mixed E/E-architecture approach.