Institution news
Q: Could you briefly explain your role, involvement and experience with regards to this seminar?
Christopher Burbidge (CB): I’m a technical leader for Ricardo worldwide providing technical support to colleagues and clients for automatic transmission control software. I typically focus on CTI, VDI or SAE conferences, but I’m delighted to be asked to present at an event by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
Q: In your experience, what is the number one challenge facing engineers specialising in transmission and driveline technology?
CB: The biggest challenge is that the market, industry, and government policy is changing so significantly and so quickly. There are many factors that influence transmissions such as the rate of electrification which is driven by government incentives / legislation and the technical and commercial development of batteries.
Q: What is the most exciting development in this field at the moment, either within your company or in the industry in general?
CB: Electrification. In addition, connectivity opens up the potential for more real-time data to be available to the vehicle systems. This allows transmissions to operate in a more optimised manner based upon knowledge of current vehicle or road conditions.
Q: Where do you see the future of transmission and driveline technology heading over the next five to ten years?
CB: Increased levels of electrification. DHT (dedicated hybrid transmissions).
Q: Which sessions are you most looking forward to hearing and why?
CB: The ‘off-highway and heavy duty vehicles’ session for two reasons:
- Due to our consumption habits (e.g. food globally sourced, transition of shopping online from the high street) there is an increase in the volume of commercial vehicles on the road network. There are challenges around transporting goods intercity and then entering zero emission zones. A fascinating challenge about how to manage power into these vehicles and hence transmitting torque to the wheels.
- Off-highway. These vehicles don’t naturally lend themselves to increasing levels of electrification. So I’m interested to see some of the developments in this field to increase operating efficiency of these vehicles and transmissions.
Q: Why is it important for engineers to join this seminar?
CB: In the course of one day you are able to listen to a number of technical presentations covering a wide range of transmissions and vehicle sectors. If you want a summary of the current and future developments of transmissions this is the seminar to attend.
Key programme highlights:
- Changan UK address technical challenges in gearbox mechanics and optimal gear ratios
- HORIBA MIRA and the Energy Technology Institute discuss hybridisation and electrification for heavy duty and off-highway vehicles
- Ricardo assess the use of real-time data and how it will influence transmission systems
- Romax Technology explore the future of aircraft gear propulsion systems and transferable lessons
- Drive System Design address lower cost electric drives and novel methods for analysing integrated electric powertrains
- Valeo discuss drive unit optimisation for low speed electric vehicles.
Join this seminar to find out more about improvements to transmission and drivetrain system integration, real-time data in transmission design, emissions reduction and gear ratio selection. Gain an all-round perspective of industry trends on topics including optimisation of fuel efficiency whilst maintaining performance and driveability. To book your place please visit www.imeche.org/driveline.