Automotive Engineering - June 2022 - 18

Making the torque-transfer
COVER STORY
TRANSITION
" Increasingly sophisticated clutch actuation is core to
the IP that AAG is generating. "
Cell manufacturing at Means Industries' Saginaw facility.
The Dynamic Controllable Clutch's design makes for
compactness. Mechatronic engineering is key for Means' family
of clutches and disconnect products.
Mechatronics muscle
The EV trend and the rise of the mechatronics and software disciplines
is affecting changes in Amsted's hiring of engineers, according
to Prout. " For context, ten years ago we were a group of mechanical
engineers, and we did some FEA. When we added our first electrical
engineer, he spent most of his time out in the test lab keeping the
test equipment running! It wasn't until about five years ago that we
started looking for mechatronic and electrical engineers. Now we
have a team of them, and I'd say one-third to half of our R&D projects
are being driven by the mechatronics team. "
Beiser surmised that nearly 100% of AAG's advanced R&D activities
with customers are related to electrification. Asia seems to be
more focused on hybrids in the last 18 months. And what of advanced
R&D in the legacy-powertrain arena? " If there is a new automatic
transmission platform being developed, we're not aware of
it, " he stated.
A robust co-op program for engineering students is keeping Mean
Industries in the hunt for new talent, within today's super-competitive
market. " The young engineers coming out of university are more
versed in electrical and mechanical today, " Prout said, " and the importance
of electrical engineering now is at an all-time high. If you're
studying electrical engineering or software, your opportunities will
grow immensely " as the industry moves into electrification at the
component, tiered supplier and vehicle levels, he advised.
As the industry begins to usher in the next generation of EVs, Holt's
teams are already seeing differences in collaborating with their incum18
June 2022
bent-OEM customers versus those at the EV startups who
tend to have leaner organizations and internal capabilities.
" We recently launched a new disconnect with a
startup, " Prout reported. " They leaned very heavily on
us, where typically when we go into an OEM they will
have already sketched in some sort of mechanical or
friction-based clutching device. Not only did the startup
come in with a blank sheet of paper - 'this is the
box, we need something here' - but they also gave us
half the amount of time to do it! That was quite challenging.
But I'd say we had a lot more design and engineering
freedom working with the startup. "
From all of AAG's customers, however, the three
words they hear most often in EV program meetings
related to systems performance are fast, smooth and
quiet. " Fast is relative to the OEM in question, but
smooth - that's a table stake! " Beiser exclaimed. " So,
the challenge becomes, increasing the disconnect
speed without sacrificing smoothness. And that opens
the door for control software. "
" You can smooth things out with friction clutches,
but you can't have friction clutches in an efficient EV
drivetrain, " Holt concluded. " It's the perfect place for
highly efficient, multi-mode clutches that have the
ability to lock, to do regen and disconnect, and don't
create waste energy in the shifting process, all within
one controllable device. " Unvoiced needs to be met.
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
AAG
Automotive Engineering - June 2022

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