SEMA Member News—September 2016
SEMA Introduces Quick Talks—Experts Talk Vehicle Technology, Powered by ETTN
By Tim Sayers
 Industry technology experts will make presentations on a variety of topics during the inaugural Quick Talks, powered by ETTN, at the 2016 SEMA Show. | |
SEMA recognizes that, with the pace at which technology and trends are changing, influencing and impacting the industry, it is more important than ever for SEMA members to be able to have the opportunity to learn about them. Quick Talks, powered by the Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN), will debut at the 2016 SEMA Show. Quick Talks support the network’s ongoing role as a resource for the automotive industry’s engineers, programmers, designers and product managers.
Moderated by SEMA Vice President of Vehicle Technology John Waraniak, the Quick Talks format will be similar to the popular TED Talks by having industry experts present information on emerging trends and technology that will impact you, your business and the industry. (TED stands for technology, entertainment and design.) The talks are intended to be fast-paced and loaded with information.
The inaugural Quick Talks will be held Thursday, November 3, from 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. in room N258 of the Upper North Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center. There will be four sessions, with time at the end for questions and answers. The topics and presenters include:
- 3D Printing Technologies—Rob Simmons, vice president of research and development for Edelbrock. Today’s 3D printing is a manufacturing technology that turns digital 3D models into solid objects by building them up in layers. Initially used for rapid prototyping, this technology has evolved into a next-generation manufacturing process that has the potential to allow the local, on-demand final production of products. It is now possible to 3D print in a wide range of materials, including thermoplastics, thermoplastic composites, pure metals, metal alloys and ceramics.
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC)—Melanie Hellwig White, vice president of Hellwig Products. ESC is an automotive technology that helps a driver maintain proper control of a vehicle during extreme steering maneuvers by keeping the vehicle headed in the driver’s intended direction, even when the vehicle nears or exceeds the limits of road traction.
- Electric Vehicle (EV) Technologies—Bruce Falls, director of engineering for AVL. Operating solely on electricity, EVs are propelled by one or more rechargeable battery packs. EVs have various advantages over internal-combustion engines: energy efficiency, environmental friendliness, performance benefits and reduced energy dependence. Challenges include driving range, recharge time, battery cost, and size and weight of battery packs. Improved battery technologies will determine the future of EVs.
- Vehicle Connectivity—Elaina Farnsworth, CEO of Mobil Comply. Vehicle connectivity refers to the presence in a vehicle of devices that connect to other devices within the vehicle as well as devices, networks and services outside of the vehicle, including other cars, offices, homes or infrastructure. The vehicle is equipped with internet access that is connected to a local area network. It uses telematics, mechatronics and artificial-intelligence technologies to interact with the environment to provide greater safety, entertainment, comfort and the “connected-life” experience.
You can attend any of the individual Quick Talks sessions that are of interest to you or you can attend all four. Register for the event at www.SEMAShow.com/events. You won’t want to miss this opportunity, so be sure to register soon!
In addition to attending Quick Talks, you should check out Quick Talks on the ETTN Facebook page.
Join ETTN
Calling all engineers, programmers, designers and product managers. Are you an ETTN member? Membership is free to all SEMA members. Join today at www.sema.org/ettn-signup.