Science and Technology News

Category: Engineering

  • Volvo Group and Daimler Truck sign binding agreement for joint venture

    Volvo Group and Daimler Truck sign binding agreement for joint venture

    As announced in may this year, Volvo Group and Daimler Truck intend to create a joint venture to develop a common software-defined vehicle platform and dedicated truck operating system, providing the basis for future software-defined commercial vehicles.

    The two leading companies in the commercial vehicle industry have now signed a binding agreement to establish the joint venture and are working towards setting up the company that will be headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden.

    The software-defined vehicle platform will enable Volvo Group and Daimler Truck and potential other future customers of the joint venture to provide stand-alone digital vehicle functions for their products. 

    Leading the digital transformation

    The signing demonstrates our joint commitment to lead the digital transformation of our industry. The software and hardware from this joint venture will be crucial for achieving unprecedented levels of safety, comfort, and efficiency for our customers, says Karin Rådström, CEO of Daimler Truck.

    Martin Lundstedt, president and CEO of the Volvo Group, adds we are joining forces to redefine software architecture and pioneer a new era of self-optimizing trucks.

    Together we are removing complexity to allow our customers to unlock higher levels of connectivity, safety and efficiency and continually push for a greater performance. It is a revolutionary response to the challenges of our modern world, and we are proud to be setting the industry standard.

    The joint venture’s activities will include the specification and procurement of centralized high-performance control units dedicated for commercial vehicles and capable of handling large amounts of data.

    The new company will develop an operating system and tools which vehicle manufacturers can use as a basis to develop their own differentiating digital vehicle features. This will decouple software and hardware development cycles in the future and enable customers to purchase and update digital applications wirelessly over the air, ultimately enhancing customer efficiency and experience. 

    Volvo group and daimler truck will remain competitors and continue to differentiate their complete product and services offerings, including their respective digital solutions.

  • New research on octopus-inspired technology to maneouver underwater objects

    New research on octopus-inspired technology to maneouver underwater objects

    Having the ability to grab and release these underwater objects like heavy rocks, small shells, and soft beads, and other debris could be a powerful tool for underwater salvage and even rescue operations. Their findings have been published in Advanced Science.

    This work was performed with undergraduate researchers Austin Via, Aldo Heredia, and Daniel Adjei from Virginia Tech. Graduate Research Assistant Chanhong Lee was first author on the paper, reporting research supported by the National Science Foundation through the Designing Materials to Revolutionize and Engineer our Future program.

    I am fascinated with how an octopus in one moment can hold something strongly, then release it instantly. It does this underwater, on objects that are rough, curved, and irregular – that is quite a feat, Bartlett said.

    (more…)
  • ABB launches new white paper describing impact of gearless mill drive technology on CO2 emissions

    ABB launches new white paper describing impact of gearless mill drive technology on CO2 emissions

    ABB has released an in-depth white paper detailing the vital role that gearless grinding technologies can play in driving productivity in mining while simultaneously reducing their carbon footprint.

    One of the key findings in the report, based upon extensive testing of ABB’s current installed base of Gearless Mill Drives (GMDs), is the high level of efficiency they provide. GMDs can be up to 3.6 percent more energy efficient than Ring-Geared Mill Drives (RMDs), reducing energy consumption and operational costs of the mine.

    This level of efficiency across ABB’s GMD installed base equates to 195 kt of CO2 – the equivalent of 89,000 cars taken off the road. Even a conservative 2 percent of increased efficiency equates to 106 kt of CO2 saved, or 49,000 cars taken off the road. (more…)

  • Apple to scrap sim cards in future, expert suggests

    Apple to scrap sim cards in future, expert suggests

    With the release of the new iPhone 16, which is now the 3rd consecutive iPhone to be eSIM-only in the US, eSIM expert and COO at Nomad eSIM, Eric Morhenn shares some insights about the future of SIM cards

    Apple’s decision to produce and sell only eSIM-compatible iPhones for the US market is another step towards a wider global strategy. Their vision is to move away from physical SIM cards completely within the next few product cycles.

    We can expect Apple to make the same move – starting as early as the iPhone 17 or 18 – in international markets like Europe, Japan, and Singapore, where the digital infrastructure is strong. Alongside Apple, it is likely that one of the major Android providers, such as Samsung, will follow a similar trajectory and also transition to eSIM-only in the near future. (more…)

  • Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust appoints new board to safeguard role and to accelerate future strategy

    Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust appoints new board to safeguard role and to accelerate future strategy

    Stuart Dyble, who has served as a trustee of the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust for the past 25 years, has been appointed Chairman. Dyble, the Founder and Executive Chairman of global automotive public relations consultancy Influence Associates and Influence Emobility, led the Jaguar Land Rover Global Communications Team as Board Director from 2000 to 2007 as well as a series of other Board Level roles at OEMs and in the Global motor Industry.

    Keith Benjamin has been appointed Managing Director of the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust. Benjamin’s exceptional experience across various brands in the global automotive industry includes 37 years at OEM board level, 12 of which were spent as Jaguar Land Rover’s Legal Director.

    The appointment of Jaguar Managing Director Rawdon Glover as a board member demonstrates the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust’s strong links with Jaguar today at the highest possible level and is a key stakeholder in the past present and future of the Jaguar brand. (more…)

  • Volvo trucks ramps up the use of low-CO2-emission steel

    Volvo trucks ramps up the use of low-CO2-emission steel

    Volvo is now ramping up the use of low-CO2-emission steel in its trucks. Volvo was the world’s first truck manufacturer to introduce this type of steel in its electric trucks in 2022. Now the company is expanding the use of low-CO2-emission steel to include all drivelines.

    The new steel is produced by the Swedish steel company SSAB and called SSAB Zero. It is made from recycled material and produced using fossil-free electricity and biogas. As a result, CO2 is reduced by around 80 percent compared to the production of conventional steel using fossil energy.

    Next year, the frame rails in around 12,000 Volvo FH and FM trucks will be made of low-CO2-emission steel. This will result in savings of 6,600 tons of CO2 Equivalents. As the availability of low-CO2-emission steel increases, it will be introduced in more truck models as well as in other parts of the truck.

    Volvo is also planning to replace other materials in its trucks with lower emissions alternatives.

    “This is an additional step towards our zero emissions vision. Steel is one of the main materials in our trucks. We are also looking to exchange other materials, such as aluminium and plastic, to low emission alternatives. We are proud to lead the way in the industry when it comes to sustainable material in our trucks,” says Jan Hjelmgren, Senior Vice President Product Management and Quality, Volvo Trucks.

    Half of the truck consists of steel

    The potential for lowering CO2 emissions is high as almost half the truck consists of steel (47 percent of a Volvo FH diesel truck), and it represents about 44 percent of the CO2 emissions from the production (cradle to gate) out of the total 21 tons CO2 Equivalents  for the Volvo FH diesel.

    Volvo Group is collaborating with several suppliers around low-CO2-emission steel. Low-CO2-emission steel will be an important complement to the traditional and recycled steel used in Volvo’s trucks.

    Volvo Trucks is committed to the Paris agreement and to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the supply chain by 2040, at the latest.

    “We are continuously striving to further minimize our climate footprint. We are also moving towards greater circularity in both our operations and our trucks. Many of our factories, transports and dealers are today running on renewable energy,” says Jan Hjelmgren.