VIEWPOINT | EXPLORE THE NEW TECH HUB AT SAE 2015 WOLRD CONGRESS

SAE International's World Congress and Exhibition in Detroit is always a forum for the latest in automotive technologies. The 2015 event at Cobo Center April 21-23 will be no exception. But this year's Exhibition also introduces a new feature called Tech Hub designed to introduce attendees to intriguing next-generation technologies from other industries. It also will challenge engineers through exhibits and 20-minute "Tech Talks" to use those technologies to create innovative future mobility solutions.

The Tech Hub is being organized by a team of 54 executives, including Karina Morley, commercial director, Automotive, at Ricardo Inc. Morley also is vice chairman of SAE's Land and Sea Committee, which has responsibility for this year's SAE World Congress.

Why is SAE introducing the Tech Hub?

It's no secret that the challenges facing the auto industry are broader than ever, and that solutions will come in part from sources beyond the traditional supply base. The concept behind Tech Hub is to present and discuss these technologies in a very engaging and interactive manner.

SAE wants to underscore its mission of presenting not just the latest technologies but future technologies, including some that may be disruptive. Our goal is to help engineers become more aware of new options in design, materials and systems beyond the confines of the traditional automotive industry. The Tech Hub is a way to show how these innovations are being used elsewhere and to encourage the transfer of such solutions to the types of vehicles we will be using five or 10 years from now.

What will the Tech Hub look like?

It's a 5,500-sq-ft area right in the middle of the Exhibition itself, and it will be open between 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday during the World Congress. The space will include a mini-auditorium that seats 100, surrounded by exhibits of some of the most intriguing and potentially revolutionary technologies from such fields as aerospace and telecommunications.

We'll have the "driver" of the NASA Mars Rover vehicle to explain how this ultimate example of an autonomous vehicle functions tens of millions of miles from Earth. There will be vehicle tear-downs to show lightweighting concepts, a vehicle demonstration for emerging wireless technology solutions and examples of 3-D carbon-fiber-reinforced components.

What re Tech Talks all about?

SAE convened a panel of senior engineers to brainstorm on new-tech areas the auto industry must focus on in the future. They came up with topics to be shared in the Tech Hub auditorium in the form of thought-provoking presentations similar to TED talks.

The goal is to spark the imagination of mobility engineers and encourage them to think about technology transfer that can bring the automotive industry to the next level of safety, efficiency, convenience and accessibility. These talks will be delivered by presenters from Boeing, Cisco, Intel, urban transit authorities, NASA and cyber security teams from the FBI and U.S. Dept. of Defense.

How does the Tech Hub relate to the regular technical sessions?

The two complement each other. The thousands of technical papers that will be presented during the Congress tend to be focused on the latest technology developments and experimentation. Tech Hub looks at the innovations coming several years from now and from areas not traditionally covered in the technical sessions...yet.

Click HERE to learn more about the SAE 2015 World Congress and Exhibition.