CAAT Tracks
February 2017
In This Issue:
REGISTER NOW FOR THE FREE 2017 CAAT CONFERENCE
Driverless Cars, but What's Driving the Workforce?

The 2017 CAAT Conference will be held on Friday, April 28, from 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at Macomb Community College's South Campus in Warren, MI. The conference theme is "Driverless Cars, but What's Driving the Workforce?"

The event will feature Dr. Kay Stepper as the keynote speaker. Dr. Stepper is Vice President, Head of Driver Assistance and Automated Driving North America, Chassis Systems Control, Robert Bosch LLC in Plymouth, Michigan.

Dr. Stepper is responsible for the product and business development of automotive driver assistance products and systems in North America. Since joining Bosch in 1996, Dr. Stepper has held a series of engineering, research, and business positions with Robert Bosch in the U.S. and Germany. He has more than twenty years of experience in the automotive industry. Dr. Stepper received both his master's degree and his doctorate in electrical engineering from the Technical University of Berlin, Germany.

The conference will also include:
  • Opening remarks by Dr. James Jacobs, President, Macomb Community College (MCC)
  • A Tech Talk on lightweighting, fuel cells, and connected and automated vehicles by CAAT Director Bob Feldmaier
  • Workplace Reports from Jennifer Llewellyn, Manager of Oakland County's Workforce Development Office and Oakland County Michigan Works!; and Lisa Katz, Executive Director, Workforce Intelligence Network (WIN)
  • A panel discussion on workforce needs with:
    • Kim Steinfeldt, Human Resources Manager, GKN Driveline
    • Joe Petrosky, Dean, Engineering and Advanced Technology, MCC
    • Mike McMillen, System Test Manager, Continental Automotive Systems Division
    • Mary Kaye Aukee, Director of Career Focused Education, Oakland Schools
  • Curriculum development updates by CAAT Assistant Director, Nelson Kelly, MCC
Breakfast and lunch are included at no cost to conference attendees. While the conference is free, advance registration is required. Please note, the CAAT is unable to provide financial support for participant travel expenses.

REGISTER NOW FOR THE 2017 NACAT CONFERENCE
The CAAT and Macomb Community College are proud to be hosting the 2017 North American Council of Automotive Teachers (NACAT) Conference at our South Campus in Warren, MI. The member registration rate is $275 through April 30. After April 30, the rate increases to $325. The non-member rate is $425. Join NACAT and register for the conference before April 30 for a net savings of $75.

A paid conference registration will provide delegates with access to:
  • Sunday evening reception
  • Monday member meeting and keynote speaker (Tim Annes, Head of Advance Design, FCA-North America)
  • Four days of training seminars
  • Monday evening river boat cruise (limited number of tickets available)
  • Tuesday evening BBQ, classic car show, and valve cover races
  • Wednesday evening trade show
  • Thursday morning vendor product training
  • Thursday evening reception, dinner, and awards ceremony
You may return to the registration site at any time to purchase additional function tickets for family members.

Find out more about the 2017 NACAT Conference, including hotel accommodations, family activities, and information about Macomb Community College and the city of Detroit.


Macomb Community College is actively recruiting seminar presenters. Whether you have presented in the past or are considering presenting for the first time, please complete the online presenter information form, so we can coordinate with you. Presenters do so freely of their own will and do not receive a stipend or any type of payment. Share your knowledge with the educators and help shape the next generation of students!

The conference will include a trade show on Wednesday evening at Macomb's Expo Center. Potential exhibitors are encouraged to visit the NACAT Conference trade show information page, or contact Bill Haas at billh@nacat.org. Concessions will be available at the Expo Center during the trade show.

We are also seeking sponsors to participate in this international automotive training conference!

Being a NACAT trainer, exhibitor, or sponsor is a great way for you and your company to connect with conference participants. For more information on how you or your company can engage with MCC and NACAT on this event, please contact Sherri Doherty at dohertys@macomb.edu or 586-447-8618.

THREE NEW IN-CLASSROOM STEM LABS TO CHOOSE FROM - AND THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY FREE!

Did you know the CAAT added three new offerings to its list of FREE In-Classroom STEM Labs? That's right, middle school classrooms now have three new labs to choose from. They are:

Space Shuttle Launch
Students build a Space Shuttle out of various materials and propel it horizontally (or vertically) on a string, using balloon power. The students work together to solve the problem of attaching their shuttle onto the launch cord, creating the propulsion system and improving on the aerodynamic design of the shuttle to propel it farther. There will be a contest between all groups to see whose shuttle can go the farthest.

Bouyancy Lab
Students design a boat out of various materials with the objective of holding the most coins before sinking. Students figure out surface area, center of gravity and material use in order to be successful. Students improve upon their design after building and testing. There will be a contest between all groups to see whose boat can hold the most coins before sinking.

Acid/Base Detection
Students use a pH indicator to test various liquids to discover their pH levels. Students learn about the pH scale and what it means.


Didn't see what you were looking for? Contact Saleta McMurray at 586-445-7127 or mcmurrays36@macomb.edu to discuss the possibility of creating a customized lab to complement your specific curriculum needs!

Learn More
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NEW MATERIALS ADDED TO THE CAAT RESOURCE LIBRARY!
Reports and Analysis

Material Qualification in the Automotive Industry
Explains the material qualification process in the automotive industry and highlights opportunities to reduce the qualification barrier.
Assessing Fleetwide Material Tech and Costs to Lightweight Vehicles
Provides insight to the technology and cost to reduce vehicle weight for the U.S. fleet of light-duty vehicles.
Impact of Automated Vehicle Technologies on Driver Skills
The impacts of technological dependence on driving skills and the ability to operate the vehicle during automated vehicle (AV) failure or limitation.
Performance Based Planning and Programming for Pavement Management
The potential for using data sources related to emerging connected and automated vehicle technologies for pavement condition assessment.
Building Capacity and Capability in the Bio-based Materials Manufacturing Sector
Exploring pathways toward building capacity and capability in automotive use of manufactured biomaterials.
Mixed Materials Solutions Alternative Materials for Door Assemblies
The Coalition for Automotive Lightweighting Materials (CALM) project focuses on mixed-material solutions for a high volume vehicle door.
Why Ethics Matters for Autonomous Cars
For autonomous vehicles to operate responsibly on our roads, they will need to replicate or improve the human decision-making process while driving.
Intelligent Vehicles
This chapter from the Springer Handbook of Robotics describes the emerging robotics field of intelligent vehicles - motor vehicles that have autonomous functions and capabilities.
Applications for the Environment-Real Time Information Synthesis (AERIS)
(AERIS) research program is the environmental component of the ITS Joint Program Office's connected vehicle research program.
Smart City Challenge Lessons Learned
Ideas from the 78 U.S. cities that proposed a wide range of innovative approaches to tackling urban mobility challenges.
History of Intelligent Transportation Systems
An overview on the advances in transportation including connected and automated vehicles. What can be done to help shape the future of the Industry.
Connected Vehicles, Vehicle-To-Pedestrian Communications
The USDOT has been researching and testing connected vehicle communication that will enable new safety, mobility, and environmental advancements.
Connected Vehicles and Your Privacy
The Department of Transportation's (DOT) assurance of consumer protection from unwarranted privacy risks resulting from V2V and V2I communications.
Connected Vehicles and Cybersecurity
Report on how the US Department of Transportation is improving the nation's vehicle cybersecurity posture and capabilities.
Dynamic Mobility Applications
Foster the development of open-source applications that use multi-source ITS data to transform surface transportation management and information.

See all Resources, and remember to rate and review them.
RESOURCE LIBRARY SPOTLIGHT ITEM
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) ePrimer

The ITS ePrimer covers fundamental concepts and practices related to ITS technologies. This online resource can help practicing professionals and students better understand how ITS is integrated into planning, design, deployment, and operations systems.The ITS ePrimer can be used as a stand-alone reference document for the practitioner or as a text for education and training programs.

Here is a glimpse at the contents:


Download this free resource: ITS ePrimer
HOW DOES ACTIVE LANE KEEPING WORK?

Active lane keeping assist systems were created to alert the driver if a vehicle is moving out of its lane, and if necessary, steer the vehicle back to the center of the lane. This centering is accomplished using a forward mounted camera to read the lines in the road and by adjusting vehicle direction through the electric power steering or by applying the brakes to one side of the car. These systems are currently developed for highway use and operate at speeds greater than 40-45 mph.

Visit the CAAT's page Automated Vehicle Technologies Available Now to see a video of this technology in action.
CAN MERGING SLOW DOWN THE ROLL OUT OF AUTONOMOUS DRIVING?

Merging. Human drivers do it all the time with relative ease. But, according to Continental's 2025AD website, the double lane merge has been dubbed the "holy grail" of autonomous driving. In fact, the complexities involved in programming a vehicle to merge lanes with other vehicles may even slow down the development and rollout of autonomous driving.This is "because a double lane merge is not done by humans as a series of rules, but an interactive series of negotiations. Drivers must attempt to merge into a lane, essentially requesting that other drivers yield. Because this creates a multitude of variables that can differ in each attempt, programming strict if/then rules into a computer program will not work."

Visit 2025AD to learn more.
EMOTIONALLY AWARE CARS?

Consumers expect and desire an interactive experience with their electronic devices and automotive manufacturers are keeping this in mind as they build the next generation of vehicles which will be powered with artificial intelligence (AI). These advanced vehicles will connect the vehicle's driver and passengers to their personal devices and the vehicle itself through the Internet of Things. Furthermore, emotion recognition technology will be used to sense a driver's emotions and respond accordingly. For example, sensors can be used to determine a driver's level of alertness and assist the driver when needed, resulting in increased road safety, one of the most compelling reasons to use emotionally-based AI.

Honda's NeuV concept car, recently unveiled at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show, is a "city-friendly, lightweight electric car that has Honda's Automated Network Assistant (HANA) on board" which allows the vehicle to sense the driver's emotions and moods.

FORD TO INVEST $1 BILLION INTO AI COMPANY TO DEVELOP SELF-DRIVING CARS

Ford Motor Company plans to invest $1 billion over five years into an artificial intelligence company to develop Ford self-driving vehicles. This is in conjunction with the company's goal to have autonomous cars on the road by 2021. The vehicle will not have a steering wheel, brake pedal, or acceleration pedal, making it a fully autonomous (Level 4) vehicle. The vehicle's intended use is for ride-sharing or ride-hailing purposes and the company hopes to sell 100,000 or more per year.

SAFETY FIRST IN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
Hybrid Technologies Clinics

This resource, developed by Lansing Community College (LCC), educates first responders, technicians, and the general public on the operation, technology, and safety concerns related to electric and hybrid vehicles (EVs and HEVs). Developed with seed funding from the CAAT, the seminar slides include:
Hybrid and Electric Vehicle First Responder Procedures
Topics: Identifying a Hybrid, First Responder's Approach, Vehicle Specifics, and Emergency Response Guides (ERGs)

Service Hybrid Vehicles Safely
Topics: Vehicle Levels, Voltages, Interpreting Service Information, Hybrid Service Safety, Hybrid Battery Technology and Safety, and Vehicle Inspection

Hybrid and Electric Drivetrains and Types of Batteries
Topics: Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Propulsion Systems, Levels of Hybrid Vehicles, Battery Voltages, Chemical Content of Different Types of Batteries, Gasoline-Electric Hybrids, and Hydraulic Hybrids

Download this free resource: Hybrid Technologies Clinics
Don't forget to rate and review this and any other resource you download.
FEATURED ON CAAT's SOCIAL MEDIA:

The potential for threats against the vast amounts of data being generated by autonomous vehicles and other parts of the connected vehicle ecosystem will require employees skilled in cybersecurity.

Job opportunities in this area are growing at a rate 60% higher than other nationwide jobs with a pay rate nearly double the median hourly wage.

In addition to the high paying careers in cybersecurity, many jobs are going unfilled. In response to the job demand, Wayne State University has opened the Cyber Range Hub at Wayne State University's Advanced Technology Education Center in Warren across from Macomb Community College's South Campus.

Educational offerings in cybersecurity will be available to students, and industry professionals that want to expand their knowledge as well as secure software testing.

See also the new resource: Connected Vehicles and Cybersecurity.
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