For more than 120 years, racing has been used to improve the performance and safety of automobiles. Along the way, numerous innovations developed for use on the race track have trickled down to road cars. That tradition continues today, as engineers push the boundaries of autonomous systems technology.

Manufacturing in the age of Industry 4.0, digitally connected machines and smart factories require a new breed of engineers who are equipped with a fresh set of skills. That’s why Arizona State University recently launched the School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks.

Overheating is one of the biggest challenges facing engineers developing new types of battery technology. Too much thermal activity can reduce performance, cause malfunctions and increase the risk of fires and other serious problems in electric vehicles.

Traditionally, electric traction motors use permanent magnets made with rare-earth metals. However, materials such as dysprosium and neodymium are a limited resource.

If you're trying to lose weight, some types of sandwiches are good. In particular, structural sandwiches are popular with engineers engaged in vehicle lightweighting efforts, because they can produce subassemblies that are both light and stiff.

Milwaukee is home to a variety of leading manufacturers, including A.O. Smith, Briggs & Stratton, GE Healthcare, Harley-Davidson, Johnson Controls, Komatsu Mining, Master Lock, Modine and Rexnord. It's also home to an organization that's at the forefront of Industry 4.0 research.