At the end of each month on our website we’ll feature a roundup of the news that’s grabbed our attention from across our industry. We might not cover all of our sectors every month, but watch this space!
Executive
Schot to continue leading Audi
Bram Schot, appointed as interim CEO at Audi after Rupert Stadler was jailed last summer, has been given the job permanently. Formerly chief of Sales and Marketing for the brand, he joined VW Group from Mercedes-Benz in 2011, taking up his previous role in 2017. Untainted by the emissions scandal, Schot has convinced brand insiders with his leadership of cultural change and is considered well-placed to lead the continuing transformation of the company.
Source: https://www.autonews.com/executives/schot-named-permanent-ceo-audi
Motorsport
Formula wheeee!
We’ve been championing Formula E here at Gerrell & Hard for some time. Earlier this year we wrote about how the sport is seen by industry insiders as a proving ground for technology that can then be adapted for wider use, thus playing an important role in the greening of an industry that has, until recently, been slow to evolve with the times. This article tells more about the BBC’s extensive coverage of the ePrix 2018-19 season.
There are plenty of reasons to be excited about the sport, which is now entering its fifth season – not least that the new generation of cars has already impressed driver Nico Rosberg in a public test. But more than this, it’s a revolution in racing entertainment, with a degree of interactivity and gamification that makes it a spectacle where the audience is a part of the action. Although Formula E is emphatically not attempting to supplant its more established (and much noisier) big brother, could it be the future of vehicle track racing? Either way, bring it on!
Automotive
Investment keeps 1000mph project alive
Bloodhound SSC, the project to build a 1,000 mph vehicle that could destroy the land speed record, has been rescued. Ian Warhurst is managing director of Melett, a supplier of replacement turbocharger repair kits for the automotive industry. The Yorkshire-based entrepreneur bought the project for an undisclosed fee after administrators had declared it unable to secure investors. This is a lifeline for the project, which has many ardent followers. Watch this space.
Source: https://www.theengineer.co.uk/bloodhound-ian-warhurst/
Future Tech
Bosch device could answer connectivity question
There is currently no single accepted standard for vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication but Bosch is looking to solve this, having developed a universal connectivity unit that will allow vehicles to share and receive data from any connected device. The device searches for the best available transmission technology as required, meaning that passengers and drivers can seamlessly receive traffic updates or stream media. The technology was developed as a partnership between Bosch and Silicon Valley start-up Veniam.
Source: https://www.theengineer.co.uk/bosch-device-vehicle-comms/
Graduates
Team Bath Racing Electric and their successful China trip
We know a lot of graduates who have had some fantastic experiences in the brilliant Formula Student events, and were delighted to read this story about how students from University of Bath had to pull together to overcome some tough technical challenges after their car was damaged in transit. Read the full story here:
https://www.theengineer.co.uk/bath-formula-student-electric-china/
Manufacturing & Technologies
IET and female STEM ambassadors.
The Institution of Engineering and Technology has recognised three young female engineers in its Young Woman Engineer of the Year awards. They are Sophie Harker, aerodynamics and performance engineer from BAE Systems, Lorna Bennet, a mechanical engineer at the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and Shajida Akthar, a software engineer from Accenture. The event aims to convert more girls and young women to the (still) vastly male-dominated engineering profession. The women will now act as ambassadors, helping to encourage more young people to pursue STEM careers. Much needed and fantastic news – there’s still a great deal of work to be done to address the huge shortfall in engineers that is facing the UK.