engineers Archives

Read This: Toyota donates engineers, not money, to country’s largest anti-hunger charity

Filed under: Etc., Toyota

The Food Bank of New York City

Key to production of any kind is efficiency – the ability to achieve maximum productivity with minimal effort or waste. Toyota has become a master of efficiency, with streamlined manufacturing operations around the world. In fact, the Japanese brand has become so well known for efficient operations that it now offers consulting services for organizations and companies outside the auto industry.

It also offers the same consulting for non-profits, free of charge. The New York Times took an in-depth look at the transformative impact that Toyota’s engineers had on the city’s charities, including The Food Bank, the country’s largest anti-hunger charity. The auto manufacturer helped revolutionize the way these organizations served the community, showing that there’s more to corporate philanthropy than just donating money.

Head on over to the Times‘ website and give the story a read.

Toyota donates engineers, not money, to country’s largest anti-hunger charity originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Aug 2013 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Chevy engineers get into the sound collage thing with 2011 Cruze

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Etc., Videos, Chevrolet

Chevrolet Cruse sound engineers

2011 Chevrolet Cruze mixes it up – Click above to watch video after the jump

Development engineers rarely get to have the same kind of fun as, say the guys out flogging the crap out of prototype mules on the test track, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a good time. A few of the lab coats behind making sure the audible quality of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze is up to par have gotten together to work up a sound collage featuring all of the moving bits on the new compact.

If you’re looking for an up close and personal look at just how tomb-like the sedan’s doors actually are or you have a thing for watching an engineer stomp and clap his hands at the same time, you’ll want to check out the video after the jump. If you like what you hear, the Cruze starts at a meager $16,995. Thanks for the tip, Mike!

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Cruze: First Drive

[Source: Chevrolet via YouTube]

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Video: Chevy engineers get into the sound collage thing with 2011 Cruze originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mid-engined Corvette development confirmed… by Saab engineers?!

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Technology, Chevrolet, Rumormill

1990 General Motors CERV III concept

Before things went all tipsy in the auto market, the engineers at General Motors were apparently hard at work on some pretty interesting projects. How interesting? How about an actual mid-engine Corvette? Autocar says that an unnamed Saab engineer confirmed that the Swedish automaker had actually been charged with developing a transmission for such a beast when the company was still under The General’s wing. Evidently, the cog box used a wet clutch setup and was built to handle up to 590 lb-ft of torque. If you’re keeping score at home, you’ll likely note that those twist figures are just south of what the ZR1 puts to the pavement right now.

How about them apples.

As Autocar points out, that project was canned when credit went tighter than a fat man’s socks, but there may be a ray of light in this whole tale. The UK publication claims that GM has fired up the burners under the C7 project one more time, and that a mid-engine chassis will indeed be part of the recipe. If you’re buying what Autocar is selling – and we’re not necessarily in that group – a turbo V6 will supply the car’s grunt, too.

[Source: Autocar]

Mid-engined Corvette development confirmed… by Saab engineers?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Engineers embark on driverless van odyssey from Italy to China

Filed under: Aftermarket, Minivan/Van, China, Europe, Technology, Russia, Electric

A team of intrepid software engineers are out drive a full 8,000 miles from Italy to China in an autonomous electric van, all while going no faster than 37 mph. Talk about a road trip.

The stunt is being headed up by tech company VisLab as a real-world test of the its artificial vision and intelligence systems. So, how does one go about parading a driverless van half way around the globe? Carefully. Two engineers will be positioned in the “driverless” van, with one person behind the wheel just in case something goes fruity. Meanwhile, another two workers will pilot a lead vehicle. The autonomous van will take cues from the people-driven version, but will still rely on a camera array to detect potential obstacles and issues.

The company’s route will take the team through Moscow traffic, the frigid temperatures of the Gobi desert and the roadless realms of Siberia. If that’s not challenging enough, the vans are both all-electric, and with the advanced technology onboard, the vehicles’ batteries must be recharged for eight hours for every two to three hours of driving. The team expects to work in about four hours of driving per day. Needless to say, it’s going to take a while – the whole shindig is expected to run a full three months.

[Source: VisLab via Associated Press]

Engineers embark on driverless van odyssey from Italy to China originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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