SAE Tomorrow Today

Latest Episodes:

190. Transforming Freight With Intelligent Movement Nov 09, 2023

Show notes

By combining electric power, digital intelligence, and autonomous driving technology, one company is transforming the world of shipping and freight management for good.

Founded in 2016, Einride designs, develops and deploys technologies for freight mobility. The company’s offerings include an intelligent platform, Einride Saga, alongside electric and autonomous fleets, charging infrastructure, and connectivity networks.

In 2022, the company became the first to operate a fully electric autonomous heavy duty vehicle without a driver on board in an operational pilot on U.S. public road. By developing a completely bespoke autonomous truck, Einride offers customers a clean, safe, and efficient way to ship.

To learn more about the future of intelligent freight, we sat down with Tim Dawkins, Senior Safety Director, Einride, to discuss the company’s interconnected ecosystem and how it enables faster, greener, and cheaper freight.

We’d love to hear from you. Share your comments, questions and ideas for future topics and guests to podcast@sae.org. Don’t forget to take a moment to follow SAE Tomorrow Today—a podcast where we discuss emerging technology and trends in mobility with the leaders, innovators and strategists making it all happen—and give us a reviewon your preferred podcasting platform.

Follow SAE on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Follow host Grayson Brulte on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

189. Bringing eVTOL to Market Nov 02, 2023

Show notes

All-electric flight will soon become a reality—and one company is building the infrastructure that will enable it to scale and commercialize.

As a pioneer in sustainable high-speed air mobility, Lilium is one of the only all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) companies seeking dual certification with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Since 2015, the company has designed, built, and tested five generations of proprietary technology.

The Lilium Jet can adapt for a range of customers and uses. The most spacious cabin arrangement is designed for private flights and includes luxurious club seating. Alternatively, the cabin can be configured with six seats for passenger flights, or without seats to serve the zero-emissions logistics market.

For insight into Lilium’s technology and the future of air mobility, we sat down with Alastair McIntosh, Chief Technology Officer, Lilium, to discuss the company’s revolutionary electric propulsion system, decarbonizing aviation, and the path toward eVTOL commercialization.

Follow SAE on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Follow host Grayson Brulte on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

188. Building a Winning Career in Motorsports Oct 26, 2023

Show notes

Long regarded as one of the most influential women in NASCAR, decorated auto racing engineer Alba Colón came to Hendrick Motorsports as Director of Technical Partnerships after a storied career with General Motors that spanned more than two decades.

Under Colón’s leadership, Chevrolet was the most dominant manufacturer in the NASCAR Cup Series, amassing 286 race wins, 12 driver championships and 14 manufacturer titles. Since joining Hendrick Motorsports in 2018, the team has won 48 races and 2 driver championships. If history is any guide, many more are in store.

From her early years in Puerto Rico to taking part in her first Formula SAE competition, we sat down with Alba to discuss her passion for motorsports and her dedication to advancing women in engineering which won her the prestigious Rodica Baranescu Award for Technical & Leadership Excellence from SAE International in 2022.

SAE Awards honor the very best in mobility, recognizing the extraordinary achievements of executives, engineers, students, and educators. If you want to learn more, serve on a selection committee, or nominate a deserving colleague---or yourself---send an e-mail to awards@sae.org.

Follow SAE on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Follow host Grayson Brulte on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

187. UNPLUGGED: Is Social Media Hindering AV Advancement? Oct 19, 2023

Show notes

Today, there is a rush to be the first person to post a video or photo of an autonomous vehicle in a compromising light. But what impact is that having on the advancement of the industry?

Many of us don’t know the history of aviation and the risks that were taken to advance flight. Autonomous vehicles are having their Wright Brothers moment. When new technologies are developed and commercialized, there's always risk. What makes it worth it is the resulting technology that will decrease road fatalities and put an end to distracted driving.

Join Grayson Brulte, Host of SAE Tomorrow Today, as he uses history to explain why society must avoid click-bait coverage of the AV industry to advance autonomy and make our world safer.

Have your own thoughts on this topic? We’d love to hear from you! Share your comments, questions or ideas for future topics with Grayson on Twitter or send them to podcast@sae.org.

Follow SAE on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Follow host Grayson Brulte on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

186. Evolving SAE Aircraft Safety Standards Oct 12, 2023

Show notes

Formed in 1992, the SAE S-18 Aircraft & Systems Development and Safety Assessment Committee is tasked by the FAA to capture consensus industry safety procedures into a recommended practice. For over 25 years, the S-18 documents have been the cornerstone of product development and safety in aviation.

As new aircraft technologies like eVTOL and autonomous flights emerge, the S-18 committee is keeping pace with updated guidance for more complex aviation systems. In fact, the committee is currently working on the release of revised versions of two longstanding critical modern aviation safety standards in an effort to adapt to a rapidly transforming industry.

To learn more, we sat down with Andy Wallington, System Safety Engineer and SAE S-18 Vice Chairperson, The Boeing Company, and Steve Beland, Retired Technical Fellow - System Safety and recent SAE S-18A Co-Chairperson, to discuss their commitment to updated guidance and aviation safety.

For updates on the release of SAE’s revised aircraft standards, visit www.sae.org/foundations-of-aircraft-and-systems-safety. And don’t forget to register for AeroTech, SAE International’s premier professional conference on aerospace technology.

If you’d like to get involved in developing SAE mobility standards, visit www.sae.org/standards/development.

Follow SAE on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Follow host Grayson Brulte on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

185. Fighting Wildfires with AI-Powered Drones Oct 05, 2023

Show notes

Every year, wildfires result in the loss of thousands of lives, millions of acres, and hundreds of billions of dollars. But the powerful combination of AI and drone technology can change how we fight wildfires and mitigate the loss of life, property, and forests.

Data Blanket is a Seattle-based startup developing small fleets of AI-powered drones that autonomously carry out missions for assessing wildfires and relaying vital information to commanders. The data is used to map the perimeter of a fire, overlay locations of firefighting crews and equipment, and ultimately contain the blaze by creating boundaries.

We sat down with Omer Bar-Yohay, Co-Founder & CEO, Data Blanket, to discuss his extensive knowledge and experience in mobility, the future of AI-powered drones, and his passion for electric and eVTOL aircraft technology which won him the inaugural SAE Sustainable Aviation Award in 2022.

Follow SAE on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Follow host Grayson Brulte on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

184. Setting Realistic Expectations for Trucking Decarbonization Sep 28, 2023

Show notes

The strategy to transition away from carbon-based fuels must be rooted in reality. Success depends on cost parity, the right market incentives, necessary infrastructure, and access to a wide array of scarce natural resources.

As an alliance of trucking industry stakeholders committed to a clean energy future, the Clean Freight Coalition is bringing sanity to the electrification conversation. From rational policymaking to balanced national standards, their goal is to ensure a zero-emission future is achieved in a responsible manner—one that assures affordable and reliable freight transportation and protects the nation's supply chain.

We sat down with Jim Mullen, Executive Director, Clean Freight Coalition, to discuss the trucking industry’s proven track record of environmental stewardship, the need to incentivize options other than battery electric for trucking fleets, and how unrealistic expectations could put our economy into a tailspin.

Follow SAE on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Follow host Grayson Brulte on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

183. Drive-Through Vehicle Inspections Powered by AI Sep 21, 2023

Show notes

We all know traditional vehicle inspections are time-consuming, manual, and often subjective. But what if there was an easier and more accurate way?

Enter UVeye, the industry’s first vehicle inspection system based on advanced AI, computer-vision, and machine learning technologies for use in dealerships, fleets, and auction spaces. The company has developed a set of products that scan the entire vehicle and detect any type of defect or damage— from alignment issues to minor scratches, and even bomb detection.

Together with its seamless, drive-through experience, UVeye is transforming vehicle inspections by enabling service providers to shift their focus to customers, thus building trust and transparency throughout the vehicle inspection process.

To learn more, we sat down with Daphna Meroz, Senior Director of Strategic Business Development, UVeye, to discuss the company’s technology, the type of data it analyzes, and how automated vehicle inspections will impact insurance companies and the used car market.

Follow SAE on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Follow host Grayson Brulte on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

182. UNPLUGGED: With Actors on Strike, California Needs Autonomy Sep 14, 2023

Show notes

As the SAG-AFTRA strike continues, California’s economy continues to suffer. Small businesses that once provided services to the movie industry are beginning to shut down due to a lack of work. The longer the strike continues, the more California will need the jobs that tech industries, like autonomous trucking, create.

Governor Newsom recognizes the positive impact that the tech industry has on the state’s economy. That’s why his administration has come out forcefully against AB-316 which requires a safety driver in an autonomous truck at all times. The bill in its current form would handicap the entire autonomous trucking industry and force companies to relocate to other states.

Join Grayson Brulte, Host of SAE Tomorrow Today, as he breaks down the effect of the writers’ and actors’ strike in California and the negative impact AB-316 would have on the autonomous trucking industry.

Have your own thoughts on this topic? We’d love to hear from you! Share your comments, questions or ideas for future topics with Grayson on Twitter or send them to podcast@sae.org.

Follow SAE on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Follow host Grayson Brulte on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

181. The Truck Driver’s Role in an Autonomous Future Sep 07, 2023

Show notes

As autonomous trucking scales, what role will professional drivers play? According to one company, the answer is a big one.

As world-leading experts in self-driving, Waabi is speeding up the curve of autonomous trucking with their generative AI simulation platform. But their leadership in the AV space goes beyond their revolutionary technology. By creating the industry’s first Million Mile Driver Advisory Board, Waabi is tapping into the knowledge of the world’s most experienced truck drivers—and giving them a long-overdue seat at the AV development table.

To learn more, we sat down with Sam Loesche, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Waabi, to discuss the state of autonomous trucking, the importance of partnering closely with truck drivers, and how autonomy will change the way we move goods in this country forever.

Follow SAE on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Follow host Grayson Brulte on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected