Our Connected World | TE Connectivity

In this episode of the Our Connected World podcast, we delve into the transformative impact of discrete, hybrid, and process automation technologies on manufacturing. As these technologies evolve, manufacturers are achieving unprecedented economies of scale, customization opportunities, and maintenance predictability. Yet, there is much more to be done to fully realize their potential. This episode explores how industrial engineers can bridge the technical gap to develop new architectures, enabling smarter machines across factory floors.

What steps can industrial engineers take to advance smart manufacturing? How can they leverage new technologies to create more flexible and efficient production processes? These questions and more are explored in today's episode.

Episode Highlights:

• Virtual PLCs and Flexible Production: Ivan discusses how virtual PLCs enable flexible, decentralized production, reducing hardware costs and enhancing real-time decision-making.

• Smart Industrial Machines: Anil explains the benefits of modular and adaptable systems, emphasizing the shift towards sustainable and efficient manufacturing processes.

• Robotic Automation: The conversation covers the role of modern robots, from AGVs to cobots, in increasing production flexibility and efficiency through reprogrammable and AI-enhanced capabilities.

In today's episode of the Our Connected World podcast, we dive into the future of vehicle design, focusing on the transformative impact of advancements in smart vehicle technology. With the rapid shift towards electrification and the increasing complexity of automotive systems, the industry is experiencing a significant evolution. This episode explores the trends driving these changes and the implications for vehicle architecture.

What does the future hold for vehicle design? How are technologies like autonomous driving reshaping the landscape? These questions and more are tackled in this engaging discussion.

• Advancements in Vehicle Electrification: Lamar discusses the rapid pace of innovation in electric vehicles and the shift towards standardized and modular electronic systems.

• Zonal vs. Domain-Centralized Architectures: An in-depth comparison of the benefits and challenges of zonal architecture, including cost reduction, improved reliability, and enhanced cybersecurity.

• Future of Software-Defined Vehicles: Insight into how software development is becoming central to vehicle design, driving a shift from hardware-centric to software-centric systems.

In this episode of Our Connected World by TE Connectivity, Michelle Dawn Mooney speaks with two TE Connectivity experts in eVTOL architectures and aerospace technologies: Martin Cullen, Senior Manager for Business Development and Matt McAlonis, Engineering Fellow, Aerospace. Their insights are grounded in years of experience and participation in key industry events like the 2024 Vertical Flight Society show.

During this conversation, they discuss the advancements, challenges, and future outlook of Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) technologies. They also cover the importance of battery technology for eVTOLs, the operational and maintenance requirements for these aircraft, and the need for regulatory and infrastructure standardization to facilitate global adoption.

Key Takeaways:

• The prime source of innovation in eVTOLs lies in battery technology, including cell chemistry and packaging.

• Addressing eVTOL's operational and maintenance needs is crucial, particularly in terms of infrastructure and serviceability at remote locations.

• The need for standardized regulations and infrastructure, especially for charging systems, to ensure the global adoption of eVTOL technologies.

In this episode of "Connected World" podcast, hosted by Michelle Dawn Mooney and brought to you by TE Connectivity, the discussion centers on the rapid shift in automotive technology towards software-defined vehicles (SDVs). This evolution is marked by a change in consumer preferences, moving away from traditional metrics like horsepower and acceleration to prioritizing comfort, connectivity, safety, and sustainability. Rudi Ostermann, VP and CTO for Global Automotive at TE Connectivity, sheds light on how these changes are influencing vehicle design and the automotive industry overall, particularly in response to recent trends observed at the Shanghai Motor Show.

Main Points of Conversation:

1. The shift in consumer behavior towards valuing software-defined features like connectivity, safety, and upgradability over traditional vehicle performance metrics.

2. The transition from subsystem-based vehicle design to a more integrated, software-centric approach, which is reshaping vehicle architecture and component requirements.

3. Challenges and opportunities in the design and production of SDVs, focusing on reliability, efficiency, sustainability, and the need for advanced electronics and circuitry.

Guest Bio: Rudi Ostermann has dedicated his career to the automotive industry, working with major OEMs for several decades, including the last nine years at TE Connectivity. His insights are grounded in a deep understanding of the industry's evolution and emerging trends.

The world of aerospace is abuzz with the electrification of aircraft, specifically focusing on eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) technology. As urban areas become increasingly congested and the global population seeks sustainable and efficient travel options, the stakes are high in the race to commercialize eVTOLs. According to industry insiders, eVTOL technology could revolutionize urban mobility, dramatically reducing commute times and the environmental footprint compared to traditional transportation methods.

But what is propelling this burgeoning sector, and how will these flying vehicles integrate into our daily lives? This episode dives deep into these questions, exploring the engineering challenges in designing eVTOL systems and the differences from other types electric-powered vehicles and traditional aircraft.

Join us on "Our Connected World," hosted by Michelle Dawn Mooney, for a discussion with aerospace experts from TE Connectivity (TE), Matt McAlonis, a TE engineering fellow, and Martin Cullen, a senior leader in TE’s aerospace business development. This episode takes a comprehensive look at the evolution of eVTOL technologies, including the challenges to implementing them and the immense opportunities this presents.

Key discussion points include:

• The adaptation of electric vehicle technology in eVTOLs, for optimizing existing architectures for flight, emphasizing the higher safety and redundancy requirements.

• The distinctions between eVTOL systems and traditional aircraft, highlighting issues like weight efficiency, high-power management, and the need for new infrastructure for charging and navigation.

• The variety of eVTOL designs emerging, reflecting the industry’s exploratory phase, with companies aiming to carve out their niche in urban air mobility through various technical and business model innovations.

Hosted by Michelle Dawn Mooney, this episode of "Our Connected World" delves into the challenges and opportunities in technological innovation. Guests Shad Kroeger from TE Connectivity, Alexandra Spitler, and Dr. Dave Norris from Louisiana Tech University discuss the findings of the TE Connectivity Industrial Technology Index.

Kroeger explains that the survey aimed to understand the innovation challenges faced by companies and propose solutions. The survey revealed a divergence in how executives and engineers define innovation - executives perceive it as a complete transformation, while engineers view it as iterative improvements.

Spitler and Dr. Norris provide insights into these differing perspectives, with Norris elaborating on various types of innovation. They also discuss the survey's finding of a perceived gap in engineering skills and difficulties in collaboration as significant threats to meeting innovation goals.

The guests suggest improvements in university education to better prepare future innovators.

The episode further explores different motivations for innovation among executives and engineers. Spitler shares her personal motivation, contrasting it with the survey's findings. Kroeger, transitioning from an engineer to an executive, talks about the challenge of balancing the drive to innovate with business responsibilities.

The episode concludes with a discussion on bridging the divide between engineers and executives. Spitler and Kroeger shed light on the challenges faced by each group, while Norris suggests ways to foster better alignment. Tune in to this enlightening episode for a deep dive into the complex dynamics of innovation in the tech space.

Main Points of Conversation:

1. The TE Connectivity Industrial Technology Index survey and its purpose of understanding the challenges and opportunities in technological innovation.

2. Differences in perspectives on innovation between executives and engineers, with a focus on understanding these perspectives and bridging the gap.

3. The need for improvements in university education to better equip the future generation of innovators, addressing the perceived skill gap in engineering and challenges in collaboration.

Guest Bio:

Shad Kroeger is the President of the Industrial Solutions segment at TE Connectivity, a leading technology company. With a rich background in engineering, Kroeger's insight offers a unique blend of technical expertise and leadership acumen.

Alexandra Spitler serves as the Director of Entrepreneurial Engineering for TE’s Transportation Solutions segment, bringing with her an innovative perspective on technology and entrepreneurship.

Dr. Dave Norris is the Chief Innovation Officer at Louisiana Tech University. As a trained economist leading the innovation enterprise at a research university, Dr. Norris provides an invaluable perspective on the intersection of economics, academia, and innovation.

Commercial transportation is seeing a wave of electrification as more and more of these vehicles shift from combustion to electric. This transition has been happening gradually in the industry, and in addition to the environmental factor, gas prices have also played a major role in its expansion. As this growth continues to rise, so many components are contributing to this shift.

What types of changes are leading the shift toward electrification and what can consumers expect to see?

On Our Connected World, host Michelle Dawn Mooney interviewed Gregory Fehribach, VP of Engineering, Transportation Solutions at TE Connectivity, about the rising shift to electrification and how technology is helping shape and lead change.

On this episode Michelle and Greg further discussed …

1. Developing passenger car and commercial space

2. The types of performance and design considerations engineers look to when it comes to determining the electrification of a vehicle

3. The engineering advances and technology contributing to the electrification becoming a popular option

“The technology in the space is really developing at an incredibly rapid pace and it's able to grow from what is already been learned in the electrification of the passenger space as well. So, everything we've done for fuel efficiency on heavy-duty trucks also plays into this. The real enablers for technology is focused on efficiency and thermal management. From charging the batteries, to delivering that power to the wheel — efficiency really is key to all of this,” said Fehribach.

Gregory Fehribach is the Vice President of Engineering at TE Connectivity. He has been with the company for five years and has been in his executive role for almost two years now. Prior to that he was the company’s Senior Director Adjacency Products. Fehribach is also an alumnus of the University of Louisville and Indiana University.

With a wider consciousness of climate change, the world is becoming increasingly electrified. From passenger vehicles to home cooling and heating, the Electrification of Everything is driving enormous demand for clean, reliable electricity.

To deliver on the promise of worldwide electrification, electricity grids will require significant changes. What upgrades does the grid need in order to be prepared for electrification? And what are the challenges and solutions?

On the latest Our Connected World podcast, host Michelle Dawn Mooney chatted with Dr. Christoph Lederle, Senior Director of Global Product Management of Energy at TE Connectivity, about the electrification of everything, growing demand for renewable energy sources, and measures to fortify the grid in view of these advances.

Mooney and Lederle talk about…

1. The challenges with upgrading existing electric grids

2. How the growth rate of electrical usage will impact electrification

3. TE Connectivity's role in providing assistance and why efficient training takes precedence in that

“TE is helping the grid owners because we are in the full process. We consult, we design, we build, and we also train installers. So, we are early in the game, and we consult the grid owners, what is the right product for the application to achieve the performance. But also meeting the safety aspects, designing using the right material, using the correct design for the application, as well as building in our global footprint and our global factories; and one aspect, which is key from our perspective, is the training. So, enabling the installers of the owner to do a proper job, and as we said good installer personnel is very difficult to get currently in the market and in the installation is key for sustainable and long-term performance of the product,” said Lederle.

Dr. Lederle has been with TE for more than 15 years. He holds a Ph.D. in high voltage engineering from the Technical University of Munich.

Complex compositions of materials are all around us, enabling big improvements in advanced technologies. These materials typically possess superior properties to optimize the performance and production of a wide range of applications.

In this episode of Our Connected World, host Michelle Dawn Mooney interviewed Phil Gilchrist, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Communications Solutions at TE Connectivity. During this conversation, they discussed three topics:

1. Advanced materials and the increased expectation of mass customization

2. Alternative materials for design

3. Testing and validation of new materials

“The world is embracing advanced materials to leave the world way better than we met them,” explained Phil. Today’s biomaterials can be either natural or synthetic and composed of numerous substances, including metals, ceramics, and polymers. Some examples of biomaterials include titanium and stainless steel, which are commonly used in joint replacements. Another is polyethylene, which is used in artificial heart valves.

The creation of new materials is helping to address the increased expectation for mass customization and rapid on-demand production, Gilchrist explained. This is true in the field of biomaterials, where new materials can be designed with specific properties, such as biocompatibility, that make them well suited for a wide range of medical applications. These new materials can be produced quickly and at a lower cost than traditional materials, making them more accessible to a wider range of customers.

Fossil fuels and the internal combustion engine have powered the global economy for more than a century, but the future will be electrified. As the world adopts ambitious goals to combat climate change and reduce carbon emissions, engineers are racing to commercialize electric alternatives to the vehicles and machinery that we use every day.

In the latest episode of Our Connected World, TE Connectivity’s Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Industrial Solutions Davy Brown talks about the acceleration of the energy revolution and how TE is contributing to the transition by co-creating with customers.

Our world is becoming increasingly electrified. From electric vehicles to industrial equipment and the next generation of flight, the use cases of electrification are only growing and could fundamentally change our way of life over the coming decade. Listen to this big-picture conversation covering a variety of topics such as range anxiety, infrastructure upgrades, the skills needed for an electrified future and more.

To learn more about electrification and the shift in our energy ecosystem, visit TE.com: https://bit.ly/3UwopxH