The Applied Control Technology Consortium 
Automotive Special Interest Group Questionnaire

Following the preliminary meeting of the ACTC's Automotive Special Interest Group (SIG), there is a need to identify precisely what is required of such an activity. From our discussions at this meeting and with people who were not able to attend, there is clearly an interest for this sort of network, positioned between industry and academia.

There are many ways in which the Automotive SIG could operate, based upon the aspirations and free time of the people willing to support it. It could provide a useful forum for discussing ideas and new technologies in automotive modelling, simulation, control and implementation. Alternatively it could concentrate on providing training for engineers in the automotive industry.

This questionnaire is intended to elicit how you think the Automotive SIG could best benefit you.

Name:
Company/Insitiute:
Address:
Tel::
E-Mail:

Please rate each of the following statements based on your own views, ranging from something that you strongly disagree with to something that you strongly agree with. If you are not sure about the meaning of a statement, then please leave it blank.

1. What do you feel the objectives of the Automotive SIG should be :

strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree  
 promote information exchange ...
    ...between manufacturing companies
    ...between manufacturers and systems suppliers
    ...between companies and academia
    ...between other Control related Consortia
 provision of training for engineers
 encourage generic short term case studies
 promote cooperative research activities
 a focus for industry specific initiatives and funding
 promote industry standards (e.g. in modelling or simulation)
 nurture international industrial links
 Improve UK representation at international conferences

 

2. How would this be best facilitated:

strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree  
 regular technical events (1 day)
 annual mini-conference (e.g. 2-3 days)
 regular training events
 informal discussion sessions
 email or web-based discussion group
 undertaking generic short term case studies
 a steering group to ensure SIG objectives are being met
 contribute to automotive conferences
 liase with specialist academic groups
 visits to manufacturers and systems suppliers
 dissemination of funding opportunities and proposals

 

3. What topics would you like to see covered by the Automotive SIG:

strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree  
 an overview of all automotive control topics
 systems integration & systems engineering methodologies
 end-user discriminators and requirements engineering
 powertrain control
 vehicle handling dynamics and stability
 braking and traction control
 sound and vibration analysis and control
 in-car climate control
 automatic cruise control
 electrical power systems & load management
 hybrid/alternative powered vehicles
 advanced control techniques (in general)
 condition monitoring and fault detection
 low complexity control solutions
 modelling and simulation
 rapid prototyping
 driver-in-the-loop
       Others (please specify):
1.
2.
3.

 

Clearly, the above objectives and activities would entail time and expense from ACTC. The remaining two questions are intended to determine how you feel this effort should be funded, firstly from a general perspective and secondly from the perspective of your own company/institute. Your views on this will be vital in how we determine what the Automotive SIG can provide at what cost, so we very much appreciate your considered opinion in this regard.

 

4. How should the Automotive SIG activities be funded (in general, rather than specific to your own company/institute) :

strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree  
 as part of full ACTC membership (this is currently £10,200 per annum, but this would also allow access to many more activities and services).
 a reduced “Associate” ACTC membership rate, only allowing access to Automotive SIG activities
 by some other means (please specify):

 

5. How do you think the Automotive SIG activities could be funded by your own company/institute :

strongly disagree disagree neither agree nor disagree agree strongly agree  
 as part of full ACTC membership (this is currently £10,200 per annum, but this would also allow access to many more activities and services).
 a reduced “Associate” ACTC membership rate, only allowing access to Automotive SIG activities
 by some other means (please specify):

 

6. How many man-days per year would your organisation be willing/able to spend on SIG related events?:

 

7. If you have any other comments, please add them here or in a separate e-mail.: