Mobility engineers will learn how to address the energy and environmental challenges of vehicles through the application of next generation electrification, emissions reduction, and lightweighting technologies.
Q&A with Frank Bokulich & Dave Weil | SAE International
Describe WCX, World Congress Experience to those that aren’t familiar.
WCX World Congress is North America’s Largest engineering event in the mobility industry to tackle both today’s real world challenges and prepare and learn about the future of mobility. We take great pride in being the event that is a valuable resource for mobility engineers as the work through industry disruption, identify new opportunities and discover new solutions at WCX.
Who attends WCX? How many typically attend?
We have 9,000+ mobility professionals attend from OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, Academia, Parts and Components Suppliers and Industry executives. It is a global event that allows for reach problem solving to happen in the session rooms, exhibit hall and networking events.
What can today’s engineers learn by attending WCX?
WCX is best known for providing engineers with practical knowledge on how to solve the technology challenges of today. Mobility engineers will learn how to address the energy and environmental challenges of vehicles through the application of next generation electrification (i.e., batteries, charging, electric motors, etc.), emissions reduction, and lightweighting technologies. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with industry regulators as well as those from automakers and Tier 1 suppliers on how they plan to meet next-generation vehicle requirements. In addition, engineers will gain further insight into how to safety connect and automate future smart transportation systems via in depth discussions on artificial intelligence, machine learning, smart transportation systems and infrastructure, and human factors. Manufacturers Engineers will have access to 60+ Subject Matter Experts over 3-days on critical topics related to Integrated Design and Manufacturing including artificial intelligence and machine learning in the development of Industry 4.0 and the next-generation factory.
What are the hot industry topics being covered at the 2020 event?
WCX will have several executive panels and technical sessions covering hot topics such as vehicle automation and autonomy, connected vehicle safety, smart city transportation, integration of consumer electronics with transportation, shared and micromobility, vehicle electrification, lightweight materials and the intelligent factory and Industry 4.0.
Who will be speaking at WCX this year?
The event will feature more than 1,400 engineers in the mobility community presenting on topics such as integrated design and manufacturing; body, chassis, and safety; powertrain; thermal management; climate control; automotive electronics; and next-generation materials. Kicking off this year’s WCX on Tuesday, April 21 will be a dual keynote session with John Ellis, Author, Futurist, and Technologist and Jeff Degraff, Author and Professor of Management and Organizations at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Both will share their insight on technology innovation impacting the automotive industry and the organizational changes needed for success. Wednesday’s keynote will feature Micky Bly, Head of Global Propulsion systems Engineering at FCA.
WCX will feature several executive panels of note. The Automated Truck panel will feature Jonny Morris, Embark; Daniel Goff, Kodiak; Robert Brown, TuSimple; Kam Simmons, Starsky; and Stephan Olsen, PACCAR. The Consumer Electronics panel will showcase Chris Cook, Mobility Electronics Association; Tim Yerdon, Ford; Aron Demers, Voxx; Sethuraman Gopal, Rivian; John Warniak, SEMA; and Mike Anderson, Apline. The Vehicle Development and Energy Management panel will have discussions with Mazen Hammoud, Ford; Jim Harkins, DENSO; Stephan Tarnutzer, AVL; and Denise Gray, LG Chem. The Women’s Executive Panel will present speakers such as Harriet Tregoning, New Urban Mobility Alliance; Emily Warren, Fontinalis Partners; Jean Kao, Populus; Caroline Samponaro, Lyft; Hilary Cain, Toyota; and Sabrina Sussman, Zipcar.
Technical sessions on Industry 4.0 will include speakers such as Ray McConnell from SmartUQ and Carlos Escobar from General Motors. The Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning session will feature speakers such as Dominque Meroux from Ford, Kieran McAleer from AVL, Adam Duran from the U.S Department of Energy, Peter James Caffrey from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mark Malinovsky from Dassault Systemes, and Chris Goodin from the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems.
What type of networking opportunities are available?
The networking will range from our new beer garden networking on the show floor to our Industry Gala which will include table side strolling entertainment. This year our Detroit Section Vehicle Event will happen at WCX that will bring the industry together. We will also have the 12th Global Automotive Mobility Innovation Challenge which will host 12 teams for the final competition.
What else can attendees expect while at WCX?
WCX will have Autonomous Drive Demo Days featuring Dataspeed vehicle and will include new autonomous driving technology. WCX will also have the J3300 Ride and Drive demonstration with two driving courses testing. The show floor will have the leadership summit keynotes, learning lab where suppliers showcase their latest products and innovations and the knowledge bar to listen, exchange ideas and get your most pressing questions answered from technical subject matter experts.
How do I register?
Registration is open now @ www.sae.org/wcx
About Frank Bokulich
Frank Bokulich is the Event Content Development Manager with SAE International. He is responsible for program development of more than 30 SAE events held worldwide as well as the development of events around emerging mobility technology. Prior to his work in Events, Frank was an Aerospace Standards Engineer responsible for the development of new standards initiatives and activities within SAE.
About Dave Weil
Dave is currently Event Director, for SAE portfolio of Events. Dave is responsible for the global event portfolio and is focused on producing valuable and relevant mobility events. Dave is dynamic leader with over twenty-nine years of experience in the trade show and convention industry.
The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of RoboticsTomorrow
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