Tomorrow Experiencing Technology with Schaeffler
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tomorrow Experiencing technology with Schaeffler ⋅ Experiencing technology with Schaeffl er Experiencing ⋅ technology with Schaeffl Innovation ⋅ Issue 2/2020 The path to success How good ideas turn into game-changing inventions tomorrow Issue 2/2020 ⋅ Innovation In|no|va|ti|on; - [in΄ vā΄sh n] Innovation is commonly defined as the “carrying out of new combinations” that include “the introduction of new goods, ... new methods of production, ... the opening of new markets, ... the conquest of new sources of supply ... and the carrying out of a new organization of any industry.” [...] In economics, management science, and other fields of practice and analysis, innovation is generally considered to be the result of a process that brings together various novel ideas in such a way that they affect society. [...] Source: Wikipedia contributors. (2020, November 12). Innovation. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13:41, November 17, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Innovation&oldid=988354740 tomorrow tomorrow on the internet subscription tomorrow as a digital magazine tomorrow for downloading We’ll be pleased to include with additional features as an e-paper or PDF you on our distribution list www.schaeffler-tomorrow.com www.schaeffler.de/tomorrow [email protected] Editorial a breakthrough when users adopt the outcome as a meaningful improvement. Starting on page 32, you’ll find some examples of failed ideas. They also show that in many cases it wasn’t the idea itself that was flawed, but that other factors pre- vented its breakthrough. As mentioned earlier, in- novation is a process involving many steps and challenges. Innovation is of vital importance to a technolo- gy group with global operations like Schaeffler. That’s why we conduct research and develop- ment at more than 20 locations worldwide. In our SHARE projects, we work together with renowned universities in various areas and on several conti- nents. A promising focus field of our R&D activities is hydrogen, which plays an important part on our path toward a carbon-neutral society. More on this starting on page 56. Innovation leads to technological and social prog- ress and we are the source from which it springs. Therefore, the objective of modern education must be to energize this source. Just imparting know- Dear reader, ledge is no longer enough, because knowledge can now be accessed online anywhere anytime. The focus topic of this issue of “tomorrow” ad- Today and tomorrow, educators are challenged to dresses the main component of the Schaeffler inspire curiosity and a zest for learning in their stu- Group’s DNA: innovation. Schaeffler has been at dents, to open their minds to new views and to en- the forefront of the German Patent Office’s applica- courage self-determined action. This is another tions ranking for years. In 2019, with 2,385 patent topic covered in this issue of “tomorrow.” applications filed, we claimed the runner-up’s spot once again: a result we’re very proud of. We’re set Obviously, innovation provides new impetus to to cement our innovation leadership, and more: sports as well – from chess to soccer to sailing. we’re set to extend it. In the Schaeffler Group’s re- At Schaeffler, we use our motorsport commitment cently launched “Roadmap 2025,” Innovation is as a high-speed innovation lab – now, by the way, one of three strategic priorities alongside Agility complemented by the digital version on simula- and Efficiency. tors. More on this topic starting on page 22. While reading this issue of “tomorrow,” which I Following a pandemic year that has been challeng- cordially invite you to do at this point, it will be- ing to all of us, I wish you innovative energy aplen- come clear that innovation is more than just a ty for 2021. Stay healthy and stay optimistic. good idea. Innovation is a process in which an idea merely marks the first step. The next one is to continue developing the idea into something that’s tangible and can be experienced. This de- velopment process may take years and setbacks are not uncommon. In fact, they’re part of the pro- cess and – provided that the right conclusions are drawn from them – may well be of value. However, Klaus Rosenfeld the act of creating something new only turns into Chief Executive Officer 3 Global In motion A glimpse of the world Innovations in the course of time Good to know 8 Ingenious misses 32 Facts, figures, oddities – a 360-degree view Great inventions may fail for a wide variety of “innovation,” the focus topic of this issue of reasons. We highlight some curious cases of “tomorrow” that flopped Efficient transmission 12 Schaeffler’s treasures 38 Electric energy from the sun, wind and From the needle roller bearing to the XTRONIC water, by all means! But it requires smart control unit – Schaeffler’s DNA is innovation. distribution – by innovative grids Examples from eight automotive decades Gyro Gearloose 16 The history of robots 42 What an ingenious inventor the mastermind in As far back as 3,000 years ago, brilliant minds Disney’s Duckburg universe was. A selection of were thinking about artificial helpers – his boldest innovations a brief look at history The next level in sports 22 Yesterday, today, tomorrow 48 Innovative technologies open up all-new The cage-guided needle roller bearing was a opportunities to athletes – be it in chess, stroke of genius – Georg Schaeffler laid the soccer, sailing or racing foundation 70 years ago, but his innovation also paves the way forward 4 Contents Here and now Outlook Living with progress Technology for tomorrow Tailored solutions 52 Trains in transition 66 The perfect tool for designing electric The Far East as a role model – it takes an powertrains – Schaeffler’s modular e-axle innovation boost for rail transportation to configurator compete with aviation Defeating disabilities 54 Shifting learning goals 72 No arms, no legs, but thanks to innovation Innovation-driven and digital – the modern and high tech, Janis McDavid enjoys world needs new education and training – we boundless mobility – even in a race car look at a compass that points the way Awesome power 56 House building 2.0 76 How is hydrogen produced and Masonry is old school – modern transported? How is it stored and what technologies are revolutionizing the are its potential uses? construction sector We pioneer motion 62 The wind, the wind … 82 A powerful slogan and a creative campaign The heaven-born wind … is becoming a emphasize Schaeffler’s core competencies that powerful tool in fighting climate change – have been continuously expanded over decades thanks to futuristic innovations Masthead 90 5 Global A glimpse of the world Innovation reloaded Hurricanes are devastating forces of nature and unstop- pable. Really? No, says OceanTherm, a Norwegian start- up that has launched a novelty which has actually been around for a while. Underwater bubbles that have been used for 50 years to keep fjords ice-free are supposed to stop future tropical cyclones. The idea is that, unlike in the cool Norwegian Sea, the bubbles in hurricane regions are supposed to cause cold instead of warm water to rise. It’s a technology from the category of climate engineer- ing, in other words, human interventions with weather phenomena. Hurricanes (aka cyclones or typhoons) are formed above ocean surfaces with water temperatures above 26.5 °C (79.7 °F). Even if this limit should not be sustainable, every degree gained in the process will miti- gate the momentum of the storm by as much as 20 km/h (12.4 mph). To create an eff ective curtain of bubbles, an extensive pipeline system conveying compressed air must be created at a depth of more than 100 meters, either per- manently installed or as a mobile solution using some 20 ships as a fl oating base. The startup is still in the pro- cess of looking for research and, above all, funding part- ners. The costs of the mobile solution are estimated to amount to some 270 million dollars per year. However, this investment would likely pay off if this type of climate engineering proved viable, because just in the United States, the expected damage caused by hurricane winds amounts to around 54 billion dollars per year, according to estimates by the U.S. Congressional Budget Offi ce. You learn to know a pilot in a storm Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Roman philosopher 6 305 km/h (175 mph) was the speed at which hurricane Camille swept across the Gulf of Mexico in 1969. A record! Only hurricane Allen reached the same speed off the coast of Texas in 1980. 45 kilometers (28 miles) is the average diameter of the eye of a hurricane around which the storm rages. The entire vortex system is larger with potential diameters of more than 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles). 3 names, one meaning: the storms referred to as hurricanes in North and Central America are called cyclones in the Indian Ocean and the South Pacifi c region, and typhoons in South East Asia. 81 billion $ was the damage caused by hurricane Katrina that struck the southern United States in 2005 – making it the costliest tropical cyclone in history to date. 28 days has been the longest duration of a hurricane on record. The storm swept across the Atlantic for nearly one month. 7 360° Innovation Facts, figures, oddities – a 360-degree view of the focus topic of this issue of “tomorrow.” African Sunrise The World Economic Forum has identifiedfive startup hot spots aside from Silicon Valley as particularly fertile breeding grounds of innovation. Ranked in fourth place behind Singapore, Israel and South Korea is Kenya, a surprise candidate, but for good reason: Startups there can draw on a large pool of young talent from numerous universities.