Keynote
Innovation In Every Part Of Our Business
Craig Stephens C.Eng FIET
Chief Engineer
Controls Research and Advanced Engineering
Ford Motor Company
Abstract:
Competitive pressure, demands for reduced emissions,
improved safety and fuel economy have long been engines
of innovation within the automotive industry but today
mobility and congestion have become increasingly
important factors. Advances in connectivity, machine
learning and analytics are providing the possibility
of autonomous vehicles and personalized mobility
technology as potential solutions. These revolutionary
innovations promise to be as significant as the arrival
of the automobile over 100 years ago. This
presentation provides insight into this exciting and
dynamic new space.
About the Speaker:
Craig Stephens joined Ford Motor Company in 1987 working in Powertrain Calibration and Controls for Ford of Europe. In 1991 he moved to Dearborn, Michigan to lead a worldwide company effort to develop common Powertrain Control Algorithms and Software. A variety of other positions in P/T Controls and Software development followed. Following a short spell in Visteon developing Electronic Throttle Controls he returned to Ford, first in Powertrain Controls integration and then leading an advanced project for a Mild Hybrid Powertrain. From 2001 to 2009 he was Manager of Powertrain Controls in Ford's Research and Advanced Engineering activity. He held the position of Assistant Chief Engineer for Global Powertrain Control Systems until 2012 and is now Chief Engineer for Controls Engineering in Research and Advanced Engineering. In this capacity he leads a group which is involved in every aspect of automotive controls from individual features through to complex vehicle level control systems required for electrified products and autonomous driving. In addition to developing features for new products the team is also very active in developing the underlying engineering techniques in Systems, Software, Model Based Design, Functional Safety, etc to deliver these features successfully.