Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: Designs of New Generation Vehicles

A topical collection in Designs (ISSN 2411-9660). This collection belongs to the section "Vehicle Engineering Design".

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Editors


E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
College of Automotive Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130015, China
Interests: advanced e-driveline design; vehicle dynamics control; energy management strategy; chassis-by-wire integrated design and autonomous driving
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Department of Automotive, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simecoe Street North, Oshawa, ON L1H 7K4, Canada
Interests: vehicle dynamics; driver–vehicle–road interactions; design optimization; active safety systems; autonomous vehicles
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

In response to the growing demand for innovative and sustainable transportation solutions, this Topical Collection seeks to delve into the latest advancements in vehicle design, covering new methods, tools, and processes for both conventional and electric vehicles, as well as for emerging design technologies in intelligent vehicles.

We invite contributions that explore a range of critical topics, including but not limited to, the following:

  • Advanced design methodologies in optimizing vehicle performance and fuel efficiency;
  • Integration of sustainable materials in vehicle manufacturing processes;
  • Cutting-edge aerodynamics and lightweighting strategies for improved vehicle dynamics;
  • Smart vehicle architectures and the design of advanced driver assistance systems (ADASs);
  • Integration and optimization of vehicle powertrains for enhanced energy management;
  • Intelligent chassis design focusing on adaptive suspension systems and vehicle stability;
  • Vehicle power control systems, emphasizing real-time feedback and predictive algorithms;
  • Interactions of driver–road–vehicle;
  • Innovative tire designs and interactions of tire–terrain.

By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, this Topical Collection will serve as a platform for disseminating pioneering research and innovative applications that will shape the future of vehicle design.

We eagerly anticipate your submissions and look forward to advancing the discourse in this essential field of research.

Prof. Dr. Junnian Wang
Prof. Dr. Yuping He
Collection Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the collection website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Designs is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • vehicle design
  • power integration
  • intelligent chassis
  • sustainable materials
  • autonomous systems

Published Papers (2 papers)

2025

39 pages, 15451 KiB  
Article
Monitoring Occupant Posture Using a Standardized Sensor Interface with a Vehicle Seat
by Alberto Vergnano, Alessandro Pelizzari, Claudio Giorgianni, Jan Kovanda, Alessandro Zimmer, Joed Lopes da Silva, Hamed Rezvanpour and Francesco Leali
Designs 2025, 9(2), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs9020052 - 20 Apr 2025
Abstract
Car safety can be enhanced by enabling the Airbag Control Unit (ACU) to adaptively deploy different charges based on the occupant’s position once the crash occurs. In this context, monitoring the occupant’s position using a sensorized seat integrated with an Inertial Measurement Unit [...] Read more.
Car safety can be enhanced by enabling the Airbag Control Unit (ACU) to adaptively deploy different charges based on the occupant’s position once the crash occurs. In this context, monitoring the occupant’s position using a sensorized seat integrated with an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) offers a practical and cost-effective solution. However, certain challenges still need to be addressed. The adoption of sensorized seats in research and vehicle set-up is still under consideration. This study investigates an interface device that can be reconfigured to suit almost any seat model. This reconfigurability makes it easily adaptable to new vehicles under development and applicable to any passenger seat in the vehicle. This paper details the device’s design, including its programming using calibration and monitoring features, which significantly improves its reliability compared to earlier prototypes. Extensive testing through real driving experiments with multiple participants demonstrated an accuracy range of 45–100%. The testing involved both drivers and passengers, showcasing the device’s ability to effectively monitor various in-car scenarios. Full article
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28 pages, 7402 KiB  
Review
LiDAR Innovations: Insights from a Patent and Scientometric Analysis
by Raj Bridgelall
Designs 2025, 9(2), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs9020047 - 11 Apr 2025
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Abstract
Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors are critical for autonomous vehicles that require unparalleled depth sensing. However, traditional LiDAR designs face significant challenges, including high costs and bulky configurations, limiting scalability and mass-market adoption. By uniquely combining patent and scientometric analysis, this study [...] Read more.
Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors are critical for autonomous vehicles that require unparalleled depth sensing. However, traditional LiDAR designs face significant challenges, including high costs and bulky configurations, limiting scalability and mass-market adoption. By uniquely combining patent and scientometric analysis, this study screened 188 recent LiDAR patents from a dataset of more than two million patents, uncovering strategies to enhance capability and reduce production costs. The key findings highlight the growing emphasis on solid-state architectures, modular designs, and integrated manufacturing processes as pathways to scalable and efficient LiDAR solutions. These insights bridge the gap between scientific advancements and practical implementation, providing stakeholders with a clear understanding of the technological landscape and emerging trends. By identifying future directions and actionable opportunities, this work supports the development of next-generation LiDAR systems, fostering innovation and enabling broader adoption across autonomous vehicles and other sectors. Full article
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Figure 1

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