NASA gives Delphi grant to develop new welding process

I figured we'd try something new, and discuss Delphi news that doesn't involve bankruptcy or worker compensation. The company has developed a process called Deformation Resistance Welding, and apparently NASA has some interest in the technology, as it's just anted up another $870,000 to go with the $1.3M it handed out last year to further develop this technique.

I'm not sure why NASA is interested in this (they strike me as the type of folks who'd just bust out the TIG welder), but as far as autos are concerned, this low-cost way to join tubular members has some obvious applications for chassis, suspension components, subframes, and other structures. It's also notable in that it can join dissimilar materials, which would allow engineers to select the optimal material for each component.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Add your comments

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.








Autoblog Podcast #155: 'Twas the night before LA...

Chris, Dan, and Editor Paukert go over some LA Preview action and quietly whoop it up on the podcast.

 
 

Featured Galleries

  • Spy Shots: Baby Buick caught in Germany
  • 2011 Aston Martin Rapide
  • LA 2009: Allard J2X MkII
  • LA 2009: 2010 Spyker C8 Aileron Spyder
  • Cornell's SAE Baja buggy tour and test drive
  • 2010 Range Rover Sport Autobiography
  • 2010 Hyundai Tucson
  • LA 2009: 2010 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Special Edition
  • LA 2009: 2011 Ford Mustang V6
  • LA 2009: 2010 Porsche Boxster Spyder
  • LA 2009: Scion xB Release Series 7.0
  • LA 2009: 2011 Ford Fiesta

AOL Autos

Find Your Next Car

Autoblog Video


Autoblog Green

Daily Finance

Download Squad

Engadget

Joystiq

Autoblog Spanish

Switched.com

FanHouse

Asylum