AUTONEWS

Platforms for charging wireless cars now fit on a bench, no test track needed

Scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University have devised a rotating tabletop device to study wireless charging in electric vehicles. Testing on real tracks takes up vast areas at significant cost. The team not only built a prototype but used simulations to demonstrate safety and similar charging to a linear track. They successfully reproduced movement at 40 kilometers per hour, promising accelerated global research into next-gen charging for EVs.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are a cornerstone of global sustainability initiatives. Combined with renewable energy, the goal is to significantly cut carbon emissions through a phaseout of fossil-fuel-powered cars. But EVs face an uphill struggle, largely due to their cost and range. To stretch travel range, EVs require more battery storage, making them even more expensive.

To get around this problem, researchers have been looking into dynamic wireless power transfer (DWPT), charging vehicles while they are moving on roads. If EVs could be charged while they are traveling, the battery capacity they need will be significantly less. Specifically, a transmitter coil is buried under roads, while a receiver unit on the vehicle passing over it will be able to charge.

While this is an elegant solution, it is a notoriously difficult problem to study for practical reasons. To test charging of vehicles moving at speed, you would usually need a test track to install transmitter coils. Not only is this costly, but it takes up a lot of space, which smaller facilities, particularly academic institutions, will not have.

Conceptual diagram of dynamic wireless charging for electric vehicles. The illustration shows a transmitter coil embedded in the road transferring power to a receiver coil mounted beneath a moving vehicle. Credit: Tokyo Metropolitan University

To bring the testing of DWPT from the test track into the lab, a team led by Assistant Professor Ryosuke Ota has implemented a rotating device which replicates the passage of charging systems on vehicles over transmitter coils, an increasingly popular testing concept in recent research.

A receiving unit is mounted on a counterbalanced arm which is rotated by a servo motor; a bean-shaped transmitter coil is then installed below the path of the arm. Through simulations of electromagnetic fields, they were able to show that the transmitter coil produced a field which was comparable to those made by coils on linear tracks.

As they designed their prototype, they also carefully assessed the mechanical stress in their device as it was rotated at high speeds, finding that it was a practical testing bed for DWPT in settings comparable to a real EV.

The team were able to address important questions such as how the coupling between transmitter and receiver changes when they are misaligned. They were able to replicate conditions of a car moving at 40 kilometers per hour, with a power transmission of 3 kilowatts.

While similar results have been achieved before on the benchtop, the design principles for the device and the evaluation framework the team have introduced promise to significantly accelerate research into DWPT systems, so that they might one day leap back from the lab into real roads.

Provided by Tokyo Metropolitan University

 

AUTONEWS

How an overlooked electrostatic force could drive the motor of the future

When we hear about moving objects with electricity, most of us imagine a "pulling force." Positive and negative charges attract each other, drawing objects together. It is natural to think that this attractive force—known as electrostatic force—is what makes things move.

However, this force is not very strong, and it has not been suitable for driving large machines in our daily lives. For that reason, most practical motors rely on a different mechanism. For example, the motors in electric fans and electric vehicles do not use electricity directly to create motion. Instead, they use electricity to generate a magnetic field, and then use that magnetic force to rotate.

A new kind of electric fluid...In 2017, however, researchers discovered a liquid that reacts to electrical voltage far more strongly than ordinary materials. This material is called a ferroelectric fluid. Using this fluid, devices that previously required dangerously high voltages can operate at much lower voltages.

Importantly, the force generated by electricity is not limited to attraction along the direction of the applied voltage. There is also a force that acts perpendicular to that direction—a sideways pushing force. In conventional materials, this sideways force is extremely weak and has long been considered too small to utilize. As a result, it has attracted little attention.

The most significant achievement of this research is the clear experimental demonstration that this "too weak to matter" sideways electrostatic force can, under the right conditions, become surprisingly strong.

Prototype plastic ferroelectric motor (Left: angled view; Right: bottom view with the lower electrode removed to reveal the resin rotor) Credit: Professor Suzushi Nishimura

Testing sideways electrostatic forces...Specially Appointed Professor Suzushi Nishimura and his team at Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo) focused on ferroelectric fluids and carefully reexamined the sideways force. They placed the fluid between two electrodes separated by only a few millimeters and applied a voltage. The work is published in the journal Communications Engineering.

The result was striking: the liquid was pushed sideways and moved nearly 10 centimeters even against gravity. When the same experiment was performed with conventional liquids, this motion did not occur. The effect appeared only with the ferroelectric fluid.

Another remarkable finding was how the force increased. In ordinary materials, increasing the voltage does not easily lead to a large increase in force. In contrast, with the ferroelectric fluid, even a small increase in voltage led to a proportional increase in force. The way electricity "works" in this material is fundamentally different.

Through detailed analysis, the team found that the electric field causes the molecules in the liquid to align in an ordered way, generating the sideways pushing force. This insight led to a new idea: if this force can push, could it also rotate?

Building motors without magnets...Based on this principle, the team developed a prototype motor that does not use magnets or a metal rotor. Experiments confirmed that the motor can indeed rotate using this newly harnessed force.

This discovery broadens the way we think about motors and actuation systems. Today's electromagnetic motors require magnets and copper coils. In contrast, this new principle can generate motion without magnets or rare-earth metals. In a world where resources are limited, this is a major advantage.

The structure can also be simpler and lighter. Because the rotating part can be made of resin rather than metal, devices can be made lighter and respond more quickly. This is beneficial for applications in robotics, compact devices, and precision systems.

Moreover, because this motor does not rely on magnetic fields, it may be suitable for environments where magnetic noise is a problem, such as inside medical equipment or data storage devices. Also, it operates at much lower voltages than conventional electrostatic devices, offering improved safety and practical potential.

"Our experiments suggested that a motor rotor might no longer need to be made of metal. It sounded hard to believe at first. But when we trusted the data and built a rotor made entirely of plastic, it really did rotate," says Suzushi Nishimura, specially appointed professor, School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Institute of Science Tokyo.

"Interestingly, this force had been theoretically predicted more than 100 years ago, yet no one had ever observed it directly with the naked eye. Becoming the first to witness it was a truly exciting moment. That is one of the great joys of being a researcher. Science is fun."

Provided by Institute of Science Tokyo

 

MOTO GP

Thai GP: Marco Bezzecchi walks calmly

Italian Marco Bezzecchi dominated the Thailand Grand Prix from start to finish, securing his third consecutive victory. Spaniard Pedro Acosta finished second, defending his lead in the 2026 MotoGP World Championship, which he won yesterday with his victory in the Sprint race. Spaniard Raúl Fernández completed the podium.

The puncture in the Ducati tire, which ended its streak of 88 consecutive podium finishes (the best of all time), was exemplified by Marc Márquez, who was forced to abandon the race due to a puncture in the rear tire of his Desmosedici when he was fighting to reach the podium.

The puncture on the Ducati tire, which ended its streak of 88 consecutive podium finishes (the best of all time), was exemplified by Marc Márquez, who was forced to abandon the race due to a puncture in the rear tire of his Desmosedici when he was fighting to reach the podium.

The Aprilia rider held off Marc Márquez and, with the visible drop in performance of the Spaniard from Ducati, only had to impose his own pace to secure the victory with the RS-GP. Pedro Acosta showed excellent pace and finished second to hold onto the championship lead, followed by Raúl Fernández, who, like Bezzecchi, also showed the strength of the Noale equipment to complete the top-3.

After starting the MotoGP journey with a consistent result in the sprint race, crossing the finish line in 13th place, Diogo Moreira repeated the dose and debuted scoring points in the main race. The rider of bike #11 started in 15th place and, benefiting from three retirements, finished the race in 13th place, securing three points in the main race.

With that, the top-10 of the first race of the 2026 MotoGP season looks like this: Bezzecchi, Acosta, Fernández, Jorge Martín, Ai Ogura, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Brad Binder, Franco Morbidelli, Francesco Bagnaia and Luca Marini.

Marco Bezzecchi defended pole position well against Marc Márquez, followed by Raúl Fernández, Jorge Martín and Fabio Di Giannantonio. Álex Márquez took second place behind Di Giannantonio after overtaking Pedro Acosta. Before the end of the first lap, Fernández attacked Márquez to take second place and try to catch Bezzecchi, who had already opened up a lead.

Acosta regained his position with Álex Márquez – who also lost ground to Joan Mir – to stay in the pack led by Márquez, until on the fourth lap he was overtaken by Martín and, shortly after, also by Acosta, who had distanced himself from Di Giannantonio.

With the two leaders in their respective postcodes, a beautiful battle for third place began with Acosta repeatedly testing Martín, who always managed to regain the position until Acosta finally managed to complete the overtake... but Marc took the opportunity to pass both at once, taking advantage of the fact that he had taken the corner much better.

Acosta reacted and immediately overtook Márquez to take third place and open up some advantage over them, while Martín gradually lost ground; this left the race quite stable in terms of the top five positions. It was difficult to imagine everything that was about to happen.

In the final stretch of the race, Marc Márquez began to close the gap to Acosta, and both were approaching Fernández, who had significantly reduced his pace. However, when the three were almost catching up, Márquez's Ducati suffered a puncture in its rear tire, forcing him to abandon the race.

From then on, things started to happen: while Acosta overtook Fernández to take second place, Álex Márquez crashed, Joan Mir had to abandon due to a problem with his Honda, and Ai Ogura began to stand out, coming from behind.

Completely oblivious to everything that was happening seconds behind him, Marco Bezzecchi redeemed himself from yesterday's crash with an absolutely indisputable victory. Pedro Acosta finished second and Raúl Fernández secured a place on the podium.

Jorge Martín finished fourth, resisting pressure from Ai Ogura by just two tenths of a second, with all four Aprilias among the top five. Fabio Di Giannantonio finished sixth, being the best Ducati rider, ahead of Brad Binder, with Franco Morbidelli taking eighth place from Pecco Bagnaia on the last corner. Luca Marini completed the top 10, with Diogo Moreira scoring his first points and Álex Rins securing one point.

Swinxy

YAMAHA

XTZ700 Ténéré: a benchmark in the mid-displacement trail bike segment

Yamaha's Ténéré series has gone through several eras and configurations since the first single-cylinder models that were versions of the XT. The arrival of the XTZ700 Ténéré, whose technical specifications you can find at this link, eight years ago, revolutionized the mid-displacement adventure bike segment, with a motorcycle equipped with an engine derived from a street model. This uncomplicated engine not only evolved to adapt to the times, but also expanded beyond the standard version, with the Rally,

In 2025, the model was renewed in several details, from the new seat, lighting and footrests, with an adaptation of the engine to the new times, which already has driving modes, traction control and ABS with deactivation, in addition to improvements in components, including the suspensions.

The inline twin-cylinder engine produces 74 hp at the crankshaft, which drops to 68 hp at the clutch on our dynamometer, but its performance is truly remarkable. Now equipped with electronic throttle and gear shift assist, it continues to deliver power forcefully, allowing for admirable performance both on the road and in its intended environment: off-road.

Furthermore, it's a fairly lightweight motorcycle; on our scale, with a full tank, it weighs 210 kg, which contributes to the feeling of acceleration it offers. This, along with adequate aerodynamic protection, makes riding it on the road a memorable experience, even though the riding position is sporty and the motorcycle is tall, with the seat at 880 mm from the ground, which makes maneuvering difficult for those who are not the same height.

The updated suspension works better than before and, with around 200 mm of travel, comfort is high on any terrain, although weight transfer during braking should be considered on winding roads. The brakes work well and powerfully, sometimes seeming a little weak in very sporty riding, but the overall result is agile and controlled handling.

In any case, if the Ténéré is a success story, it's thanks to its off-road capabilities. Being a friendly, simple, and at the same time extremely versatile motorcycle, it maintains its well-known virtues off-road, something that has made it a favorite choice among travelers who journey around the world.

Adventurous...For all those who want a versatile motorcycle, this can be considered one of the stars of the adventure segment. In the new version, the riding position has been improved: the boot no longer hits the clutch cover, the tank is flatter, and the standing riding position is more forward, while the feet are better positioned on the wide footpegs. The seat provides comfort both standing and sitting.

It's easy to disable the ABS and traction control, which are not overly intrusive; you can leave them in the lowest setting for off-road use, for greater safety. The suspension has been improved, offering more sensitivity and less dive, and handles impacts at the end of the suspension travel better in sport riding, although they still occur. Braking remains adequate and good for off-road use, as it is progressive and does not brake abruptly.

In short, the Yamaha Tenere 700 maintains its reputation in the adventure segment. With improvements in electronics, design and ergonomics, as well as a redesigned body, improved engine performance and enhanced suspension, it adapts even better to both asphalt and dirt, offering versatility without losing the essence and off-road character that made it so popular. This motorcycle will continue to make its mark with its aesthetics and its adventure enduro DNA.

Autonews and Mundoquatrorodas

HYUNDAI

Hyundai Rotem HR-Sherpa: Hyundai's "fire truck" that doesn't breathe

Hyundai has developed and delivered to South Korean firefighters an autonomous vehicle designed to operate in areas where fire makes any access extremely risky. It is an unmanned robot capable of remotely extinguishing fires and venturing into environments difficult for a human team to access.

The new vehicle is based on the HR-Sherpa, an autonomous and multifunctional platform created by Hyundai Rotem. A specialized firefighting system has been installed on this platform, including a front water cannon, an automatic spraying system to protect the body, and an infrared camera that allows visibility through smoke and flames.

The unmanned firefighting robot, jointly developed by the National Fire Agency and Hyundai Motor Group, is designed to quickly extinguish fires in places that are difficult for firefighters to access directly due to heat and smoke. The National Fire Agency explained, "It began when Hyundai Motor Group announced its intention to jointly develop fire fighting equipment in August last year at a time when the need to supply fire fighting equipment to prevent the spread of large fires such as forest fires and logistics warehouse fires was raised."

The unmanned fire robot (vehicle type) to be introduced this time was developed to effectively respond to disasters in high-risk spaces such as underground parking lots. Based on the "Multipurpose Driverless Vehicle (HR-Sherpa)" developed by Hyundai Rotem, it is designed to strengthen waterproof and insulation performance to enable fire site input.

The unmanned firefighting robot reflected advanced functions such as remote control and autonomous driving, high-performance tarpaulin, advanced cameras that remove thick smoke, self-protective spray systems, and independent driving tires for high temperatures. From November this year, the National Fire Agency plans to deploy unmanned firefighting robots to four special rescue teams in the central 119 rescue headquarters.

In December last year, Hyundai Motor Group donated 250 EV Drill Lans, which was jointly developed with Tank Tech, to the National Fire Agency, as well as unmanned firefighting robots. Based on this, the fire department's ability to respond to electric vehicle fires has also been strengthened.

An official from the National Fire Agency said, "Unmanned firefighting robots are futuristic equipment that can overcome the limits of response at high-risk sites where it is difficult to put firefighting forces," adding, "This fair will allow us to share our achievements."

Remote driving...The robot has a remote control system that allows the operator to control all its movements and the water cannon from a safe position. Through a wireless connection, it receives real-time video, and a thermal camera facilitates locating the origin of the fire and detecting possible victims amidst the dense smoke.

One of the key elements is the self-protection system. The vehicle continuously sprays water around its structure, creating a curtain that reduces the direct impact of the flames. According to data provided by the company, it can maintain its internal temperature between 50 and 60 degrees Celsius, even in environments that reach 800 degrees Celsius.

Mobility is another of its strengths. It has independent traction on all six wheels and high-temperature resistant tires, allowing it to move through charred rubble and debris. As an electrified platform, it can operate in enclosed, smoke-filled spaces without emitting combustion gases.

The National Fire Agency recorded that 1,802 firefighters were injured or killed in the line of duty in the last decade. With this statistic in mind, the robot's development aims to reduce the direct exposure of firefighting teams during the initial, and often most unstable, stages of a fire.

Two of the four units are already in operation in the capital and the Yeongnam region, integrated into the 119th Special Unit. The other two will be allocated to the provincial fire stations of Gyeonggi and Chungnam. The National Fire Agency plans to use them in large-scale fires, in structures at risk of collapse, and in areas at risk of explosions or the presence of toxic gases.

The handover ceremony was held at the headquarters of the National Rescue Service 119 in Namyangju. There, the group's CEO, Euisun Chung, stated that the company will continue to provide technology to enable firefighters to work in a safer environment. He explained that the goal is for these robots to act as a first line of defense in critical situations, entering the most dangerous scenarios before human teams.

Hyundai also donated buses adapted as rest areas for firefighters and plans to provide ambulances and medical equipment for the country's first National Firefighter Hospital, scheduled to open in June.

by Autonews

TOYOTA

Toyota Fortuner 2027 facelift

Spy photographers have finally captured the refreshed Toyota Fortuner, and from what we can see, this is not just a mild update. This looks like a serious transformation.

At first glance, the biggest change is up front. The Fortuner is adopting a completely redesigned front fascia inspired by the new generation Toyota Hilux pickup that debuted late last year. The grille appears wider and more squared off, the lighting signature looks sharper, and the overall stance feels more upright and aggressive. It gives the SUV a tougher, more modern road presence without changing its core identity.

The interior should repeat the pattern of the updated Hilux...Inside, the logic should be the same. As both share the IMV platform, the trend is that the SW4 will adopt the same dashboard seen in the updated Hilux.

Therefore, the same multimedia center and 12.3-inch digital panel, higher center console, and Toyota's new steering wheel should appear. In other words, something similar to what Chevrolet did with the S10, which received profound changes, but without abandoning the original structural base.

The rear is where things get much more dramatic. The taillights are entirely new and appear to be connected by a contrasting trim element across the tailgate. There is also speculation that the traditional oval Toyota badge could be replaced by bold lettered branding across the rear. The lower section of the trunk lid and rear bumper has been reshaped, giving the SUV a cleaner and more contemporary finish.

Under the hood, changes are expected to be minimal. The current Fortuner offers a 2.8 liter turbodiesel engine producing 204 horsepower and 500 Newton meters of torque. In markets such as India, buyers can also choose a 2.7 liter naturally aspirated gasoline engine delivering 166 horsepower and 245 Newton meters. Rear wheel drive and all wheel drive configurations remain available, paired with a 6 speed automatic or manual transmission.

Diesel engines, 48V hybrid and even an electric version...In terms of mechanics, the new SW4 should follow the same line as the Hilux. The well-known 2.8 turbodiesel continues as the protagonist. It delivers 204 hp and 50.9 kgfm, and can receive assistance from a 48-volt semi-hybrid system.

In this case, the system uses a 0.2 kWh lithium-ion battery to assist the combustion engine in starts and accelerations, reducing consumption and emissions.

Furthermore, some markets may receive a fully electric version. Information points to a combined power output of 196 hp, with an electric motor on each axle — the front axle would have 20.9 kgfm of torque and the rear axle 27.3 kgfm, powered by a 59.2 kWh battery. Depending on the country, the 2.7-liter gasoline engine with automatic transmission may also be available.

Interestingly, the side profile remains largely familiar. The body structure and proportions appear unchanged, which makes sense since the Fortuner continues to ride on the same Hilux frame platform. Toyota clearly wanted to focus investment where buyers notice it most.

Toyota appears to be refining rather than reinventing the formula. The updated Fortuner keeps its proven ladder frame durability while modernizing its design language to align with the brand’s latest trucks.

The official debut could happen in the coming months, and if these early impressions hold true, this may be the most visually significant Fortuner update yet.

by Autonews

AUTONEWS

Your car's tire sensors could be used to track you

Researchers at IMDEA Networks Institute, together with European partners, have found that tire pressure sensors in modern cars can unintentionally expose drivers to tracking. Over a ten-week study, they collected signals from more than 20,000 vehicles, revealing a hidden privacy risk and highlighting the need for stronger security measures in future vehicle sensor systems.

How tire sensors quietly share data...Most modern cars are equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), mandatory since the late 2000s in many countries for their contribution to road safety. This system uses small sensors in each wheel to monitor tire pressure and sends wireless signals to the car's computer to alert the driver if a tire is underinflated.

However, the researchers found that these tire sensors also send a unique ID number in clear, unencrypted wireless signals, meaning that anyone nearby with a simple radio receiver can capture the signal, and recognize the same car again later. Most vehicle tracking today uses cameras that need clear visibility and line-of-sight to a car. TPMS tracking is different: tire sensors automatically send radio signals that pass through walls and vehicles, allowing small hidden wireless receivers to capture them without being seen.

A new avenue for covert tracking...Because each sensor broadcasts a fixed unique ID, the same car can be recognized repeatedly without reading a license plate. This makes TPMS-based tracking cheaper, harder to detect, and more difficult to avoid than camera-based surveillance, and therefore a stronger privacy threat.

To test how serious this risk is, the team built a network of low-cost radio receivers, located near roads and parking areas. The necessary equipment costs only $100 per receiver. In total, they collected more than six million tire sensor messages from over 20,000 cars.

This paper demonstrates how a network of low-cost spectrum receivers can capture and analyze the movement patterns of vehicles, inferring car owners’ routines. Credit: IMDEA Networks Institute

"Our results show that these tire sensor signals can be used to follow vehicles and learn their movement patterns," says Domenico Giustiniano, Research Professor at IMDEA Networks Institute. "This means a network of inexpensive wireless receivers could quietly monitor the patterns of cars in real-world environments. Such information could reveal daily routines, such as work arrival times or travel habits."

What the study revealed in practice...The researchers also developed methods to match signals from the four tires of a car. This allowed them to increase the accuracy of specific vehicles arriving, living, or following regular schedules. The study showed that signals can be captured from moving cars and from distances greater than 50 meters, even when sensors are inside buildings or hidden locations. This makes covert tracking technically feasible.

Additionally, TPMS signals include tire pressure readings, which may reveal the type of vehicle or whether a car or truck is carrying heavy loads. This could allow more advanced forms of surveillance.

"As vehicles become increasingly connected, even safety-oriented sensors like TPMS should be designed with security in mind, since data that appears passive and harmless can become a powerful identifier when collected at scale," highlights Dr. Alessio Scalingi, former Ph.D. student at IMDEA Networks and now Assistant Professor at UC3M, Madrid.

Calls for regulation and stronger security...Despite these risks, current vehicle cybersecurity regulations do not yet specifically address TPMS security. The researchers warn that without encryption or authentication, tire sensors remain an easy target for passive surveillance.

"TPMS was designed for safety, not security," adds Dr. Yago Lizarribar, former Ph.D. student at IMDEA Networks during the research study, and now Researcher at Armasuisse, Switzerland. "Our findings show the need for manufacturers and regulators to improve protection in future vehicle sensor systems."

Therefore, the research team urges the manufacturers and policymakers to strengthen cybersecurity in future cars, so that safety systems do not become tools for tracking the population.

Provided by IMDEA Networks Institute