Systems Engineering for Automotive Powertrain Development

Hannes Hick studied mechanical engineering at the Vienna University of Technology with a special focus on mobility systems. He obtained his doctorate in material science during a research assistantship with a thesis on fracture mechanics at the Institute for Material Science and Testing, Vienna University of Technology. Prof. Hick started his industrial career as a designer of powertrain systems in the German Industry and joined AVL Powertrain Engineering in 1997, where he held a range of positions such as head of mechanical development and head of methodology for powertrain system development. Since 2015, Prof. Hick has been full professor and head of the Institute of Machine Components and Methods of Development at Graz University of Technology, and head of the AVL TU Graz Transmission Center.

Klaus Küpper studied mechanical engineering at the Technical University of Darmstadt and at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. After a scientific assistantship, he received a Ph.D. from Gerhard-Mercator University in Duisburg in the area of control theory, focusing on neural networks and fuzzy logic. Dr. Küpper started his professional career at LuK in Bühl in 1995, holding several positions, finally as a department manager for software and function development for transmission automation. In 2007, he joined AVL Powertrain Engineering in Graz as head of software development, and since 2014, he has held the position of executive chief engineer, where he is globally responsible for electrified powertrains, software, and transmissions.

Helfried Sorger studied mechanical engineering and business at Graz University of Technology. He joined AVL Powertrain Engineering in Graz in 1996 and held positions of designer, project manager, and skill team leader for the volume production design of passenger car engines before being promoted in 2004 to head of design with global responsibility. He received a Ph.D. from the Institute for Internal Combustion Engines and Thermodynamics, Graz University of Technology, focusing on a unique design methodology for internal combustion engines. Since 2010, Dr. Sorger has held the position of executive chief engineer for base powertrain development and is globally responsible for the areas of design, simulation, mechanical development, product quality, and production engineering as well as simultaneous engineering approaches.