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DRIVN 2026 > Program > Technical Tracks

Technical Tracks

Track 1: Off-Road, Rail, and Marine Engine Systems

This track spotlights innovations shaping the next generation of non-road propulsion. Authors are invited to showcase breakthroughs that push performance, durability, and emissions boundaries in off-highway, rail, marine, agricultural, power-generation, mining, and other heavy-duty applications.

Topics include:

  • Advanced ignition, combustion, diagnostics, and emissions-control technologies
  • Prototype, field-testing, and real-world demonstrations
  • Engine architectures for demanding duty cycles and sustainability goals

Track 2: Fuels, Lubricants, and Carbon Management

This track invites cutting-edge research advancing sustainable fuels, next-generation lubricants, and carbon-mitigation strategies.

Topics include:

  • Alternative fuels (e-fuels, synthetic fuels, biofuels)
  • Lubricant impacts on durability, friction, and efficiency
  • Carbon capture, onboard conversion, and low‑carbon pathways
  • Life-cycle analysis (cradle‑to‑grave, WTW, TTW)

Track 3: Advanced Combustion, Flows, and Sprays

This track seeks papers pushing the frontier of combustion and fluid-dynamics understanding.

Topics include:

  • IC engine fundamentals: thermodynamics, extreme compression, in‑cylinder flows
  • Advanced concepts: RCCI, GCI, LTC, dual‑fuel
  • Optical, laser‑based, pressure-based diagnostics
  • Spray physics, droplet behavior, injection strategies

Track 4: Powertrains, Hybridization, Engine Controls, and Engine Design

This track showcases innovations in integrated engine–powertrain systems.

Topics include:

  • Controls modeling (combustion, subsystem, HiL, sensors)
  • HiL testing, rapid prototyping, novel test rigs
  • Calibration and transient control strategies
  • Next‑generation sensors and actuators
  • Hybrid-powertrain engine design and control
  • Mechanical design and thermal management

Track 5: Emissions Control

This track features advances in emissions-control science aimed at meeting aggressive global standards.

Topics include:

  • Catalyst materials and system architectures
  • Aftertreatment thermal management and durability
  • Effects of alternative fuels
  • Reductant delivery innovations
  • Real‑world and drive‑cycle emissions

Track 6: Modeling and Simulation

This track highlights advances in numerical modeling, high‑fidelity simulation, and AI-enabled frameworks.

Topics include:

  • Tool and workflow development
  • Multiphase, turbulence, reacting‑flow modeling
  • Chemical kinetics
  • System‑level modeling
  • AI/ML for model acceleration and hybrid modeling

Track 7: Small Engine Systems

This track features developments in small-engine research for handheld equipment, recreational vehicles, and compact industrial systems.

Topics include:

  • Advanced ignition, combustion, and diagnostics
  • Prototype and field demonstrations
  • Emissions and fuel-variability challenges

Track 8: Light-Duty Engine Systems

This track explores next-generation propulsion for passenger vehicles.

Topics include:

  • Downsized/boosted SI engine advances
  • Cold-start performance and emissions
  • Advanced combustion, ignition, and diagnostics
  • Prototype and drive-cycle demonstrations

Track 9: Medium- and Heavy-Duty On-Road Engine Systems

This track focuses on innovations for commercial-vehicle engines.

Topics include:

  • Alternative-fuel–enabled engine systems
  • Ultra-low NOx strategies
  • Advanced combustion, diagnostics, and emissions-control
  • Drive-cycle and field demonstrations

Track 10: Rail Transportation

The Rail Transportation Symposium highlights advances in freight and passenger rail.

Topics include:

  • Track and infrastructure technologies
  • Rolling stock and propulsion
  • Operations improvement and optimization
  • Vehicle–track systems