ELYRIA, Ohio – Sensing technologies that have changed, and are currently changing, the vehicle landscape were on the April 10 agenda for the 2015 Sebo Series in Entrepreneurship conference at Bowling Green State University (BGSU), in Bowling Green, Ohio. Joe McAleese, chairman, president and CEO of Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, addressed the subject as part of this year’s event, the theme of which was “Disruptive Forces in Business.” In its 12th year, the Sebo Series features world-class entrepreneurs and business leaders for a day of presentations and conversations about entrepreneurship and innovation.

McAleese, a BGSU alumnus, discussed how evolving sensors in the automotive and commercial vehicle industries became a “disruptive technology,” driving new approaches that provided significant performance and efficiency benefits. His presentation, “Sensors as disruptive technology: From ABS to autonomous trucks through sensor evolution,” discussed how sensors initially changed the scope of combustion engine management in the automotive sector – from carburetors to fuel injectors – contributing to a restructuring of the industry.

Building on this theme, McAleese moved on to commercial vehicles in his talk. He addressed how sensors have evolved within the braking system – starting with the development of ABS, which led to stability control – and now, integrating advanced sensor and mechatronic systems development, how they serve as the foundation for the development and evolution of driver assistance systems (DAS).

“The topic of advanced technologies in automobiles and commercial vehicles is close to my heart, and I was delighted to offer a look at sensing innovations that represent a fundamental change in vehicle development,” said McAleese. “Being part of a company that is a longtime leader in pioneering game-changing technologies, I’m fortunate to have a close-up view of advancements that are truly ‘disruptive.’ These technologies will continue to have a major impact on our lives.”

The Sebo Series, co-hosted by the BGSU College of Business and the Dallas-Hamilton Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, is part of the university’s annual Entrepreneurship Week, of which Bendix was a sponsor.