Welcome to the department of Automotive Technologies

Meeting the challenges of the higher education in the XXI. century is our mission. To this end, the focus of our formal education has shifted toward mentoring and problem solving. Our goal is to train professionally excellent engineers and valuable people for the automotive industry, based on knowledge, expertise and cutting-edge research. Our core values are ethics, professional excellence, commitment and collaboration. The content of our trainings is determined together with our key industry partners, based on their competence needs. We believe that our “product” is a well-trained engineer who integrates seamlessly into the development process of companies.

We want to take advantage of our opportunities and capabilities (eg the ZalaZONE automotive test track) to offer unique value and by 2025 become an internationally recognized, exemplary automotive department at the forefront of European education and research.

Zsolt SZALAY, PhD.

Head of Department

News

ThyssenKrupp Presta AG: An Inspiring Guest Lecture on Alternative Steering Functions

2024.11.20.

The Department of Automotive Technologies was delighted to welcome…

Supercomputer Enhances the M1-M7 Smart Highway – A New Era of Real-Time Data Analysis Begins

2024.11.13.

BME GJT

Our New Introduction Video is Now Ready!

2024.10.29.

Index.hu

Bridging the “Valley of Death”: Dr. Zsolt Szalay on the Role of the State in Driving Innovation

2024.10.29.

In a recent article on Index.hu, Dr. Zsolt Szalay, Head of the…

Vehicle Safety and Security Research Group Showcases Innovative Test Framework at Cognitive Mobility 2024 Conference

2024.10.10.

The Vehicle Safety and Security Research Group from the Department…

Innovation in Focus: Dr. Kristof Polmans’ Inspiring Lecture at the Department of Automotive Technologies

2024.10.09.

The Department of Automotive Technologies at the Budapest University…

Technological Breakthrough or Disappointment? Dr. Zsolt SZALAY’s Presentation at the XIII Regional Automotive Supplier Conference

2024.10.02.

On October 1st, the XIII Regional Automotive Supplier Conference,…

Michael Cusumano’s Visit to the Department of Automotive Technologies at BME

2024.09.30.

At the end of September, Michael Cusumano, the renowned professor…

Jürgen Steinberger’s Lecture Series at BME: A Unique Opportunity to Explore Synergies Between Engineering and Business

2024.09.30.

This autumn, the joint lecture series of Budapest University…

More news

Our research groups

Innovative Vehicle Technologies

Team leader: Máté Zöldy

Building on the traditional research areas of the Department of Automotive Technologies, the research team researches, develops and teaches together with the automotive industry with a strong powertrain focus. In addition to traditional powertrains and fuels, our business focuses on new powertrains and fuels in addition to hybrid and electric vehicles. In our projects, in addition to SMEs with a Hungarian background, we work with international multinational companies. We use our high-quality tools not only in research but also in education.

Autonomous vehicles

Team leader: András Rövid

The Autonomous Vehicle Research Group covers the full spectrum of autonomous vehicle management, including environmental perception, decision-making and implementation. In addition to the theoretical research, the research group also puts the results into practice, it has self-developed self-driving vehicles (self-driving Smart Fortwo, with 3 self-developed function; self-driving BMW M2 with automated drift function). In addition to vehicles, the implementation of the possibilities provided by the infrastructure will be given a special role, focusing on the functionalities supported by statically placed environmental sensors and communication (DSRC, 5G) systems. The team works closely with the ZalaZONE test track. We have joint research projects with many industry partners, with domestic and international automotive companies, road managers and telecommunications companies. Further curiosities can be found on the research team’s website.

Safety and Security

Team leader: Árpád Török

The activities of our research group cover the entire field of vehicle safety, and we traditionally maintain good relations with the actors of the Hungarian automotive ecosystem (with special regard to the most important TIER1 market players). Thanks to the cooperation with the actors of the Hungarian automotive industry, our research group has access to the leading solutions and methods applied and developed in automotive cybersecurity. Furthermore, our research pays special attention to the synergies of cybersecurity and reliability/safety in the automotive industry and their interactions. Accordingly, we focus our research resources on developing integrated design and analysis methods that consider traffic safety and cybersecurity requirements in an integrated way. In addition, our team has outstanding competencies in the areas of accident reconstruction procedures and forensic expertise. In this topic, we are developing accident assessment methods for highly automated vehicles (including accident reconstruction methods, examination of the most relevant types of conflict, and liability issues).

Laser and Additive Technologies

Team leader: Tamás Markovits

Among the state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies also used in vehicle manufacturing, the research team carries out research tasks and participates in various projects in the field of laser beam material processing (surface treatments, bonding technologies, cutting…) and typically laser-based metal printing (SLM). In our tasks, it basically focuses on the exploration of technological connections and the development of procedures by applying them. The knowledge base accumulated over the years will also be used in the education and training of university and industrial partners.

Materials and manufacturing technology

Team leader: Krisztián Bán

The education activity of the research group covers all of the manufacturing processes and systems that the state-of-the-art production of vehicles takes place today. In the bachelor’s and master’s programs in vehicle engineering, our purpose is to acquaint students with the steps and attitude of mind required for technological design, from material knowledge through technological design to system approach. Our specializations of the B.Sc. and M.Sc. program inspire our students to acquire these at a skill level with planning and project tasks. Research activities of the group focus on properties and application of advanced alloy systems (amorphous and nanocrystalline alloys, hydrogen storage systems) and cover the material science implications of modern technological processes (bonding technologies, laser machining, and additive technologies). Our state-of-the-art instruments also allow us to perform process diagnostics and process optimization tasks. We cooperate with representatives of the multinational and SME sectors of industry, both in educational and research and development, from the past to the present.

Education

Said about us

As the Product Engineering Site Lead at Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Hungary, I can honestly recommend the courses offered by the BME Department of Automotive Technologies, because it provides the competences that industrial players really need. I personally experienced the high quality of education and cutting-edge research in the department during my studies.

Ákos GarabaJaguar Land Rover Hungary, Product Engineering Site Lead

In the automotive industry, the future is partly or entirely about autonomous functions and I am developing approval processes for such automated vehicles. Without my knowledge at the Department of Automotive Technologies, I would not have been able to get here. I have completed my undergraduate and doctoral studies here and have been able to learn both professionally and humanly from faculty members who I can safely say are at the forefront of the world. Great team, high level of knowledge!

Dr. Sándor VassJRC, Ispra expert

Avoid this department because there is no chance here if you are not interested in the topic, you do not love vehicles, movement, practical experience, speed, calculations, experiments, software, machines. Unfortunately, you must think, count, measure here, so it can be a horrible place. But I’m afraid I’ve already piqued the interest of a few people – they have a place here.

Tibor PappEditor-in-Chief, Totalcar

I feel lucky to have chosen this university (Budapest University of Technology and Economics), especially the Department of Automotive Technologies, where I was able to take part in a really quality education.

Looking at the technical aspects, the professors in this department are extremely committed to the latest research on self-driving cars. There is no doubt that they are making a 100 percent effort to achieve their goals, no matter what obstacles stand in their way. They do their work with great knowledge and diligence.

They treat students with devotion and support. One of the best examples of this is myself, as the cooperation with my supervisor Dr. Árpád Török was extremely fruitful. After my studies at Bosch, as an optical engineer, I had the opportunity to apply my learned methods and procedures. Overall, when I attended my master’s program, I felt like I was working more for a research company because I came across the latest research findings and efforts to solve new challenges everywhere. This environment has motivated me to be a leading industry player in the field.

Junaid Mohammad

I am satisfied with the education.

I am more interested in traditional vehicle training than autonomous vehicle control.
Courses related to autonomous vehicle control are (for me) difficult to learn, especially the programming parts.
The Department of Automotive Technologies often invites guest lecturers from other universities or research sites.
I liked these lectures because I felt I had access to knowledge available in other cutting-edge locations as well.

Ziyu Wang

I am glad that during my studies in Vehicle Engineering I was able to write my dissertation at the Department of Automotive Technologies (GJT). I have participated in a lot of research, in which I can use the gained experience to this day. GJT is one of the most innovative departments in the faculty, I encourage everyone to apply for both specializations, research and development work. The outstanding professional knowledge of the lecturers and the attitude towards the students raise the standard even higher. Thank you very much!

Mátyás Fekete

I am very grateful that during my studies I gained complete and comprehensive knowledge in the department specializing in Vehicle Manufacturing. From material knowledge and material structure training, through a detailed understanding of traditional manufacturing technologies and processes, to the study of special procedures. I am currently working as a quality assurance engineer, so it is essential for me to know a manufacturing process from start to finish along with all its factors. During my dissertation I took part in an innovative departmental project, I evaluated experiments with metal powder-based additive SLM technology, for which I received huge professional support from Dr. Tamás Markovits, deputy head of Department and the laboratory of the department.

Anna SzabóQuality Assurance Engineer, BorgWarner - Turbo Business Unit

ZalaZone proving ground project

Vehicle test track Zalaegerszeg

ZalaZONE is a unique test center for testing conventional and self-driving vehicles and intelligent transport infrastructure. At the BME Department of Automotive Technologies, within the framework of the Automation Working Group of the Mobility Platform, the specification of the track was created. As a result of 10 months of hard work, the concept and plans for a world-class test track were created. In the first phase, the plans were based on the needs of international players in the automotive industry, in the creation of which the Department has been actively involved from the very beginning. With the construction of certain elements of the track, the role of the Department became to support and lead the related research and development processes. The research programs are implemented in cooperation with international university and industry partners, and developments are continuous not only on the test track, but also on the related road network and in the air.

More information about ZalaZone project

Partners

Together we grow

We thank our supporters for helping the work of our department and helping us achieve our goals!

We are grateful for the AVL AST software licenses provided by the AVL LIST GmbH!