In 1982 Professor Antoni K. Oppenheim, of the University of California coauthored an SAE paper with J. Douglas Dale, of the University of Alberta entitled "A Rationale for Advances in the Technology of IC Engines, (SAE #820047) Professor Oppenheim or Toni as this briliant but humble man liked to be called was at the time of the paper the professor emeritus of mechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and the world's leading combustion expert.
The underlying message of the paper was that the Otto cycle engine, which had changed little from its 1861 conception and patent, had reached its peak of development, and it was time for industry and/or society to develop an engine which (1) minimizes pollutant emissions, (2) maximizes engine efficiency, and (3) uses a wider variety of fuels. However, the world's industry had billions of dollars invested in the Otto Cycle engine and was content with add-on technologies like computer controls and catalytic converters, which he called "band-aid" fixes
Professor Oppenheim later published the books "The Dynamics of Combustion" and "Combustion in Piston Engines". His vision of an ideal IC engine would be a direct-injected two-stroke engine with port positions so that a significant portion of the previous charge was retained. He also advocated the HCCI method of combustion. Professor Oppenheim was always on the lookout for someone or some group to take up the challenge to develop a more ideal internal combustion engine than the Otto cycle engine.