Mississippi State undergraduate recognized for research at international terrain vehicle conference

Portrait of Devin Chen with code projected behind him in the studio.
(photo by Beth Wynn / © Mississippi State University)

STARKVILLE, Miss.— Mississippi State University student Devin Chen recently represented the university on a global stage, earning recognition for his research at the 55th Conference of the International Society for Terrain Vehicle Systems (ISTVS) held in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Chen, a senior cybersecurity and operations major in MSU’s Bagley College of Engineering, was the only undergraduate among more than 200 participants representing 15 countries, including Austria, Canada, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom.

At the conference, Chen, who is from Louisville, Mississippi, presented his first-authored paper, “Innovating Mobility: A Student Competition in Wheel and Track Design,” which was co-authored with collaborators from the University of Pretoria and Virginia Tech.

“It was a great honor to present my paper at the conference, surrounded by professionals and academics from so many diverse countries," Chen said.

The paper, which was co-authored by Chaitanya Sonalkar and Varsha Swamy from Virginia Tech, Riku Kikuta from Mississippi State and Andries Peenze from the University of Pretoria, focuses on an engineering field called terramechanics, which studies how tires interact with soil, specifically in off-road applications. The paper, Chen explained, also highlighted the importance of hands-on, experiential learning for students, particularly in engineering, and included information on an international wheel-and-tread design competition next fall at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, where student teams will design and test innovative mobility solutions.

"Students, regardless of their field, need opportunities to apply what they learn in the classroom,” Chen said. “One effective way to achieve this is through hands-on, experiential learning. Engaging in projects not only reinforces their knowledge but also provides tangible outcomes, like reports, that showcase their skills."

For the competition, teams will design a 3D model of their tire or tread and submit it along with a technical report detailing their design choices. The competition will also include testing of the designs and technical presentations, with a live stream option for those unable to attend in person.

“I believe this competition will provide an incredible opportunity for students to engage in practical design and testing, ultimately enhancing their learning experience," Chen said. “We already have global interest from universities around the world.”