Challenge X team learns about vehicle design
October 10, 2005
A group of Mississippi State students traveled to the heart of American car manufacturing last week to learn about modern vehicle design processes.
The students are participating in the Challenge X competition, sponsored by General Motors and the Department of Energy. The three-year competition requires the students to take a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox and redesign it to get the best fuel economy possible while minimizing exhaust emissions. The vehicle must also maintain or exceed standard vehicle performance and driver comfort. MSU is one of seventeen universities chosen from across North America to participate.
The 3-day workshop in Detroit, Mich., held September 29 through October 1, focused on training sessions on competition events, GM vehicle communications, GM Diesel engines, and the proper use of equipment. The students will use this information as they implement their unique design for their hybrid vehicle.
“This workshop really gave us motivation to work harder on getting our vehicle ready for competition,” said Kennabec Walp, a graduate student in computer engineering who attended the workshop. The students had opportunities to make personal contacts with GM engineers and recruiters from Challenge X sponsoring companies.
Walp’s teammates that also attended the workshop included mechanical engineering graduate students Christopher Whitt and David Oglesby, computer engineering graduate student Ron Lewis, electrical engineering graduate student Jimmy Mathews, and mechanical engineering undergraduate student Brian Christian. Marshall Molen, a distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering and the team’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS) faculty advisor, also made the trip.
Dr. Marshall Molen, faculty advisor to the team, expressed how important the trip was for the students.
“The students had the opportunity to have one-on-one interactions with GM engineers which further enabled them to understand the design processes employed by automotive engineers. This unique interaction with practicing engineers and their vehicle design processes was an invaluable experience for engineering students.”
Challenge X is housed in the CAVS facilities. CAVS provides faculty sponsors, equipment, and work area for the program, as well as financial support. CAVS is a research center devoted to the studies of all aspects of vehicles. CAVS is a part of the Bagley College of Engineering at Mississippi State University.
For more information on the team, or to inquire about becoming a local sponsor, please contact Bob Kirkland.