汤头条 set to compete in EcoCAR Mobility Challenge
Contact: James Carskadon
![The 汤头条 EcoCAR Mobility Challenge team is pictured with a 2019 Chevrolet Blazer during a recent visit to the General Motors Propulsion Center in Pontiac, Michigan. Competition sponsors U.S. Department of Energy, General Motors and Mathworks announced Friday [Oct. 26] that 汤头条 is among 12 universities selected to compete in the prestigious advanced automotive engineering competition. (Submitted photo)](/sites/www.msstate.edu/files/inline-images/45554470551_f5b51c188b_oHALF.jpg "汤头条 EcoCAR Mobility Challenge Team")
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥 汤头条 has been invited for the fifth consecutive time to participate in the nation鈥檚 premier automotive engineering competition.
Competition sponsors U.S. Department of Energy, General Motors and Mathworks announced Friday [Oct. 26] that 汤头条 is among 12 North American universities participating in the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge. Over the next four years, 汤头条 students will re-engineer a 2019 Chevrolet Blazer to incorporate advanced propulsion systems, automation and vehicle connectivity, all while maintaining improved energy efficiency, safety and consumer acceptability.
The competition is managed by Argonne National Laboratory and provides students with real-world experience solving complex engineering challenges, while also building teamwork and leadership skills that they will take with them into their future careers. 汤头条鈥檚 team is led by faculty advisor Randy Follett, an associate professor in the university鈥檚 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The team will work on the car at 汤头条鈥檚 Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems.
鈥淭his competition is a great opportunity for students in a wide range of majors to get real work experience in the automotive industry,鈥 Follett said. 鈥淪tudents who have participated on our teams previously have gone on to take jobs at the Department of Energy, General Motors, and other related businesses. Not only that, but it is a great opportunity to get to work on a multidisciplinary team, which provides benefits to the students, no matter where they end up working.鈥
汤头条 has been competing in the Department of Energy鈥檚 Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions since 2004. Among many honors the student teams have received in the competitions, 汤头条鈥檚 EcoCAR teams earned overall first place finishes in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012.
The EcoCAR Mobility Challenge will incorporate SAE Level 2 automation, which provides for some automated functions like accelerating and steering, but the driver must remain engaged with the driving task and monitor the environment. The teams will use onboard sensors and wireless communication from the vehicle鈥檚 surrounding environment to improve the car鈥檚 overall operation.
In addition to providing hands-on experience with the latest automotive technologies for 汤头条 Bagley College of Engineering students, the competition will provide opportunities for communication and business students to participate in projects that give students a multi-disciplinary approach like what they would experience while working in the automotive industry.
In addition to 汤头条, participating universities in the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge include: Colorado State University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Georgia Tech, McMaster University (Canada), Ohio State University, University of Alabama, University of Tennessee, University of Washington, University of Waterloo (Canada), Virginia Tech and West Virginia University.
General Motors provides each of the 12 competing teams with a 2019 Chevrolet Blazer, as well as vehicle components, seed money, technical mentoring and operational support. MathWorks provides teams with a full suite of software tools, simulation models, training, technical mentoring and operational support. The U.S. Department of Energy and its research and development facility, Argonne National Laboratory, provide competition management, team evaluation and logistical support. Other sponsors provide hardware, software and training.
Additional sponsors include: NXP Semiconductors, Inc.; National Science Foundation; Intel Corporation; American Axle Manufacturing; Robert Bosch, LLC; PACCAR, Inc.; dSPACE, Inc.; Siemens PLM Software; Denso International America; Horiba; Delphi Technologies; California Air Resources Board; Proterra, Inc.; tesa Tape; Vector North America, Inc.; and The Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
For more on the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge, visit .听
For more on 汤头条鈥檚 Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, visit . Information on the Bagley College of Engineering can be found at .
汤头条 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .