Tech Human-Powered Vehicle Takes Honors for Innovation
Michigan Tech's Human-Powered Vehicle team got what they came for at
the HPV Challenge held in April at the University of Nevada. "They won first prize in design and innovation," said one of
their advisors, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering John Gershenson.
"During the previews, it was obvious that our innovation had made
a mark. Our vehicle was surrounded by onlookers." It's been more than a decade since the University has participated in
the American Society of Mechanical Engineers' competition, and the team
members decided to make the most of their first trip. "If you continue to race roughly the same vehicle every year, you
gain points and win the title," Gershenson said. "But we've
made a conscious decision not to do it that way. "We went for the design and innovation award. That's where the engineering
is," he said. "Everything else is tweaking." So the team eschewed established HPV designs and went for something completely
different. Their vehicle is convertible, but not in the usual sense. "The students
designed it so that it can go from two to three wheels," he said.
"A two-wheel vehicle is faster, but a three-wheel vehicle is more
stable." The distinction allowed the MTU team to race (and earn points) in two
categories, both as a single-rider vehicle (with two wheels) and as a
utility vehicle (a trike that you can load up with packages). "This is the first time this [convertible design] has ever been
done," Gershenson said. The advisors thought of the strategy, but
the students implemented it. To change between the two configurations,
they replaced the entire front-end assembly: steering, suspension, brakes
and tires. Even the height of the bike changed. And the vehicle was designed
so that the changeover could be performed mid-race. In a demonstration for the judges, the students made the change in a
minute. In mid-competition, handicapped by a broken part, the students
made the conversion in four minutes. When the dust settled, Michigan Tech emerged second in point totals and
also took the silver in the utility vehicle competition. Long-time HPV
competitor Colorado State also entered its vehicle, a three-wheeler, in
both categories and won the competition. "We were one of the few from-the-ground-up new vehicles for this
year," Gershenson said. "And I think we achieved pretty much
the highest ranking ever for any first-year vehicle in the HPV Challenge. "The students worked very hard," he added. "They have
a lot to be proud of." The team was also advised by mechanical engineering professors Ghatu
Subhash and Chris Passerello. About 30 students participated in the competition
as part of their senior design project. For more on the 2002 HPV Challenge, visit http://www.asme.org/hpv/#rules. 6/14/02
