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Rose-Hulman Hosting Collegiate Human Powered Vehicle Racing Event
April 22, 2011
More video here
New York Times Blogger, Jim
Motavalli
Innovation, creativity and competition was featured April 29 to
May 1 [2011] during the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers' Human Powered Vehicle East Coast Challenge collegiate
racing event, hosted by Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology at the
Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The ASME competition features highly advanced vehicles designed
and fabricated by some of today's best and brightest mechanical
engineering students. These prototype human powered vehicles
demonstrate efficient, sustainable and practical human-powered
vehicles, and could be used for everyday use such as commuting to
work and transporting groceries from the market.
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Showcasing Transportation Technology: The upcoming human
powered vehicle racing event at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
features highly advanced vehicles designed by some of today's best
and brightest mechanical engineering students.
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Thirty-three teams from throughout the world competed in a
series of events focused on the vehicles' overall performance,
speed, safety and technical design -- it all took place at the
world famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS).
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[News Story:] On April 29, from 4-5 p.m., all competitors will
participate in an event photo, followed by a demonstration by
Canadian cyclist Sam Whittingham, world speed record holder on a
recumbent vehicle. His Varna Diablo human powered vehicle
reached 82.819 mph in 2009.
The collegiate competitors will be put to the test on April 30
with the sprint and utility endurance events. The sprint
event, from 8 a.m. to noon, will measure the vehicles for maximum
speed and will take place along the straightaway of the IMS track,
crossing the famed yard of bricks at the finish line. The
utility endurance event, from 2-5 p.m. at the northwest end of the
track, will test the vehicles' ability to negotiate turns and other
obstacles, while serving as functional transportation for everyday
use.
The final day of competition, on May 1, will showcase the speed
endurance event, a grueling 2.5-hour marathon-style race that tests
the skills and stamina of the drivers and pushing the speed,
stability and overall soundness of the vehicles to their
limits. This all-out race will be conducted, starting at 8
a.m., on a portion of the track road course. At the
conclusion of all events, top-ranking teams will be awarded cash
prizes and team trophies during an awards banquet.
Whittingham will be the keynote speaker at the banquet.
All race and skills events are free and open to the public.
Rose-Hulman is the three-time defending Human Powered Vehicle
Challenge national champions after having top-scoring performances
in the ASME's east and west coast events during the 2008, 2009 and
2010 competitions.
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| Rounding Turn: The Human Powered Vehicle East Coast
Challenge will test the sleek and aerodynamic vehicles in sprint
and utility endurance events at the world famous Indianapolis Motor
Speedway. |
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International competitors feature Chitkara Institute of
Engineering and Technology (India), Universidad Central de
Venezuela, Universidad de Los Andes (Columbia) and University of
Toronto. Other American colleges and universities bringing
teams to the event are University of Akron, University of Alabama,
University of Arizona, Arkansas State University, California State
University Fresno, Central Connecticut State University, University
of Central Florida, Colorado State University, Daniel Webster
College (N.H.), Ferris State University (Mich.), Florida Institute
of Technology, Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, Grove City
College (Pa.), University of Kansas, Missouri University of Science
and Technology, University of Missouri-Kansas City, New Jersey
Institute of Technology, College of New York, North Dakota State
University, University of Oklahoma, Rochester Institute of
Technology, Un/ion College (N.Y.), Villanova University, Univerity
of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
"Having the opportunity to compete at the Indianapolis Motor
Speedway will be an once-in-a-lifetime experience for engineering
students," states Rose-Hulman Human Powered Vehicle Team Faculty
Advisor Michael Moorhead, assistant professor of mechanical
engineering. "This has become the signature event for
collegiate human powered racing."
The event is taking place as IMS continues its Centennial Era
celebration, honoring the 100th anniversaries of the opening of the
track in 1909 and the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911.
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Award-Winning Team: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is a
three-time defending champion of the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers' Human Powered Vehicle East Coast Challenge
competition.
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The ASME Human Powered Vehicle Challenge is just one more way to
highlight the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's legacy as an incubator
and proving ground of transportation innovation for more than a
century," said Jeff Belskus, IMS president and chief executive
officer. "We're pleased Rose-Hulman is bringing this event
and the future generation of automotive engineers to IMS."
Rose-Hulman President Matt Branam expressed gratitude to IMS for
its participation in the event, and said the Speedway's heritage as
The Greatest Race Course in the World is a perfect fit for the ASME
event. He pointed out that the Speedway is owned by Terre
Haute's Hulman-George family, which has also played a significant
role in the development of Rose-Hulman as the nation's top college
for undergraduate engineering education.
"We're fortunate to have the Speedway's generosity and support
for Rose-Hulman and our students," Branam noted. "Our
students learn by doing. Racing their own design, built with
their own hands, at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be
the ultimate learning experience for our students and others
throughout the world."
ASME President Robert T. Simmons stated: "This ASME competition
brings classroom engineering theory and design to actual concept
and fabrication. These highly talented students learn to work
in a team environment, thus providing them with the tools to be
successful in the engineering workforce."
For more details about the 2011 ASME HPVC-East event visit www.asme.org/events/competitions.
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