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Faced with the soaring cost of
gasoline and concerns about greenhouse gas emissions a group of dedicated
students at the Dearborn Center for Math, Science & Technology (DCMST), a
high school magnet program in the Dearborn Public School District, have been
exploring what it takes to build a car to address these concerns
Funded by a grant from the
Convergence Education Foundation, this small group of students met twice a week
after school to plan, test and build an electrically powered automobile as part
of the Innovative Vehicle Design Competition hosted by the Convergence 2008
International Automotive Electronics Conference.
Unique among the teams competing in
the competition, the DCMST team is not housed in a traditional machine/auto
shop. The students met and built their car in a second-story, carpeted computer
lab at the Berry Career Center.
This meant that students faced the additional challenge of using off-the-shelf
parts whenever possible. Starting with a
used go-kart frame and the drive system from an old electric golf cart, the
students built their car with simple hand tools-hacksaw, file and cordless drill!
The students also relied on their
corporate sponsor, Ford Motor Company, especially the skilled trade's workers
at the New Model Platform
Development Center,
to finish the bodywork they designed, as well as paint the final vehicle. Workers from the City of Dearborn also donated their time to assist
with the body work. Given only 6 days to complete the work, these workers
transformed the vehicle from a rough, rusty, metal eyesore, to a sleek, classy,
ultra-cool show car sporting black paint with green "ghost flames". The external features, paint and presentation
of the vehicle drew large crowds of spectators throughout the first day of
competition held October 4 at Nissan Automotive in Farmington Hills.
The team pitted their car against the
competition on both a half-mile road course, and a tight figure "8" track. Going up against a variety of "kit cars" the
DCMST fabricated vehicle was at a disadvantage in the speed and distance events
but their innovative steering system drew the attention of judges and other
teams. The electrically powered, computer controlled, "drive-by-wire" steering
system allows users to easily switch to any steering device they desire-wheel,
joystick, foot pedals, touch screen, etc. The student's pioneering design is
targeted for drivers with various disabilities.
For example, a person without the use of an arm might prefer the
joystick to a traditional steering wheel.
Such adaptive technologies allow vehicles to be easily modified to
appeal to a broader customer base.
The final exhibition of the vehicle
will be at the Convergence Conference at Cobo Hall on Wednesday, October 22,
2008. At that time the students will
answer questions and interact with the electronic and automotive engineers
attending the conference. Their car will
be judged on its construction, engineering, innovativeness and numerous other
categories. |
