The 2018-19 NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge is off to an exciting start. Coinciding with their senior capstone design courses, fifteen universities have registered to compete in this year’s program.
A sample of a bike design from CalPoly from a previous Vehicle Challenge when it was sponsored by Parker Hannifin.
In the first semester of the Vehicle Challenge, teams gain knowledge in fluid power components, circuits, and systems, and their use in controlling force and motion. They are introduced to the industry judges and mentors, order components from the parts suppliers, and begin planning for the Design and Specification Midway Review. During this review, students present their initial design and mechanical drawings that illustrate the fluid power control circuits to be created for the vehicle as well as the results from their analysis of fluid flow and expected performance.
University teams include the following:
- California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
- Cleveland State University
- Colorado State University
- Iowa State University
- Kennesaw State University
- Montana State University
- Murray State University
- Purdue Northwest
- Purdue University
- University of Akron
- University of Cincinnati
- University of Denver
- University of Utah
- West Virginia University Inst. of Tech.
- Western Michigan University
The following companies are providing volunteer judges and mentors:
- Danfoss Power Solutions
- FORCE America Inc.
- Gates Corporation
- HydraForce Inc.
- Iowa Fluid Power
- Parker Hannifin Corporation
- Price Engineering
- Trelleborg Sealing Solutions
- Woodward Inc.
Program sponsors include:
- Bimba Manufacturing – Final Competition Event Host
- Eaton Corp. – Parts Supplier
- LubeTech – Fluid Supplier
- Parker Hannifin Corporation – Program Sponsor
- SunSource – Parts Supplier
- Source Fluid Power – Parts Supplier
NFPA
www.nfpa.com
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