(Image courtesy of ASME Human Powered Vehicle Challenge.)
In many parts of the developing world where transportation and automotive infrastructure is limited or nonexistent, human- or cattle-powered transport is often the only option.
Well designed and useful human-powered vehicles can become a significantly important form of sustainable transportation for commuting to work, school and more in these same areas.
In pursuit of advancements in this form transportation, the American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME) created the Human Powered Vehicle Challenge (HPVC).
This competition encourages engineering students to practice and demonstrate the application of engineering design principles by designing and building efficient, sustainable and practical vehicles for every day use.
Competition Events
The overall competition is divided into four events:
Design Event
Judges will score on the basis of sound application and engineering principles and practices toward the vehicle design. This event requires documentation such as a written report and a technical presentation, as well as static judging of the design.
Men’s and Women’s Speed Event
Teams are scored on their vehicle’s speed in either a flying 100m sprint or a head-to-head drag race from a standing start. Separate scores for men and women are recorded for this event and separate prizes awarded to each division.
Innovation Event
The teams are scored on their design and then demonstrated technical innovation of their vehicle.
Endurance Event
Scores are for speed, practicality, performance and reliability in a road race format that includes obstacles and challenges typical of an urban transportation environment.
Each event has trophy prizes for first, second and third place winners, including cash prizes for first place. There is also judging for the competition’s overall top three teams, all of which will receive a cash prize.
Applications Are Open
(Image courtesy of ASME Human Powered Vehicle Challenge.)
Eligible teams must be comprised of students currently enrolled in an engineering graduate or undergraduate program of study or who were enrolled during the previous quarter or semester and graduated no earlier than six months prior to the competition date.
Participating students will gain essential skills such as working in a professional team environment and technical experience that will benefit them in their future studies and careers.
ASME annually hosts the HPVC events in five regions:
- U.S. Eastern Region
- U.S. Western Region
- Latin America
- Mexico
- India
The HPVC applications are currently open for the 2016 competition.
HPVC West will take place April 22 to 24, 2016 in San Jose, California, at the Santa Clara Valley Senior Section. Early bird registration has closed, but the event is still open for advance registration until February 22, 2016.
HPVC East will take place May 13 to 15, 2016 in Athens, Ohio, hosted by Ohio University. Early bird registration is still open for this region until February 13, 2016.
More information including the full contest rules is available on the ASME HPVC website.