Buckeyes to compete in SAE AutoDrive Challenge
The Ohio State University currently has five active student projects teams that spend countless hours in the garage behind the Center for Automotive Research (CAR) preparing for competitions both nationally and internationally. This fall that number will jump to six when Ohio State forms their inaugural team to compete in the SAE AutoDrive Challenge II, sponsored by SAE International and General Motors.
The Buckeye AutoDrive team will join nine other universities tasked with developing AV technology capable of navigating an urban driving course, per the requirements stipulated by SAE J3016 Standard Level 4 automation.
The university teams selected to participate in the AutoDrive Challenge II are:
- Kettering University
- Michigan Technological University
- North Carolina A&T State University
- The Ohio State University
- Penn State University
- Texas A&M University
- University of Toronto
- University of Wisconsin - Madison
- Queens University
- Virginia Tech
The four-year competition will include annual benchmarks for the design and development of the new AV systems, while participating students will continue their education through SAE professional development courses.
General Motors will provide each team with a Chevy Bolt EUV, which will serve as the platform with which the team will integrate their AV technology. The teams will meet annually for competitive events at test facilities around the U.S. including the Transportation Research Center in East Liberty, Ohio, and The Mcity Test Facility in Michigan.
Led by Mechanical Engineering Research Associate Professor Qadeer Ahmed, team faculty advisors include Electrical and Computer Engineering Associate Professors Lisa Fiorintini and Keith Redmill and Faculty Emeritus Umit Ozguner, as well as Computer Science Engineering Assistant Professor Harry Chao. The advisors bring with them a diverse set of skills that will help the team take on the varied technical and cutting-edge topics in this competition.
Students on the Buckeye AutoDrive team will have the opportunity to experience hands-on AV technology training and interact with industry partners. Students interested in participating are encouraged to complete this interest form.
