challenge x 2006 outreach program final report...wiba radio (1310am/101.5fm) 6/2/2006 madison, wi...

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Challenge X 2006 Outreach Program Final Report

Team: University of Wisconsin - Madison Name of Outreach Coordinator: Dave Ahlman Dedicated Outreach Coordinator (Y/N): Yes Major: Mechanical Engineering Year in School: 3rd Credit: Received 3 credits in ME491 Date posted: June 5, 2006 Participating in the following special Outreach Award(s): Outstanding Overall Outreach Award Most Improved Outreach Program K-12 Educational Outreach Award Best Website Award Best Media Relations Award Best Community Outreach Award

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I. Minimum Requirements Points Description of Events Team Staffing/Support

2 First Semester: Nicole Wentlandt Second Semester: Dave Ahlman

Reporting & Planning

5 All reports can be found at www.cae.wisc.edu/~vehicle, follow the appropriate links

Web Development

3 Website contains all year 1 requirements and all year 2 requirements including general maintenance

K-12 Outreach 3 *ESTEAM garage tour x2 *Seymour High School Students Garage Tour *Hinsdale High School visit in Illinois *Camp Badger Group Garage Tour *Verona Hispanic High School Garage Tour *CoE minority recruitment program Garage tour *Randall Elementary School Garage Tour *High School Engineering Program Garage Tour

Community Outreach

3 *Alumni Tours in the Garage *Science Expeditions *Science Olympiad *Pre-Engineering Bash *Fall and Spring Kick-off Events *Homecoming Parade *SWE Car Maintenance Night x2 *Visited Mississippi State Univ.

Media Relations 4 *WIBA Radio (Radio) x2 *Channel 3 News Story – starting year 2 (TV) * Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Technology International (Print) *Johnson Controls Media Event (Print) *Wisconsin News Net (Radio) *WERN-FM 88.7 (Radio) *Suburban Life Clip (Print) *NBC News 12 Phoenix, AZ (TV)

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Hybrid Vehicle Team has met and exceeded the minimum requirements set by the Challenge X Outreach Event as originally planned at the beginning of the year. These events are summarized in the above table. While the team was successful in taking every opportunity that came their way, they were not able to work out a time with the Chancellor for a ride and drive event before the competition. Instead, this event is planned for in the fall to get the year started. This document summarizes each event with a detailed description of the participants and the event. Photos are included where possible to help give a visual idea of the event. Attached in the appendix are copies of various news clips about the UW-Madison Team over the course of the year.

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II. Media Relations

Activity

Event Date/Time

Location Participants and Audience

WIBA Radio (1310AM/101.5FM) 9/27/2005 Madison, WI

Glenn Bower

Channel 3 News 10/20/2005

Madison, WI University of Wisconsin

– Madison- Automotive

Center

Glenn Bower, Liz Casson (Team Leader), 8 Team members, 1 reporter, 1 camera person

Johnson Controls Media Event

2/23/2006 12pm-1pm

Johnson Controls Headquaters

Milwaukee, WI

Team members: Glenn Bower,Dan Bocci, Liz Casson, Dan Mehr, Dave Ahlman, Kevin Stutenberg, and Nick Matthias. Audience: Johnson Controls’ Rick Gunther (vice president of worldwide hybrid electric vehicle batteries), Wisconsin Clean Cities’ Francis Vogel (executive director)

NBC News 12 Phoenix, AZ 6/1/2006 Phoenix, AZ Glenn Bower, Dan Bocci, Dan Mehr,

Nicole McGregor Wisconsin News Net 6/2/2006 Madison, WI Glenn Bower, Bob Hague

WIBA Radio (1310AM/101.5FM) 6/2/2006 Madison, WI Glenn Bower, Kevin Christopher

WERN-FM 88.7 6/6/2006 Madison, WI Glenn Bower, Gil Halsted Event Name: WIBA Radio (1310AM/101.5FM) Participants: Glenn Bower Event Description/Details: Glenn was asked a few questions regarding the Challenge X

competition, our team and our plans for the upcoming year. He described the first year of Challenge X and how we did well in the Freescale award and explained that we will have a through the road hybrid design using a 1.9L diesel engine and a Ballard electric motor.

Event Name: Channel 3 News Participants: Glenn Bower, Liz Casson (Team Leader), 8 Team members, 1 reporter, 1

camera person Event Description/Details: Channel 3 News in Madison, WI came to the UW-Madison garage

to film a 3 minute news story about Challenge X and the Wisconsin Team. At the time, the UW-Madison Hybrid team had just painted their vehicle to the appropriate Wisconsin colors and it had been prepared for display. At this event, many shots of team members working on the vehicle were taken and both the Team Leader and the Faculty Advisor were interviewed about the goals for the GM sponsored Challenge X competition as well as their thoughts about the upcoming year. The story aired the next day along with the UW homecoming parade around 5:30pm.

Any Measurable Results: The reporter was very interested in the Challenge X program and expressed interest in writing a follow up story on it when we would receive our battery pack

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in February. With him, we were able to share the goals of Challenge X and give him more insight to the technologies that are being developed for sustainable mobility.

Event Name: Johnson Controls Media Event Participants: Team members: Glenn Bower, Dan Bocci, Liz Casson, Dan Mehr, Dave Ahlman,

Kevin Stutenberg, and Nick Matthias. Audience: Johnson Controls’ Rick Gunther (vice president of worldwide hybrid electric vehicle batteries), Wisconsin Clean Cities’ Francis Vogel (executive director), Channel 4 News, Milwaukee Sentinel Journal reporter.

Event Description/Details: This event was planned mostly by the UW-Madison team with help from the Johnson Controls Public Relations Department and it was an opportunity to show our sponsor’s how we have progressed. The event included lunch, a small conference, and presentation given by the team’s faculty advisor in order to inform all reporters present about Challenge X, the Johnson Controls, and Challenge X. After the conference, the reporters, guests, and the team ventured down to the street to look at the Moovada. The event concluded approximately 30 minutes later.

Any Measurable Results: Everyone present at the event, including reporters and guests, were all very impressed with goals set by the GM sponsored Challenge X program and the plans for meeting those goals. Francis Vogel brought his family along (two younger kids) to show them the vehicle and to introduce to them the ‘future’.

Figure 2: Glenn Bower receives the JCI Battery with

a few team members present at the event.

Event Name: NBC 12 News Phoenix, AZ Live News Story Participants: Glenn Bower, Dan Bocci, Dan Mehr, Nicole McGregor Event Description/Details: The event was planned by the Challenge X organizers and included two short live TV spots on the local NBC morning news during which we explained our truck and the competition.

Figure 1: Dan Mehr shares with a reporter the various components located in the trunk of the Moovada.

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Event Name: Wisconsin News Net Participants: Glenn Bower, Bob Hague Event Name: WIBA Radio (1310AM/101.5FM) Participants: Glenn Bower, Kevin Christopher

Event Name: WERN-FM 88.7 Participants: Glenn Bower, Gil Halsted Event Description/Details: These radio events were set up through the Challenge X

Competition. Glenn was the main contact for these radio interviews with the team leader as a back up. In general all interviews were similar with Glenn describing our vehicle design, our team structure and sharing insight to the Challenge X competition thus far. Everyone wants to know how Wisconsin is doing and whether they think they will win the competition.

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III. Media Coverage

Outlet Name

Reporter Date of Coverage

Clip attached (yes/no)

If coverage resulted from an Outreach activity YOU ORGANIZED,

list event

If coverage resulted from an

activity you PARTICIPATED

IN, list event

Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Technology International

2005 Edition

No

Suburban Life

Ron Koopmann

1/18/2006 Yes Hinsdale, IL High School Visit

Turbo Charging Competition

Andrew Johnson

2/23/2006 Yes Johnson Controls Media

Event

Recent Sightings in UW’s CoE

Jeff Miller 5/2/2006 Yes Team Meeting Group Activity

ME Newsletter

Fall/Winter 2005

Yes Channel 3 News Coverage Event

NBC News 12 Phoenix, AZ

Nicole McGregor

6/1/2006 No Challenge X Competition

** See appendix for attachments of the articles

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IV. K-12 Outreach

Activity

Event Date/Time

Location Participants and Audience

ESTEAM- Young Scientists of America

10/15/2005

Madison, WI- AutomotiveCenter

Liz Casson (Team Leader), 2 Team members, 30+ High School Students

Camp Badger 7/14/2005 8/10/2005

Madison, WI University of Wisconsin –

Madison- Automotive Center

Kristi Morrissey, 30+ Camp Badger participants (8th grade)

High School Tour 11/1/2005 10:45 am

Automotive Garage/Research

Auditorium

Glenn Bower, Liz Casson, Dan Bocci, Seymour High School Students

Visit to Hinsdale High School 1/12/2006 Hinsdale, IL

Glenn Bower, Dan Bocci, Dan Mehr, Liz Casson, Matt Michalak, many High School Students

Verona Hispanic Students Group Automotive GarageTour

2/8/2006 1-2pm

Automotive Garage

Glenn Bower, Liz Casson, Approx. 30 Middle School/ High School Students and 3 Chaperones

Presentation for College of Engineering Minority Recruitment Program

3/24/2006 1-2pm

Automotive Garage

Glenn Bower, Liz Casson Approximately 10 High School Students and 1 Chaperone

ESTEAM- Young Scientists of America

4/22/2006 Automotive Garage

5-10 Team members, 30+ High School Students

Randall Elementry School Garage Tour

5/19/2006 Automotive Garage Lehla Vakili, 30 Fifth Grade Students, Chaperones

High School Engineering Program Automotive Tour

5/1/2006 Automotive Garage Liz Casson, 30+ High School students

Event name: ESTEAM-Young Scientists of America Participants: Liz Casson (Team Leader), 2 Team members, 30+ High School Students Event Description/Details: The goal of ESTEAM is to allow gifted High School students to

get a feel for the various engineering majors at UW–Madison. During their lunch hour, groups of approximately 15 students received an overview of the team’s history as well as an introduction to Challenge X. UW-Madison’s team leader and two other team members were present at this event to speak with the students about their experiences in engineering and on the team.

Any Measurable Results: After a small presentation, students were allowed to walk around the UW-Madison automotive center and look at the vehicle. At this time, we received a more questions about the vehicle and our design. Overall, the students were interested in the challenge and enjoyed the close up look at our vehicle.

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Event name: Camp Badger Participants: Kristi Morrissey, 30+ Camp Badger participants Event Description/Details: Camp Badger, an annual event, allows eighth grade students to

survey many types of engineering fields and begin to see the study of science and math as a path that can lead to great careers over the course of two weeks. Included in this experience, was a presentation by the Hybrid vehicle team about the Challenge X competition and hybrid vehicles specifically the Aluminum Cow and Moolander.

Any Measurable Results: The campers enjoyed viewing the vehicles and getting an idea of the technologies that will be used in the future. Some of the kids had general questions about how we blend the power from the two sources together.

Event Name: High School Garage Tour Participants: Glenn Bower, Liz Casson, Dan Bocci, Seymour High School Students Activity Description/Details: A presentation was given at this event depicting what a hybrid

vehicle is, how it works, and why it is advantageous. In addition, several opportunities in engineering at UW-Madison were discussed. Following the presentation, the students

Figure 3: Team leader Liz Casson talks about Challenge X at an ESTEAM event and shares some of the team history

Figure 4: A team member shows a group from the ESTEAM program our ‘mock’ vehicle and explains its use in our progress

Figure 5: A group of kids from Camp Badger looks under the hood of the Aluminum Cow.

Figure 6: Kristi shows a group of kids from Camp Badger under the hood of the Moolander.

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were given a tour of the shop, including the interior of the Hybrid vehicle which enabled them to observe progress the team had made in modifying the Equinox. The goals of Challenge X were shared in order to give the students an idea of what direction hybrid vehicle technology needs to go. Emphasis was put on the importance of continuing research in hybrid vehicles and the various skills needed to work on a hybrid vehicle. In addition, how this project will allow students to gain knowledge that will aid in obtaining jobs in the future was covered. The presentation on the Hybrid vehicle demonstrated that students can have fun and learn something doing hands on research which is made possible through programs sponsored by companies like GM and the Challenge X competition.

Any measurable results: The students enjoyed looking at and learning about the vehicle. Students showed this interest by asking questions about the vehicle, the team structure and other engineering projects located in the garage.

Event name: Visit to Hinsdale High School Participants: Glenn Bower, Dan Bocci, Dan Mehr, Liz Casson, Matt Michalak Event description/details: The field house at

Hinsdale High School was opened for the Moovada to be moved inside. During the student’s lunch hour, they came to the field house to learn about the Moovada and ask questions. Members of the hybrid team were present to talk about overall competition goals and the current progress of the vehicle.

Any Measurable Results: At the time we had only integrated the electric motor into the rear of the vehicle and the stock engine was still in the front. Upon the student’s arrival, many of them proceed directly to the engine bay, assuming the main modifications to the vehicle were located there. Team members would then redirect the students to the rear

Figure 9: Danny talks to a student about the Challenge X program

Figure 7: Faculty Advisor Glenn Bower shows how the team uses a dummy vehicle before modifying the competition vehicle

Figure 8: Glenn Bower describes the new underbody components and locations of the Moovada showing the packaging challenges

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of the vehicle where they could see the mounted electrical system components. Many students had questions about the program as well as our vehicle.

Event name: Verona Hispanic Students Group Automotive Garage Tour Participants: Glenn Bower, Liz Casson, Approx. 30 students and 3 chaperones Event Description/Details: Most students present at this event spoke mostly Spanish;

therefore, a translator was present. Glenn described simply for the translator the Challenge X competition and UW-Madison Hybrid team’s vehicle design and goals for this competition.

Any Measurable Results: Because of the language barrier, there weren’t many questions from the crowd; however, when allowed to walk around the vehicle, a few students looked interested and would look underneath the vehicle to see the mounted electric motor.

Event name: Presentation for College of Engineering Minority Recruitment Program Participants: Glenn Bower, Liz Casson, approximately 10 students and 1 chaperone

Figure 10: Glenn explains the UW design goals to a Faculty Member at Hinsdale HS

Figure 11: The Moovada on display at Hinsdale HS

Figure 13: Glenn shows students the back of the Moovada in its current state

Figure 12: As Faculty Advisor Glenn Bower talks about the Moovada, his words are translated for the students

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Event Description/Details: The dean of students for the College of Engineering wanted to show the students the diversity of the programs at Wisconsin. Glenn and Liz describe the goals, challenges, and rewards of being involved in the Challenge X program.

Any Measurable Results: The students were interested in the projects and asked questions about the hybrid components.

Event Name: ESTEAM- Young Scientists of America Participants: 5-10 Team members, 30+ Students Event Description/Details: Similar to the ESTEAM event that took place in October, students

were brought over in groups during their lunch hour to see the Moovada. The students were given a general overview of Challenge X and the goals and experiences of the students on the team were shared to give the students an idea of what it is like to work on a project of this scale.

Any Measurable Results: At this time, all major components had been mounted so the students were able to see a lot of the engineering work that went into the vehicle. Specifically the mounting of the electric motor and the look of the engine bay were shared. Emphasis was placed on the fact that our vehicle looks like stock and that we had tried very hard to work in a professional setting to provide a professional looking vehicle.

Event Name: Randall Elementary School Garage Tour Participants: Lehla Vakili Event Description/Details: Approximately thirty fifth graders from the local Randall

Elementary School visited the UW-Madison garage for a guided tour. All SAE teams in the garage were covered in the tour (Challenge X, Mini Baja, Formula One, and Clean Snowmobile). Emphasis was put on the importance of Hybrids in America today because there is decreasing availability of oil and increasing pollution. After talking about what competition for each of the teams involves and the purpose of each team, the kids experience fun interaction with one of the vehicles by climbing in the Mini Baja vehicle. At the end of the tour emphasis was made on the importance of these teams because they are part of the engineering research at the university and that reports written about the teams will be used in future research.

Any Measurable Results: As Lehla spoke about each of the SAE teams, many questions were asked. A UW-Madison professor was present, because his daughter was in the fifth grade class, who asked in depth questions. A few girls showed particular interest in engineering and may have been influenced by the female guide who represented a good role model.

Event Name: High School Engineering Program Automotive Tour Participants: Liz Casson, 30+ high school students Event Description/Details: This group of students is involved in a special program at their

high school where they have to accomplish certain engineering tasks to gain their certificate. Liz shared the Explorer from the FutureTruck Competition with them and then talked about the Moovada and the Challenge X competition. Also emphasized was how working on a project in the competition benefits the students both in the classroom and towards their future careers.

Any Measurable Results: Students were responsive and interested in the program at UW-Madison. Hopefully some of these students will join the team in the next few years. Additionally, sharing the experiences of a female working on the team on these types of projects was asked to encourage the female students to think about a math and science type of major.

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V. Community Outreach Activity

Event

Date/Time Location Participants and Audience

Pre-Engeering Bash

9/1/2005

Madison, WI

Liz Casson (Team Leader), 8 team members, many freshmen engineers

Fall team kick-off Event 9/7/2005 Engineering

Hall/Automotive Garage

Liz Casson, Kristi Morrissey, Kevin Stutenberg, 70+ prospective members

Homecoming Parade 10/21/2005 Downtown Madison, WI Approx. 20 Team Members, Local

Community Alumni Garage Tours 10/21/2005 Automotive Garage Glenn Bower, 20+ UW Madison

Alumni

SWE Car Maintenance Night 11/29/2005 Automotive Garage

Kevin Stutenberg, Adam McNeilly, Liz Casson, Becky Gunn, SWE members

Visiting Mississippi State Challenge X Team

1/13-15/2006 Starksville, MS UW-Madison Team, Mississippi

State Team

Spring Kick-Off Event 1/26/2006 Engineering

Hall/Automotive Garage All current team members, perspective new members

Science Expeditions 4/1/2006 Automotive Garage

Liz Casson (Team Leader), 8+ Team members, many community members

Science Olympiads 4/22/2006 Automotive Garage 10 Team members, community

members SWE Car Maintenance Night 4/28/2006 Automotive Garage Becky Gunn, Mechanical Group, 8

SWE members Event name: Pre-Engeering Bash Participants: Liz Casson (Team Leader), 8 team members, many freshmen engineers Event Description/Details: The Pre-Engineering Bash is a College of Engineering event

allowing student organizations to recruit new members. This program is aimed mostly at new incoming freshmen in attempt to help them settle into college. Members of the UW-Madison Hybrid Vehicle team participated in recruiting for the Hybrid Team while making presentations and distributing pamphlets across the UW-Madison campus. Former team members gave presentations to introductory engineering classes about the team fall kick-off event in order to raise interest and help recruit new younger members.

Any Measurable Results: Many freshmen stopped by the vehicle that was parked outside the building and had indepth discussions about the team history, past experiences and the design of the vehicle. As a result, a few freshmen were very interested in joining the team and were planning to attend our kick-off later in the week.

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Figure 14: A team member shows prospective members around the garage at the fall kick-off

Event Name: Fall team kick-off Event Participants: Liz Casson, Kristi Morrissey, Kevin

Stutenberg, 70+ prospective members Event Description/Details: The Fall kickoff is an event

meant for students interested in the Hybrid Vehicle Team to get more in depth information about it and consider joining the team. Included in the event was a powerpoint about the vehicle, presentations by group leaders, and a tour of the garage area.

Any Measurable Results: We gained approximately 10 new core members to our team who are enthusiastic and hardworking. They are all very interested in learning new technology and working on the vehicle.

Event Name: Homecoming Parade Participants: Team leader and 15 members Activity Description/Details: The UW-Madison Hybrid Vehicle Team participated in the

annual Homecoming parade organized by the University. This was the first event in which the newly painted Moovada was presented to the public. The vehicle was paraded around downtown Madison where the general public was exposed to the vehicle. Students involved in the team sat inside the paraded vehicle while waving and smiling at the admiring crowd. The public was able to see that the Hybrid Vehicle Team had received the Equinox for the Challenge X competition. Having smiles on their faces, the team members looked friendly.

Any Measurable Results: Some people recognized the Hybrid Vehicle Team’s older vehicle and called out to the team while others became aware of our project through this parade. Also, this event was a good opportunity to recruit interested members since many university students attend the parade.

Event Name: Alumni Tours Team Participants: Glenn Bower, Liz Casson Audience: Alumni Activity Description/Details: This tour of the garage was intended for UW-Madison College of

Engineering alumni. An Introduction/Update was presented on all of the teams in the garage (Mini Baja, Formula One, Snowmobile and Hybrid). Emphasis was given on the students at the university that are involved in projects and how these projects give students skills that are applicable to industry. The knowledge, which students involved in the present Challenge X competition attained through resources and hands on research with the team was discussed.

Any Measurable Results: Alumni showed interest and asked questions about the Challenge X project and the development of hybrid vehicles at UW-Madison.

Event Name: SWE Car Maintenance Participants: Kevin Stutenberg, Adam McNeilly, Becky Gunn Audience: Society of Women Engineers members Activity Description/Details: This fun biannual event is an opportunity for the Hybrid Vehicle

Team to interact with the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) members. In this event, members of the Hybrid team demonstrate car maintenance to the women in SWE, including changing oil, rotating tires, checking fluid level, and changing/checking the air

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filter. Simple knowledge about automobiles, including hybrid vehicles was proven to be helpful and important.

Any Measurable Results: SWE participants were interested in the information shared about automobiles and the hybrid vehicle and some women assisted with the tasks. There are few women on any of the teams at UW-Madison and this was a great opportunity for women to become interested in the hybrid vehicle and to meet other team members.

Event Name: Visiting Mississippi State Challenge X Team Participants: Glenn Bower, Liz Casson, Danny Bocci, Dan Mehr, Matt Michalak, Mississippi State Challenge X Team Activity Description/Details: Over winter break, the UW-Madison Hybrid team visited the

Mississippi Challenge X Hybrid team in order to answer any questions and concerns they had with their vehicle. The Moovada, the name of the UW-Madison vehicle, was trailered to Mississippi as well, since we stopped to do a PR event in Hinsdale, IL. The UW-Madison team was able to share their accomplishments made with their vehicle in the hopes to motivate the Mississippi Team. Also, assistance was given in getting the MS team’s engine started. The UW-Madison team shared past experiences with the MS team in terms of the time it took to design our past vehicles in order to help them understand what commitment in time management they might expect for their vehicle.

Any Measurable Results: The MS team was very interested in the information and assistance we gave them. Assisting in the start of the MS team’s engine was a large step in the right direction for them, which was greatly appreciated.

Figure 16: Glenn explains in further detail to a MS team member our strategy in mounting the electric motor.

Figure 17: The MS Team and UW Team around the Moovada

Figure 15: A team member shows girls in SWE how to repair their car

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Event Name: Spring Kick-Off Meeting Participants: All Group Leaders and current members Activity Description/Details: Spring Kick-Off is a chance to recruit new members onto the

team. The goal of the kick-off meeting is to summarize the competition and its goals as well as to introduce students to team members and to the design and progress of the hybrid vehicle. In order to attract perspective student’s to join the Hybrid Vehicle Team, a music video was shown depicting team members having fun and working on the car. After the formal presentation, pizza and soda was served while members encouraged students to join in a more laid back atmosphere. The Challenge X competition was introduced in terms of goals for the three future competition years. Additionally, the progress of the team in the past up to the present was introduced to show our successes and to promote our desire to perform well at competition. The Hybrid team’s objective to learn and have fun in the process was emphasized.

Any Measurable Results: A few students joined the team as a result of the kickoff event. Others who were interested, but could not commit to the team at the time expressed their interest in making time in their schedules for working on the vehicle next year.

Event Name: Science Expeditions Participants: Liz Casson (Team Leader), 8+ Team members, many community members Event Description/Details: In this event,

several people of all ages were permitted to explore the garage and ask questions about the team and car. All teams (Mini Baja, Formula One, Snowmobile and Hybrid) were present to display their automobiles in the UW-Madison garage. A poster was displayed giving all important aspects of the Hybrid car. The event was held in the Engineering Centers Building on the UW-Madison campus at which several departments had research projects on display. The science expedition program was geared toward kids with colorful displays and hands on activities; therefore, the car was left open for them to climb in and look around. The engine compartment was open for display and the back of the car was open for people to look inside. At least three team members were in the garage at all times to answer any questions.

Any Measurable Results: Several of the spectators commented on being impressed with the accomplishment of the UW-Madison Hybrid team. One woman representing the county fair asked the team leader if it was possible to show the car at the fair.

Figure 18: A team member shows kids around the Moovada at a Science Expeditions event

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Event Name: Science Olympiads Participants: 10 Team members, community members Event Description/Details: Science Olympiad is a very well known program which evokes the

participation of middle school students in science and engineering. The presence of the Hybrid team further inspired youths to be apart of the engineering school and the success of the UW-Madison team will impressed students to attend the UW-Madison and participate in hands-on engineering projects. The garage was open for students during breaks to visit the garage and see the various projects inside.

Any Measurable Results: Many students asked about our truck and our design. They enjoyed looking into the engine bay and underneath at the electric motor. A few students would ask questions about our strategy and how we have performed at competitions in the past. Overall, they seemed interested and impressed.

Event Name: SWE Car Maintenance Night Participants: Becky Gunn, Mechanical Group, 8 SWE members Event Description/Details: Similar to car maintenance night in the fall, we hold one in the

spring for new SWE members. Since our vehicle at this time is mostly put together we use it as a model for demonstrating how to rotate tires, change the oil and how/where to check fluid levels. We also shared with them our design and a bit about the competition.

Any Measurable Results: The SWE members are good participants and appreciative that we share our knowledge with them. They asked a few questions about our design, but mostly about how to take care of their car.

Figure 21: A team member shows girls in SWE how to change the tires on the Moovada

Figure 22: A team member shows girls from SWE different components in the engine compartment

Figure 19: A team member watches as some kids explore the Moovada

Figure 20: A team member answers questions at the science expeditions

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VI. Website Development

Over the course of year two of the Challenge X Competition, the UW-Madison Hybrid Vehicle Team website has undergone a few changes to try to emphasize the outreach accomplishments made throughout the year. As can be seen above, the new default page tries to highlight these main events. If the user scrolls down, there are links to the newest newsletter, upcoming events and other milestones that the team has met.

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This is the main Challenge X page for the Wisconsin Team. As required it summarizes the Challenge X Program, the overall goals, the first year and second year as well as the Wisconsin Teams design strategy for the competition. On the left are important links to the Challenge X Website, sponsors page and the GMability websites.

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The team page was updated to include the new picture of the Wisconsin Team with their vehicle. If the user scrolls down they can find information about when meetings occurred this past semester as well as descriptions of each leader and the group that they represent. Changes are being planned for this summer for the website to make it more interactive. These plans include possibly an online forum, animations and a more updated look. Look for these newer changes next year!

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Appendix: Copies of Media Clips

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Turbocharging competition UW in contest to rev up SUV's fuel efficiency

By ANDREW JOHNSON [email protected]

Posted: Feb. 23, 2006

The "Moovada" has everything that most sport utility vehicles owners would want - good gas mileage, low pollution and decent performance.

You won't find the vehicle on car lots yet. Rather, it's the name given to a souped-up Chevrolet Equinox by a team of University of Wisconsin-Madison engineering students - their entry in a nationwide contest to build a more fuel- efficient car.

On Thursday, the students received a boost when automotive parts supplier Johnson Controls Inc. presented them with a turbocharged hybrid battery system to use in the crossover SUV.

UW-Madison is one of 17 universities participating in Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility, a contest in which engineering students are reconfiguring an Equinox to increase its fuel economy by 50%, cut tailpipe emissions and maintain overall performance.

General Motors Corp. provided each team with an Equinox last year.

Johnson Controls also has provided batteries to teams from the University of Akron, University of Texas at Austin and Mississippi State University.

"The technology of the future depends on the students who participate in these activities," Rick Gunther, vice president of worldwide hybrid electric vehicle battery sales at Johnson Controls, said in a statement. "We are proud to help pave the way for the next generation of innovators."

The U.S. Department of Energy has been sponsoring programs that promote university involvement in increasing vehicle fuel efficiency since 1987.

UW-Madison has participated in such contests since 1992 and has taken the top prize in several of the events, according to mechanical engineering professor Glenn Bower, the team's faculty adviser.

Previous entries from UW students include the "Electric Cow," the "Future Cow," the "Aluminum Cow," the "Moollenium" and the "Moolander."

Challenge X, which began in 2004 and ends in 2007, is divided into three phases focused on different aspects of building a more fuel-efficient car. For the first phase, which ended in 2005, the teams modeled, simulated and tested powertrain systems.

UW-Madison took 10th place last year.

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This year, students are installing the powertrain and other systems that they designed into their vehicles.

The biggest challenge for the UW-Madison team has been packaging the vehicle's components, according to team leader Liz Casson, a senior engineering student.

"It's a small vehicle," she said. "It's a unibody system, so it's really hard to package anything underneath the seats. There's not a lot of room underneath there."

Bower said fuel-efficiency programs connect participating schools with the latest available engineering technology and give students a hands-on learning opportunity.

The Johnson Controls battery package - a nickel-metal hydride battery - contains its own management system that calculates if it is being used properly, Bower said.

"We don't have to come up with the logic behind if we are using the battery correctly," he said.

In addition to the basic car, each Challenge X team received $10,000 in seed money from General Motors. The teams are also eligible to receive up to $25,000 in parts.

The UW-Madison team has received parts from other automotive parts suppliers, including Delphi Corp. and Tower Automotive Inc.

Francis Vogel, executive director of Wisconsin Clean Cities, an organization that promotes alternative energy, said programs such as Challenge X are necessary to reduce the United States' foreign-energy dependency.

"This is really kind of a concrete example of a public-private partnership that President Bush was alluding to with his presentation on his advanced energy initiative," said Vogel, referring to the president's visit Monday to Johnson Controls.

Fuel Efficiency

Photo/Michael Sears

Dan Mehr (left), a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, explains his teams entry in Challenge X to Rick Gunther, vice president of worldwide hybrid electric vehicle battery sales at Johnson Controls. The company donated a hybrid battery system to the team for the fuel-efficiency competition.

Photo/Michael Sears

Dave Ahlman (from left), Nick Matthias, Dan Mehr and Kevin Stutenberg lift a hybrid battery system weighing about 200 pounds into their truck.

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STUDENT NEWS The UW-Madison Hybrid Vehicle Team and its advisor, Faculty Associate Glenn Bower, were featured on the local station WISC-TV 3 in late October. Also known as Team Paradigm, the group builds hybrid electric vehicles for competition and holds three national championships, a fact that was noted in the Channel 3 story. The story highlighted the team’s current challenge, which is to modify a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox sports utility vehicle for higher gas mileage while maintaining its performance. The students are renovating the Equinox for Challenge X, a three-year student design competition, now in its second year, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and General Motors.

Recent sightings

May 2, 2006

Engineering creeps Scooting on mechanic carts across the terrazzo floor in the lobby of the Engineering Centers Building, students on the Challenge X team hold “creeper” races as part of a team-building exercise. The group of students is modifying a hybrid vehicle for Challenge X, a national competition that pits 17 universities in a three-year odyssey to convert a standard-issue, gasoline-powered Equinox into a vehicle that runs on a mix of gas and electric energy. The team is lead by Glenn Bower, the project’s adviser and a faculty associate in mechanical engineering.

Photo: Jeff Miller

The Equinox (View larger image)

challenge x 2006 outreach program final report...wiba radio (1310am/101.5fm) 6/2/2006 madison, wi...

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