| Chem-E Car team headed to nationals after victory |
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| Written by Press Release: Missouri S&T Public Relations | |
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Students at Missouri University of Science and Technology showed no fear last week by beating six other university teams in a chemical reaction-powered, autonomous vehicle competition held in Lincoln, Neb. The team’s “UMR Ghost” car earned the team a return trip to the national competition set for November in Philadelphia, Pa.
The competition was part of the two-day 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Mid-America Regional Conference. The Chem-E Car competition challenged students to design and build a shoebox-sized car that could carry an additional load a specified distance. The car stopped 34 inches away from the line. The “UMR Ghost” is run by a lead-sulfuric acid battery which powers a small motor. The stopping mechanism consists of the production of carbon dioxide. The gas displaces water from one vessel to another, raising a small ball until a photo sensor detects the ball’s interference and cuts the circuit to the motor to stop the car. The Missouri S&T team optimized the amount of chemicals needed to produce carbon dioxide at a rate so that the photo sensor shut off the motor after the required amount of time -- and distance -- has passed. Members of the Missouri S&T Chem-E Car Team include: Dan Amos of Chesterfield, Mo., a junior in chemical engineering; Thomas Belfield of Alton, Ill., a junior in chemical engineering; Kristine Brown of Kansas City, Mo., a junior in chemical engineering and team president; Justin Cobb of Springfield, Mo., a senior in chemical engineering; Greg Eike of St. Louis, a junior in chemical engineering; Brennen Gross of Omaha, Neb., a junior in chemical engineering; Thuydung “Tweetie” Huynh of Kansas City, Mo., a junior in chemical engineering; Matt Ludden of St. Charles, Mo., a freshman in chemical engineering; Joe Lyons of Rolla, Mo., a senior in chemical engineering; David O’Dell of Alton, Ill., a junior in chemical engineering; Richard Ruppert of Alton, Ill., a junior in electrical engineering; Sarah Schatz of Rolla, Mo., a senior in biological sciences and chemical engineering; Bryan Solomon of St. Louis, a senior in chemical engineering. Dr. Daniel Forciniti, professor of chemical and biological engineering, is the team’s advisor. |
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