Kennesaw State University Engineering Team Places Second In National Competition

Press release from Kennesaw State University:

Apr 27, 2021

Kennesaw State University engineering team places second in national competition

KENNESAW, Ga.
(Apr 27, 2021) — A Kennesaw State University mechanical engineering team placed second overall in the Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge, a nationwide competition
hosted virtually by the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA) and Danfoss Power
Solutions earlier this month.

Kennesaw State was represented by students Romeo Locke, Sahil Pitre, Will Sanders
and Kevin Wandene, who were tasked with modifying a traditional pedal-powered vehicle
with a hydraulic system that stored and released power to the wheels. They also had
to design and implement a pneumatic system for an additional application. This project
deepened the team’s fluid power knowledge, as well as their interest in the fluid
power industry. Students completed the challenge to coincide with their two-semester
senior design capstone courses, and industry professionals served as mentors and judges.

“We are so proud of our students for showcasing their engineering prowess against
a highly competitive field of students,” said mechanical engineering professor Richard
Ruhala, who co-advised the students along with mechanical engineering associate professor
and co-advisor, Laura Ruhala. “Though presenting virtually added another layer to
the competition, our students adapted and rose to the challenge. The funding from
the NFPA allowed their capstone course to be taken to the next level of design, build,
test, redesign, and compete.”

Teams competed for cash prizes in three separate races, including sprint, efficiency
and endurance. Aside from their second place ranking overall, KSU also won first place
in the endurance challenge of the competition. The team’s success earned it a cumulative
$3,000 prize from the NFPA that will be distributed equally among the student members.

This year marks only the second time that Kennesaw State had participated in the event,
where it outperformed other universities in the challenge hosted by Danfoss Power
Solutions, including Iowa State University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, and the
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, among others.

– Josh Milton

Submitted photos

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A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.

This press release was produced by Kennesaw State University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.