Colombian Team Rides to Victory at the Human Powered Vehicle Challenge Latin America
Colombian Team Rides to Victory at the Human Powered Vehicle Challenge Latin America
More than 40 engineering students from three countries gathered in Caracas, Venezuela, last month to put their design skills to the test during the 2013 ASME Human Powered Vehicle Challenge Latin America. Six teams competed at the event, which took place at Universidad Simon Bolivar from Feb. 22-24.
ASME's Human Powered Vehicle Challenge (HPVC) provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate the application of sound engineering design principles in the development of sustainable and practical transportation alternatives. In the HPVC, students work in teams to design and build efficient, highly engineered vehicles for everyday use — from commuting to work, to carrying goods to market.
The four-member team from Universidad de Los Andes in Bogota, Colombia, was the big winner at the competition, placing first overall as well as first place in the endurance and men's speed events and the design and innovation categories. In the women's speed event – the only category the Universidad de Los Andes didn't dominate – the team finished second. At the end of the three-day competition, the students had amassed six trophies and $1,400 in prize money.
The 14-member team from Instituto Tecnologico de Morelia placed second overall at the HPVC Latin America, taking home a trophy and the $500 second prize, while three students from Instituto Tecnologico de Ciudad Juarez in Juarez, Mexico, came in third overall and received a trophy and a $300 prize.
The three other schools participating in the competition were Universidad del Zulia of Zulia, Venezuela, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo of Michoacan, Mexico, and the host university Universidad Simon Bolivar.
In addition to the Latin America event, ASME holds two other HPVC competitions: HPVC East and HPVC West. HPVC East will take place at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich., from April 26-28. The location and dates for HPVC West are to be announced soon.
For more information on ASME's Human Powered Vehicle Challenge program, visit www.asme.org/events/competitions/human-powered-vehicle-challenge-(hpvc).
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