Design, Simulation, and Fabrication of an Intelligent Ground Vehicle as a Part of the Capstone Project

• Published in: Association for Engineering Education - Engineering Library Division Papers p. 25.405.1
• Main Authors: Cappello, Nicholas Charles, Ei, Takeshi Jonathan, Miller, Edward, Bosse, Dan, Edwards, Berne S, Meah, Kala, Kuchnicki, Stephen N, Link, Gregory M, Blanding, Wayne, Kiefer, Scott F
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Atlanta American Society for Engineering Education-ASEE 10.06.2012
• Subjects: Competition; Computer simulation; Curricula; Engineering education; Project design; Simulation

Design, Simulation, and Fabrication of an Intelligent Ground Vehicle as a Part of the Capstone ProjectAbstract: A team of undergraduate engineering students from ………….. constructed an autonomousground vehicle for the capstone design courses required by their engineering curricula. The team’svehicle was entered in the 19th annual Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC) at OaklandUniversity in Rochester, Michigan, where it achieved a top ten overall standing among 55contestants and earned an award for vehicle design. This paper provides an overview of thecapstone design experience of the project’s structure and motion sub-team, which was responsiblefor the design and implementation of the vehicle’s mechanical, electromechanical, and electricaldistribution systems. In particular, design, simulation, and fabrication of the vehicle are presented.This paper also discusses the organization, planning and resource acquisition challenges faced bythis interdisciplinary team. The chosen design is modeled in SimulinkTM software; the results arevalidated by comparing the simulated response to competition and pre-event testing of the as-fabricated vehicle. Project outcomes are presented and assessed with respect to ………………’scapstone design expectations and program outcomes, as well as compliance with technicalspecifications established within the IGVC rules and by the team.