Square One’s Innovative Vehicle Design Challenge Coming to Kettering University

A high school student drives a go kart during the 2019 Square One's Innovative Vehicle Design Challenge at Kettering University.

As an institution that is committed to innovative education and hands-on experience, we know the value of this competition not only to participants but to the industries in which they will one day transform.”

Kip Darcy, Kettering's Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing

Fifty Michigan high school teams will compete in person and virtually as part of Square One Education Network’s 14th Annual Innovative Vehicle Design Challenge at Kettering University this month.

The statewide competition will be May 18-19 at the Kettering University’s Mobility Research Center, utilizing the test pad and track. Of the 50 competing teams, 25 will participate virtually and 25 will participate in person.

Four competitions will take place: Autonomous Innovative Vehicle Design Challenge, Mini Innovative Vehicle Design Challenge, V2X Innovative Vehicle Design, and the Full-Scale Innovative Vehicle Design Challenge. 

“Square One’s Network helps students connect their learning with opportunity, and helps employers connect with their future talent,” said Barb Land, CEO of Square One Education Network. “This continued partnership with Kettering University to host our annual Innovative Vehicle Design Challenge Competition at its premier testing facility is a significant component in achieving our goals to inspire students toward the technical career paths of the future and to help industry find its future talent.”

Square One is a Michigan-based non-profit educational organization focused on developing talent for the future workforce by empowering teachers and students with hands-on learning experiences around high-quality STEM projects by partnering with higher education and industry.

“We are excited to partner once again with Square One to host this year's event at MRC and to support the passion and skills of these incredibly talented future leaders in mobility," said Kip Darcy, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing at Kettering University. "As an institution that is committed to innovative education and hands-on experience, we know the value of this competition not only to participants but to the industries in which they will one day transform." 

The Autonomous Innovative Vehicle Design Challenge project challenges students to re-engineer a “Power Wheels Jeep” into an autonomous vehicle. The Mini Innovative Vehicle Design Racing Challenge requires teams to re-engineer an electric 1/10th scale RC vehicle, for optimal performance, and the V2X challenge simulates the sensors and coding necessary for successful autonomous movement. The Full-Scale Innovative Vehicle Design Challenge inspires teams to transform a gas-powered go-kart kit or build a car from the ground up into an electric or hybrid electric vehicle, featuring an innovative component that sets it apart from the rest.  

“Square One’s focus on electrification and future mobility solutions will substantially benefit by this partnership with Kettering University, and we are very enthusiastic about the positive experience this will provide for current and future student participants,” Land said. “It is those participants who will have a broader horizon for career pathways which in turn helps provide future talent for industries that are seeking that innovative next-generation workforce.”

To put on the 2021 IVD Competition, Square One again has partnered with several prominent industry organizations and educational partners. This is the eighth consecutive year umlaut, a global full-service engineering and consulting firm with more than 20 years of experience serving the automotive and telecom industries, is sponsoring the event. During that time, umlaut donated more than $200,000 in cash and in-kind contributions, including funding scholarships and participating as mentors to the students. This year, umlaut, which has an office in Southfield, is awarding a $500 scholarship to a winner of the Autonomous IVD competition, and ITS Michigan is awarding three Masters of Mobility scholarships.

“Growing the talent pool of potential engineers is critical to our digital economy,” said Hakan Ekmen, umlaut’s US Managing Director. “Encouraging students to participate in important challenges like this with Square One and to explore careers in STEM are a major way to expose them to engineering as a fun, rewarding career. We are proud to sponsor this event. The engineers of tomorrow are found in programs like this, which fosters the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit that we look for in our own employees.”

Annette Skorupski, umlaut’s US Marketing lead, added, “Providing mentorship and demonstrating to students that positions in STEM are not just filled by engineers makes the challenge so unique. This program allows students to work in different aspects of the automotive industry, from project management and ambassadorship technical roles like sensor development and mechatronics. This year’s challenge is particularly beneficial to these students in the COVID environment because it closely mirrors how the auto industry has needed to adapt. Having the ability to successfully complete these challenges remotely will help prepare the students well for the future.”

In addition to umlaut, this year’s competition is made possible from the continued support from partners and sponsors, including the Michigan Department of Education, Washtenaw Community College, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Brose, Kettering University, ITS Michigan, MiSTEM Network, and Good Sense Media.