For Immediate Release May 5, 2005

For More Information Contact: Pete Hylton, 317-274-7192 phylton@iupui.edu

IUPUI Team Takes 2nd Place in National Basic Utility Vehicle Competition

B.U.V. In Action During Competition

INDIANAPOLIS - A team of mechanical engineering technology seniors from IUPUI overcame a major mechanical failure, completely rebuilt a transmission in an amazing 35 minutes, and recovered to finish second in the annual Basic Utility Vehicle competition sponsored by the Institute for Affordable Transportation.

The School of Engineering and Technology students, Brad Farris, Tim Geoffrion, Jon Huckaby, Jason Roth and Wes Snider, had spent the spring semester designing and building their vehicle for the BUV competition with the additional benefit of demonstrating the completion of their required senior design project.   

The IUPUI entry scored well with the judges for innovative design and for meeting all specifications and requirements.   After completing the competition's endurance test, the IUPUI BUV won both the acceleration test and the mud-pit crossing competition.  The team finished second in the agility test, and tied for first place in the hill climb competition.

Then, in the middle of the second lap of the obstacle course, disaster struck when the gearbox failed. The team was carrying a spare gearbox, which had been damaged during assembly earlier in the design process.  So by removing the broken unit and disassembling both gearboxes, they were able to assemble one workable unit.  The rebuilt gearbox was installed in slightly over half an hour, and the team arrived at the swamp crossing test less than two minutes before they would have been penalized for being late.   The IUPUI team then tied for first in the swamp crossing by successfully navigating all crossings, and followed with third place in the static load test.  Finally, they returned to the obstacle course and completed their three-lap run successfully. 

In the final scoring, IUPUI finished extremely close to the winning Miami of Ohio team.   The IUPUI team, coached by Professor Pete Hylton of the Mechanical Engineering Technology Department, put forth a tremendous effort and showed real determination in getting their disabled vehicle back in the running. 

The competition is aimed at constructing inexpensive, durable vehicles which can provide basic transportation to people in third world countries.  This year's competing school teams used a variety of design approaches.  The winning Miami of Ohio entry went for a sturdy yet heavy design.  The IUPUI team had selected a lightweight, simple configuration.  The two schools were the class of the field, trading or tying for wins in various competitions throughout the day.

For additional details, check the IAT website at www.drivebuv.org.

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