Click here to receive your FREE subscription to Campus Technology
News
Tokai U Uses PTC MCAD Software To Design Car that Competes at Le Mans
6/19/2008
Tokai University, which competed in this year's Le Mans 24-hour endurance race, developed its competition vehicle with Pro/Engineer, PTC's 3D computer aided design/manufacturing and engineering software. The Tokai team was formally approved for participation in the race and began vehicle design in 2001 and produced a study car in 2005. According to the school, this was the first time a university team participated in the race.Le Mans, held near the town of Le Mans, France, is a 24-hour endurance race that is run on closed public roads. The race was established in 1923 and is part of the "Triple Crown" of Motor sports, which includes the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500. Le Mans is unique to other Grand Prix racing because it places a higher priority on vehicle reliability and fuel efficiency given the nature of the course and length of the race. The team of 150 used Pro/ENGINEER as the mechanical computer-aided design software for the race car's design. The students also designed every other aspect of the car as well.
"Pro/ENGINEER is a very straightforward tool, and it enables an engineer to freely design to their heart's content," said Yoshimasa Hayashi, leader of the Le Mans project and a member of the Tokai Research Institute of Science and Technology. "It's easy-to-use because the principles in the product are similar to the way that an engineer thinks. Additionally, the product includes all the main capabilities that we required like simulation and analysis."
Le Mans took place last week. The Tokai entry lasted until lap 186, 18 hours into the race, when it stalled and was "retired" from the competition. According to the school, the main cause was a breakdown of a transmission part. The winner was Team Audi Sport North America with a car driven by racers Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish, and Rinaldo Capello.
Dian Schaffhauser is a writer who covers technology and business. Send your higher education technology news to her at dian@dischaffhauser.com.
Cite this Site
copy text (above) for proper citation
Recommended Reading
- Moodle Gets SCORM Improvements, Security Fixes
New versions of Moodle have been released, bringing the most recent stable build to 1.9.3. The latest round of updates includes a number of bug fixes and security enhancements, as well as improvements to the SCORM module.
- Free 'Morro' Antivirus To Replace Microsoft OneCare
Microsoft is rolling out a free antivirus software program for consumers that will compete with products made by Symantec and McAfee. Code-named "Morro," the AV app is expected to be available by the end of 2009.
- Microsoft Demos New SQL Server Features at PASS
Microsoft Wednesday previewed the ability to centrally manage applications and resources in the planned upgrade of SQL Server, code-named "Kilimanjaro."
- Microsoft Unveils Exchange and SharePoint as Services
Microsoft exec Stephen Elop on Monday announced two hosted solutions from Microsoft--Exchange Online and SharePoint Online--which are now available to organizations of all sizes in the United States. The software, paid for by annual subscriptions, is hosted on Microsoft's servers and supported by Microsoft's channel partners.
- 6 Ways Not To Become Rote Using Instructional Technology
There are, in my experience, six strategies to consider with any use of technology that will guard against rote use of technology and facilitate critical analysis of teaching and learning effectiveness. In this article, I'll share with you the checklist I work with and encourage others to work with in learning about and using new technology.
- Bringing Student Web "Stuff" to Campus Enterprise Systems
How can an institution incorporate Web 2.0 learning opportunities for students, and evidence of learning from those opportunities, into existing campus technologies and processes? PlugJam is providing part of the answer.
