Engineering students take their hands off the wheel
Team 25503’s solar-powered go-kart uses cameras and sensors to autonomously traverse racetracks.
For their Interdisciplinary Capstone project, engineering students on Team 25503 designed an autonomous go-kart powered by the sun.
“When we started, we only had a frame and four tires – no seat, no pedals, nothing,” said Eric Stewart, team member and mechanical engineering student. “Now we’ve built a fully functional go-kart with three modes: manual, remote-controlled, and autonomous.”
The kart completed two independent laps around the circuit – proof that the team’s autonomous design could be replicated for Racing the Sun, an annual program that encourages Arizona high school students to convert gasoline-powered go-karts into solar-powered and electric go-karts.
Team 25503 posted their software code on GitHub so RTS teams can develop their own autonomous systems.
"These students created something high schoolers can actually build on," said Larry Head, project sponsor and director of the Craig M. Berge Engineering Design Program.
Team 25503 took home the Sharon ONeal Award for Best System Software and Design and a $1,000 prize at the second Winter Craig M. Berge Design Day.