MathWorks Partners with EcoCAR 2

By DE Editors

MathWorks has announced its support of EcoCAR 2, a three-year competition that enables engineering students to design and build eco-friendly vehicles. Throughout the competition, college and university students will gain practical experience using the technologies employed by today’s automotive companies.

MathWorks’ support of EcoCAR 2 will include equipping all 16 participating university teams with its tools for model-based design, including MATLAB and Simulink. In addition, a team of technical mentors will work with students and faculty over the course of the challenge.

Established by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and General Motors (GM), EcoCAR 2 delivers a real-world design experience to engineering students. The competition challenges 16 universities across North America to reduce the environmental impact of a Chevrolet Malibu without compromising its performance, safety, and consumer acceptability. Students are required to follow a real-world engineering regimen modeled after GM’s Global Vehicle Development Process (GVDP). As part of the program, participants will use MathWorks tools to create, model, and simulate their vehicle architecture.

“MathWorks has been a part of the DOE’s advanced vehicle technology competitions for more than 10 years,” says Paul Smith, director of consulting services at MathWorks and lead EcoCAR 2 mentor. “These competitions bridge classroom theory with hands-on learning of industry practices and technologies. We believe this approach with EcoCAR 2 will help develop future automotive engineers and encourage innovations in engineering design across all industries. It’s an incredible experience to be a part of, and we’re looking forward to the next three years.”

For more information, visit MathWorks and the EcoCAR 2 site.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.