Automotive Design Challenge 2024 Finals: Products with high applicability and commercialization potential

“The products competing in the final round of the Automotive Design Challenge 2024 are highly applicable and directly used to teach specialized courses in Automotive Engineering Technology, and when upgraded, they will have the potential to be commercialized by students majoring in Automotive Engineering Technology (CKO)”. That is the affirmation of Mr. Pham Hong Thanh - Director of Toyota IDMC Training Center - representative of the Jury.

Automotive Design Challenge 2024 is an academic playground for CKO students to develop their scientific research capacity and design skills; creating conditions for candidates to affirm their talent, will and creativity before businesses. Thereby expanding career opportunities and enhancing competitiveness in the labor market.

Dr. Le Thi Thanh Huong - Vice Principal emphasized: "DNU always attaches importance to creating practical playgrounds such as Automotive Design Challenge for students to practice knowledge, skills, and explore their own potential".

Topics that are feasible and practical

The competition attracted the participation of many CKO students, many attractive topics with high practicality were successfully implemented. After rigorous selection rounds, 06 excellent topics with high applicability and practicality made it to the final round:

1. Topic "Design of a gear ratio calculator for a horizontal gearbox" : Using a 5-speed horizontal gearbox model with external details cut out, showing the structure of the gears and the internal gear mechanism, it can directly serve the teaching and learning of the structure and operating principles of mechanical gearboxes. The group of students used 02 speed sensors (Encorder) to determine the speed of the input shaft (primary) and output shaft (secondary). From there, the corresponding gear ratio of the gears was calculated through the speed relationship between the primary shaft and the secondary shaft. Determining the gear ratio at each gear helps students determine the rule for arranging the gear ratio series on the gearbox; serving the construction of the traction characteristic curve of the gearbox, thereby allowing the evaluation of the movement efficiency on different gears. The parameters of the rotational speed of the shafts, the position of the gear and the gear ratio of the gear are displayed on the LCD screen.

2. Topic "Design and display of wiper switch position of automatic wiper and windshield washer control system on cars": The topic focuses on researching, designing and manufacturing a display unit for the wiper control switch position, helping the driver to know the operating mode of the wiper motor and the position of the wiper control switch when looking at the screen; helping the driver to accurately control the desired wiper modes without having to remember the position of each control switch. In addition, the jacks arranged on the model also help students to be able to measure and determine signals to serve the diagnosis of the system later.

3. Topic "Design and calculation of suspension and steering system model on cars" : The topic demonstrates the ability to design models using 3D design tools (Inventor) and realize knowledge of metal technology and mechanical processing to create real products. The model is used to teach about the structure and operation of suspension and steering systems on cars with details arranged similarly to those on real cars, helping students easily identify details in the suspension and steering systems on cars. The 3D design section allows analysis of arrangement options for detail clusters on the model to come up with optimal designs. The real model is manufactured through welding technology, the details are assembled through threaded joints. The model ensures operation as on real cars.

4. Topic “Design of generator voltage reader according to engine speed”: The result of the topic is the relationship between generator voltage according to speed and excitation current, this relationship is shown in a graph. The relationship between generator voltage - excitation current - engine speed is an important foundation in designing a voltage regulator (regulator). The results of the topic help students determine the characteristics of the generator, thereby upgrading the research and manufacturing of a regulator on an automobile.

5. Topic "Design of fuel level display on cars" : The fuel level indicator on cars is used to calculate the remaining distance that the car can travel. This technology is applied on high-end cars and uses digital display on the dashboard. The topic is a study of old sensors but displayed on screens using new technology. The device operates stably, helping the driver to easily take the initiative in adding fuel, because the LCD screen displays the remaining distance, when the fuel level reaches the allowable threshold, it will notify the driver to go and refuel. The topic can be applied on old cars, motorbikes and serves as a tool for locating fuel levels to manage fuel usage.

6. Topic "Design of smart headlight system on cars": The topic aims to reduce the burden on drivers in controlling car headlights. The control system will automatically turn on the headlights when the light intensity is low, which helps drivers when entering tunnels, driving on bad weather days, when it gets dark quickly and many drivers forget to turn on the headlights. In addition, another feature is that the headlights will automatically switch from high beams to low beams when there is light from an oncoming vehicle directed towards the vehicle in motion, this helps to avoid dazzling oncoming vehicles, contributing to ensuring traffic safety.

Mr. Pham Hong Thanh - Director of Toyota IDMC Training Center shared: "The products not only show creativity but also demonstrate applicability and commercialization ability, which is extremely important in the current context. I look forward to cooperating with students of Automotive Engineering Technology at Dai Nam University in projects, internships and creating recruitment opportunities in the future."

Practicality, potential and impressive presentation skills brought home the first prize for the topic "Design and display of wiper switch position of automatic wiper and windshield washer control system on cars.

Second Prize was awarded to the topic "Design of smart headlight control system on cars".

The topics "Design and calculation of suspension and steering system models on cars" and "Design of fuel level display system on cars" won third prize.

Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan - Head of the Faculty of Automotive Engineering Technology said: The support and appreciation from businesses is a strong motivation to help students be more confident in pursuing their passion and contributing to the development of the Vietnamese automotive industry. The results of the competition are a solid foundation for the establishment of the Automotive Engineering Club in the 2024-2025 school year. The Faculty will continue to organize academic competitions and expand the practice workshop to create conditions for students to hone their knowledge and skills.

BTT