Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge Dates Announced

Programs like the Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge are made possible in part by the generous support of industry volunteers as well as NFPA Education and Technology Foundation and Pascal Society donors. Support these efforts by making a donation.

The 2023 NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge program expanded again this year with a new race focusing on regenerative braking capabilities. With two separate competition sites, students from 23 universities will have the chance to compete and connect with NFPA Foundation donors.

Norgren, a part of IMI Precision Engineering, will host the first event at their facility in Littleton, Colorado, April 12-14, 2023, and Danfoss Power Solutions will host the second event at their facility April 26-28, 2023, in Ames, Iowa.

These events provide a great connection and recruitment opportunity for NFPA members* who are looking for employees with real-world experience.

“Initially, I did not know whether I would enjoy it since I had almost no experience in fluid power. It was incredibly fun and amazing to see all the different types of solutions and builds that other teams had come up with. It was very inspiring!”  2022 Vehicle Challenge participant

Pascal Society Donors can get involved by judging the Design and Specification Midway Reviews taking place in January 2023 and attending the final competitions in April. You can facilitate and judge the four races at the final competition, evaluate the teams’ final vehicles and presentations detailing their design and engineering process, and recruit students in person.

To get involved with the NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge, contact Mary Pluta at mpluta@nfpa.com.

Meet the 2023 Teams

This year’s participating teams come from universities across the country. We are pleased to welcome Tennessee State University as a first-time team and Kennesaw State University as a returning team after a short hiatus.

Norgren (Littleton, Colorado): April 12-14, 2023 Arizona State University
Cal Poly State University
Kennesaw State University
Loyola Marymount University
Michigan Technological State University
Purdue University
Tennessee State University
Texas A&M
University of Alabama at Birmingham
University of Cincinnati
University of Utah
Western Michigan University    
Danfoss (Ames, Iowa): April 26-28, 2023
Cleveland State University
Iowa State University
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Murray State University
North Carolina Agriculture and Technological State University
Northern Illinois University
Ohio University
Purdue University Northwest
University of Akron
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
South Dakota State University  

About the Program

The NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge tasks college engineering students with redesigning a traditional bicycle using hydraulics as the mode of power transmission. By combining this unlikely pair, the Vehicle Challenge creates an environment that results in uncommon connections and breakthroughs while supporting learning and the growth of fluid power industry knowledge.

*This opportunity is reserved for Pascal Society donors, but NFPA members are invited to participate to learn more about the program and one of the many benefits and opportunities associated with becoming a Pascal Society donor. Find out if your company is a donor here.

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