Vehicle Challenge Competition 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 2022 NFPA Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge program expanded again this year. Two separate competitive events will be held this cycle, ensuring that students from 23 universities can participate and more NFPA Foundation donors can connect with these students.

Danfoss Power Solutions will host the first event at their facility April 20-22, 2022 in Ames, Iowa and Norgren, a part of IMI Precision Engineering, will host the other at their facility in Littleton, Colorado April 27-29, 2022.

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

“I did get a lot of valuable experience out of the Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge; when I was interviewed as CSU’s valedictorian, I cited it as one of my favorite memories from my undergrad degree. I loved that the project allowed us freedom to explore fluid power in a fun way while also prompting us to apply the mechanical engineering knowledge that we acquired in school (material mechanics, fluid mechanics, dynamics, kinematics, electrical, etc.). The project also gave me a TON of networking and leadership experience, which I think helped me gain confidence to step out of my shell and go for new opportunities.” – Ellen Rea, Cleveland State, 2020 Vehicle Challenge participant

Pascal Society Donors can get involved by:

1. Judging the Design and Specification Midway Reviews taking place in January, 2022.
2. Attending the final competition to observe and facilitate three races, 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 Stephanie Scaccianoce at sscaccianoce@nfpa.com.

Meet the 2022 Teams

This year’s record number of participating teams come from universities across the country.

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.

In the first semester of the Vehicle Challenge, teams gain knowledge in fluid power components, circuits, and systems, and their use in controlling force and motion. Participants meet industry judges and mentors, order components from the parts suppliers, and begin planning for the Design and Specification Midway Review. During this review, students present their initial design and mechanical drawings that illustrate the fluid power control circuits to be created for the vehicle as well as the results from their analysis of fluid flow and expected performance. This gives judges the opportunity to speak directly with each team and provide them with feedback and considerations as they begin the next stage of their project, which ultimately leads to the final product and competition in April.

*This opportunity reserved for Gold or Silver donors of the Pascal Society. Find out if your company is already a donor here.