University of Louisiana at Lafayette Named Grand Champion of the 2023 Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge at Danfoss

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette was named Grand Champion at the 2023 Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge Final Competition hosted by Danfoss Power Solutions in Ames, IA, April 26^th – 28^th.

Nine schools competed in four races last week judged by fluid power industry professionals. In addition to the races, students gave presentations on their vehicle construction, testing, and lessons learned. Each team also met individually with the industry judges to assess their vehicle design.

The Vehicle Challenge is a competition that combines two technology platforms that are not normally associated with one another—human-powered vehicles and fluid power. Teams are tasked with designing and building their own fluid power vehicles over the course of a school year. The program culminates in final competitions at two separate locations.

The Grand Champions of the Danfoss-hosted event are:

• 1^st Place: University of Louisiana at Lafayette
• 2nd Place: South Dakota State University
• 3rd Place: Cleveland State University

Click here for the full list of exemplary performance awards earned at the Danfoss competition.

Specific awards are given to highlight the use of pneumatics and electronics in the teams’ designs. The prize for Best Use of Pneumatics, sponsored by Norgren, was taken home by Murray State University. The prize for Best Use of Electronics, sponsored by IFP Motion Solutions Inc., was awarded to Purdue University Northwest.

Thank you to the NFPA Foundation donors who support this program:

Event Hosts

• Danfoss Power Solutions
• Norgren

Program Sponsors

• HYDAC
• IFP Motion Solutions Inc.
• Norgren
• SunSource

Founding Sponsor

• Parker Hannifin Corporation

Product Suppliers

• Danfoss Power Solutions
• Lubrizol
• Source Fluid Power
• VEST, Inc.

We would also like to thank the industry representatives who served as judges during the Midway Reviews and Final Competition, served as mentors to guide students throughout the program year, and met with the students during the Fall Networking Mixer to talk about career opportunities at their companies.

Representatives from the following companies participated:

• Applied Industrial Technologies
• Argo Hytos
• Bucher Hydraulics
• Casappa Corp.
• Danfoss Power Solutions
• Deltrol Fluid Products
• Engineering Technology Services
• GPM Controls
• HYDAC
• HydraForce
• Hydraulic-Controls
• IFP Motion Solutions Inc.
• JARP Industries
• Kraft Fluid Systems
• Lubrizol
• Mosey’s Production Machinists, Inc.
• Motion Industries, Inc.
• NORGREN
• Norgren
• Nott Company
• Parker Hannifin Corporation
• QCC LLC
• Ross Controls
• Source Fluid Power
• Sun Hydraulics
• SunSource
• Trelleborg Sealing Solutions
• VEST, Inc.

For further information on the Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge, contact Mary Pluta, Workforce Program Manager at mpluta@nfpa.com.