IGVC: Pushing Young Minds Forward: Green Robotics Articles: Eco20/20

IGVC: Pushing Young Minds Forward

College students across the country come together as teams each year to compete in competitions to build the best autonomous vehicle. Simply put, these crafty and smart students build a vehicle that uses robotic technology to operate. The intelligent ground vehicle competition, or IGVC, is one such competition that young engineer majors can join. There are many aspects to these robotic vehicles, and many career opportunities are available upon graduation for competitors.

Improving the technology - Improving the future

This competition pushes the students to be innovative. Every year the competition gets tougher and the winners help improve technology. A few years ago people were being introduced to the hybrid vehicles. Now there are many hybrids offered and even electric hybrids today. Every year there are concept cars that are introduced to the public by the car industry. These concept cars all have elements of prior IGVC competitions. Remote starts, heated seats, etc. are a few older examples of robotic technology introduced into the plans.

The military has improved with the help of the IGVC winners who have gone on to improve the technology our troops use in combat such as bomb detection technology. Brave men and women serve to protect this country every day. Any idea or thing that can assist them in doing so while keeping them safe is a good idea. Many IT teams and engineers are located in foreign countries trying to do just that.

Saving the planet - Reducing the pollutants

The competition not only has planning and mechanical aspects, but electric aspects as well. Many have joined the go green movement and want better technologies that help reduce pollutants to the planet. The students who compete in the robotic vehicle competitions have also helped improve other industries as well. Lithium batteries have been developed for everything from cell phones and portable audio devices to power tools. The IGVC and competitions like this push young minds to think outside of the box and create a better product.

Competitions like the IGVC not only benefit companies and industry but the students as well. Companies sponsor the teams and help finance the project. The students learn business aspects and good work ethics as well as teamwork. The companies also offer internships to some of the students giving them useful work experience in practical applications of what degree they are working toward. Finally there are scholarships awarded to the winners of the competition. Undergraduate and graduate studies are expensive and therefore this scholarship helps alleviate a small portion of the cost.

Competition is healthy and productive

Competition is healthy for everyone. As young kids, we compete in sports and dance competitions. College students who wish to focus on engineering and technology compete in IGVC or other competitions. Because of this new technology emerges and improves everyday life. Corporations can sponsor these teams and scholarships are awarded to the winners. Competitions like the IGVC are vital to the robotics industry and improving outdated machines to reduce the horrible effects on our environment. Be creative and support the students working to make tomorrow a better today.

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