Results of 1972 Urban Vehicle Design Competition

In August 1972, the Urban Vehicle Design Competition (UVDC) completed an 18-month program of vehicle design and construction with a national testing event of all vehicles entered in the contest. Sixty-six vehicles from 62 universities in the United States and Canada competed for the top prize. The objectives of the competition were to promote a project-oriented approach to engineering education, as well as to provide students with the opportunity to contribute constructively in the effort to develop low-emission, safe urban vehicles.

Some of the more innovative designs appeared in the following areas:

1. 1.
   Low-pollution powerplants utilizing nonfossil fuels, thermal reactors, catalytic reactors, exhaust gas recirculation systems, and hybrid powerplants.
2. 2.
   Drunk tester/antitheft devices.
3. 3.
   Bumper systems capable of protecting a vehicle from damage in a 5 mph impact.
4. 4.
   Overall integration of automotive systems in small vehicle design.

A description of UVDC testing procedures, scoring results, and innovative designs is contained in this paper.