New Three-Year Competition Aims at Introducing Technologies to Reduce Nation's Dependence on Foreign Oil
Challenge X is a new three-year engineering competition series that challenges student teams from 17 North American universities to explore advanced vehicle solutions that will reduce energy consumption and decrease emissions. Launched for the 2004-2005 academic year, the program is a joint effort among academic, government and industry partners that aims to introduce energy-efficient technologies into the marketplace to help reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil.
Demonstrating a commitment to the development of advanced automotive technologies, UGS will provide each of the 17 participating universities with free NX(TM) software and training and students will use these tools to complete their projects. NX is a next-generation digital product development system that helps companies transform the product lifecycle through integrated applications that address the full range of product development processes in product design, engineering and manufacturing. Of the schools participating in the program, 80 percent are already UGS GO PLM partners.
"We are delighted to have UGS on board as an industry sponsor for Challenge X," said Bob Larsen, Director of the Center for Transportation Research at the DOE's Argonne National Laboratory. "Their support will provide students hands-on experience with leading-edge technologies, and the opportunity to learn how to apply these technologies to the real-world challenge of improving energy efficiency. Challenge X provides the next generation of automotive industry leaders with the tools and experience they need to guide us to a sustainable transportation future."
The students will follow a real-world engineering process based on GM's global vehicle development process at each phase of a three-year competition. Students will re-engineer 2005 Chevy Equinox using cutting-edge advanced automotive technologies, including advanced propulsion systems, hybrid designs, lightweight materials and alternative fuels.
"Our NX software will provide the students with a valuable tool to succeed in the first year of competition and in designing the advanced vehicles of tomorrow," said Jon Heidorn, vice president of marketing for UGS America. "We look forward to being a part of the Challenge X competition series."
The first year of Challenge X will emphasize vehicle simulation, powertrain testing and engineering trade-offs that occur in the early stages of vehicle design. Each team will receive its Chevy(R) Equinox(R) vehicle at the end of the first year, and will build upon the models and simulation efforts to bring the designs to life in years two and three. Competitions are held at the end of each academic year to showcase the teams' learning and vehicle development. UGS will help judge the teams' progress in each year's competition.
About Challenge X
The General Motors Corporation (GM), the U.S. Department of Energy, and other government and industry leaders have developed Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility. This ground-breaking, three-year competition will provide engineering schools an opportunity to participate in hands-on research and development with leading-edge automotive propulsion, fuels, materials, and emissions-control technologies. Seventeen teams will re-engineer a GM Equinox, a crossover sport utility vehicle to minimize energy consumption, emissions, and greenhouse gases while maintaining or exceeding the vehicle's utility and performance. Additional information about Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility is available on the Web at http://www.challengex.org .
About UGS
UGS is a leading global provider of product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services with nearly 4 million licensed seats and 42,000 clients worldwide. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, the company promotes openness and standardization and works collaboratively with its clients in creating enterprise solutions enabling them to transform their process of innovation and thus begin to capture the value of PLM. For more information on UGS products and services, visit http://www.ugs.com .
Note: UGS and Teamcenter are registered trademarks of UGS Corp. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries. Chevy and Equinox are trademarks or registered marks of General Motors Corporation. All other trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks belong to their respective holders.
CONTACTS:
Mendi Paschal
UGS
972-987-3210
Email
Kristen De La Rosa
Department of Energy
Argonne National Labs
512-481-8876
Email
CONTACT: Mendi Paschal of UGS, +1-972-987-3210, or Email