Once again, the NFPA successfully completed its annual Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge to help university students gain real-world experience solving fluid power problems. The competition combines human-powered vehicles and fluid power — two technology platforms that are not generally associated with one another. Teams design and build their own fluid power vehicles and then compete against each other in four races. This year’s competition included 22 teams with 162 students, which was made possible by the support and involvement of 30 different member companies serving as sponsors, mentors, and judges.

Kennesaw State University was named Grand Champion at the Norgren event in Littleton, Colorado, on April 10-12. University of Alabama at Birmingham earned second place, and Texas A&M University took home third.

Two weeks later, Northern Illinois University was named Grand Champion at the Danfoss event in Ames, Iowa, on April 24-26. North Carolina A&T earned second, and SUNY Polytechnic Institute received third place.

The NFPA presented specific awards at each competition highlighting 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 and Kennesaw State University. The prize for Best Use of Electronics, sponsored by IFP Motion Solutions Inc., was awarded to the University of Akron and Texas A&M State University.

Aside from the Vehicle Challenge, for the 2023-24 academic year, NFPA supported Fluid Power Clubs at 21 universities, impacting over 200 students across the U.S. Each club receives up to $2,000 annually to support student projects and activities that help them learn more about the fluid power industry.

NFPA
nfpa.com