The National Fluid Power Association's (NFPA) Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge is an annual competition in which college students design a bicycle-based vehicle incorporating hydraulics and pneumatics. It provides students the opportunity to apply what they've learned in the classroom to a real-world engineering challenge.
Through this competition, NFPA aims to not only provide real-world application experience but also provide an opportunity for students to learn more about hydraulics and pneumatics — with the hope of encouraging them to become part of the future fluid power workforce.
READ MORE: Students Discover Key Components of a Fluid Power Career
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Over the course of several months, students design and build a vehicle incorporating fluid power and electronics technologies. During this time they can take part in learning sessions held by NFPA and work with industry mentors to create their vehicle which is then put through various tests as part of a final competition to see how their designs will perform.
Two final competitions were held as part of the 2023 Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge hosted by Danfoss Power Solutions and Norgren. This provided the opportunity for several teams to take part in the challenge.
This year's Grand Champions were Texas A&M and University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
READ MORE: NFPA Announces Winners of 2023 Fluid Power Vehicle Challenge
The above media gallery shows the range of vehicles designed by students and put to the test during the final competitions hosted by Norgren and Danfoss.
*Editor's Note: All images included in this gallery are provided courtesy of the National Fluid Power Association.
