Design Challenge Competition for Students

Download Full Case Study

Objective

Design and implement a digital competition, to expand global access to the ASME student community. Foster engagement, creativity and STEM design skills. Include AR/VR/3D/simulation technologies.

Overview

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) is a not-for-profit professional organization that, “promotes the art, science, and practice of multidisciplinary engineering and allied sciences around the globe”. ASME holds a variety of competitions every year for engineering students from around the world, including during ASME’s annual E-Fest Digital event . However, with the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, such in-person competitions became impossible to organize. ASME collaborated with SimInsights to design, develop and host a brand new fully digital on-line competition. Utilizing the SimInsights HyperSkill platform, the competition focused on autonomous vehicles. The competition was a success with great feedback from organizers as well as student participants.

The Challenge

Create an autonomous car racing competition and experience in a fully digital platform. Include the right level of difficulty and realism for the target audience, while staying within the time and budget constraints.

Key Features

  • 3D Simulation for Desktop, Web and Virtual Reality
  • Multiplayer
  • Block-based coding
  • Design challenge competition

Design

The project team began the design process by reviewing the state of the art in VR/AR hardware. The review included Augmented/Mixed Reality devices such as HoloLens, Epson Moverio and Magic Leap, as well as Virtual Reality devices such as HTC Vive and Oculus Quest. AR/MR devices could provide instructions as needed in a text, graphic or photo format and were inexpensive, but they required WIFI and could not support the formation of muscle memory. Most importantly, AR/MR approach would require training with real equipment which would not address raw materials waste and safety risks. Virtual Reality training offered the benefit of offline training with actual tools in hand, development of muscle memory, no waste, safety, and proficiency gains while away from the production line. HTC Vive was selected over oculus Quest because it offered trackers that could be attached to the actual tool for high fidelity tracking.

Delivery

The competition was hosted in late March during ASME’s E-Fest Digital event whereby, team members from both ASME and SimInsights were present to encourage the participants and facilitate the event as well as provide live commentary while watching the vehicles move across the track based on their designed algorithms. When available, the winners of the round of the race were brought forward to answer questions about their design, both about the vehicle design and the behavioral (driving) algorithm. During the race, three views of the racing stadium were visible. In addition to the larger view showing the entire course, there was a view showing both the vehicle at all times.

ASME Road Simulation
ASME Road Simulation
ASME Road Simulation

Conclusion – Customer Feedback

Over 40 students enthusiastically participated from all over the world. Participants commented that their leadership skills, technical skills, team-building skills, critical thinking skills, and presentation skills all improved as a result.

Read the full case study

Download
SimGenie
Scroll to Top