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The objectives of this paper are to describe an undergraduate project recently carried out at the University of Massachusetts on a vapor cycle automotive power system, to discuss some of the educational aspects of the project, and to briefly describe some of the results obtained. The problem posed to the seven undergraduate students involved in the project concerned certain aspects of the preliminary design and development of a small vapor powered powerplant for an automotive application. The technical design criteria given at the initial stages of the project was quite general: be competitive in size, weight, and power with conventional automotive IC engines. A socially significant constraint was also given: the powerplant should have low pollutant emission characteristics. The student's interpretation and application of this constraint to the engineering design studies clearly influenced the technical decisions they made.

A course designed to involve senior mechanical engineering students in engineering problems, subject to the kinds of constraints they will operate under when they leave the academic environment, was developed at Carnegie Institute of Technology. The goals of the program, the kinds of projects undertaken, and the results of each are discussed.

For an optimum design, the weight, energy consumption, and operational flexibility of the traction drive system for a lunar roving vehicle must be considered along with the power supply, motor, and power train. Other problems considered in this paper include: environment and motor dissipation; motor type (a-c or d-c) and commutation if d-c; motor controller (switching of large currents); delivery of torque at varying speeds; the power train; use of regenerative braking and conservation of energy; and power supply voltage variation. These problems are studied in the light of certain general system specifications, which fall into weight, performance, and environment categories. Tradeoff studies are considered for purposes of optimization in each of these areas. Special consideration is given to the controller and system design as it pertains to regenerative braking and the conservation of energy.

Chrome-plated plastic grilles for exterior use were introduced into the automotive industry by Oldsmobile on the 1969 Toronado. This paper presents the development program ensued to gain confidence to release plated plastic to production. It also covers the development programs for the expanded 1970 usages.

A description of the design of a sport-electric car that has performance comparable to today's small sport cars. The design emphasizes a system-view of a thoroughbred electric car, rather than a conversion of existing cars. The components used represent the best of today's technology, with an emphasis on performance, safety, reliability, and aesthetics, but not on low cost.

This presentation will address experiences in Vietnam with current track-laying vehicles from the viewpoint of a recently returned unit commander. Operational and maintenance problems of interest from a design standpoint will be discussed.