Cal Poly Engineering Students Win Awards in National 'FutureTruck' Co... 1 of 2 file:///X:/Copyright/Submissions/_PressReleases%20&%20Cal%20Pol... Skip to Content Cal Poly News Search Cal Poly News Go California Polytechnic State University July 1, 2003 Contact: Amy Hewes (805) 756-6402, ahewes@calpoly.edu FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cal Poly Engineering Students Win Awards in National 'FutureTruck' Competition SAN LUIS OBISPO -- A team of Cal Poly engineering students has driven off with two awards from FutureTruck 2003, a national student competition sponsored by the Ford Motor Co. Competing against 14 other university teams, Cal Poly won second place and $750 in the category of Most Innovative Use of Virtual Instrumentation and was named Most Improved Team. Each student team competing at Ford's proving ground in Romeo, Mich., customized a Ford Explorer. The goal was a "lower-emissions vehicle with at least 25-percent-higher fuel efficiency that does not sacrifice the performance, utility, safety and affordability consumers want." Each vehicle was judged for acceleration, trailer towing, off-road handling, fuel economy and overall design. Cal Poly team members converted their vehicle's engine into a gasoline-electric hybrid and integrated control of the motor, batteries and electric generator using donated hardware and software. "Our team exhibited superior workmanship in mechanical assembly and serviceability and impressed the judges with the appearance of the engine compartment and the interior," said team faculty adviser and Mechanical Engineering Professor Christopher Pascual. "This is clearly a tribute to the learn-by-doing philosophy of Cal Poly." More information about the competition is available on the World Wide Web at www.futuretruck.org . - 30 NOTE TO EDITORS: Photos of the Cal Poly student team and their vehicle are available from Bob Anderson in Public Affairs at (805) 756-1511 or banderso@calpoly.edu . CP Home • CP Find It Get Adobe Reader • Microsoft Viewers Events • Recent Releases • Cal Poly Magazine • Cal Poly Update E-newsletter • Contact Public Affairs • Alumni • Giving • Athletics 9/25/2009 11:14 AM Cal Poly Engineering Students Win Awards in National 'FutureTruck' Co... 2 of 2 file:///X:/Copyright/Submissions/_PressReleases%20&%20Cal%20Pol... Cal Poly Public Affairs California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 805.756.7266 polynews@calpoly.edu 9/25/2009 11:14 AM