A Human-Powered Vehicle Team from the University of Missouri-Rolla won its fifth straight championship by placing first overall in the East Coast HPV Challenge May 7 in Charlotte, N.C.
The human-powered vehicles are actually recumbent bikes with aerodynamic shells. During competitions, which are generally sponsored by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, teams are judged in the following areas: sprints, endurance tests, design reports and oral presentations.
UMR’s Jerrod Bouchard, a senior in mechanical engineering from Camdenton, Mo., won first place in the male sprint event. Whitney Joseph, a sophomore in engineering management from O’Fallon, Ill., was first in the female sprint event. Five UMR riders also took first place in the East Coast endurance event.
In addition to other teams from the United States, UMR defeated teams from Taiwan, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.
Team members design and build a new human-powered vehicle annually. Members of UMR’s 2006 championship HPV team are:
– Todd Acinelli, a senior in computer engineering from St. Louis
– M. Elliot Atwell, a junior in aerospace engineering from Kansas City, Mo.
– Jerrod Bouchard, a senior in mechanical engineering from Camdenton, Mo.
– Craig George, a sophomore in electrical engineering from St. Joseph, Mo.
– Tom Hill, a freshman in mechanical engineering from St. Louis
– Whitney Joseph, a sophomore in engineering management from O’Fallon, Ill.
– Julie Orlich, a senior in architectural engineering from Kansas City, Mo.
– Kyle Rackers, a sophomore in mechanical engineering from Jefferson City, Mo.
– Andrew Rucker, a senior in civil engineering from Springfield, Mo.
– Eric Sommer, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from O’Fallon, Mo.
– Andrew Sourk, a sophomore in aerospace engineering from St. Joseph, Mo.
– David Weese, a sophomore in mechanical engineering from Maryville, Mo.