Students at Missouri University of Science and Technology showed no fear
last week by beating six other university teams in a chemical reaction-powered,
autonomous vehicle competition held in Lincoln, Neb. The team’s “UMR Ghost” car
earned the team a return trip to the national competition set for November in
Philadelphia, Pa.

The competition was part of the two-day 2007 American Institute of Chemical
Engineers (AIChE) Mid-America Regional Conference. The Chem-E Car competition
challenged students to design and build a shoebox-sized car that could carry an
additional load a specified distance. The car stopped 34 inches away from the
line.

The “UMR Ghost” is run by a lead-sulfuric acid battery which powers a small
motor. The stopping mechanism consists of the production of carbon dioxide. The
gas displaces water from one vessel to another, raising a small ball until a
photo sensor detects the ball’s interference and cuts the circuit to the motor
to stop the car. The Missouri S&T team optimized the amount of chemicals
needed to produce carbon dioxide at a rate so that the photo sensor shut off
the motor after the required amount of time — and distance — has passed.

Members of the Missouri S&T Chem-E Car Team include:

• Dan Amos of Chesterfield, Mo., a junior in chemical engineering
• Thomas Belfield of Alton, Ill., a junior in chemical engineering
• Kristine Brown of Kansas City, Mo., a junior in chemical engineering and
  team president
• Justin Cobb of Springfield, Mo., a senior in chemical engineering
• Greg Eike of St. Louis, a junior in chemical engineering
• Brennen Gross of Omaha, Neb., a junior in chemical engineering
• Thuydung “Tweetie” Huynh of Kansas City, Mo., a junior in chemical
  engineering
• Matt Ludden of St. Charles, Mo., a freshman in chemical engineering
• Joe Lyons of Rolla, Mo., a senior in chemical engineering
• David O’Dell of Alton, Ill., a junior in chemical engineering
• Richard Ruppert of Alton, Ill., a junior in electrical engineering
• Sarah Schatz of Rolla, Mo., a senior in biological sciences and chemical
  engineering
• Bryan Solomon of St. Louis, a senior in chemical engineering.

Dr. Daniel Forciniti, professor of chemical and biological engineering, is
the team’s advisor.