Competition Teams

�� VEX U Team Claims Top Honors at the 2025 VEX AI Robotics Competition Championship

rnorris — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 17:01:14 +0000

�� VEX U Team Claims Top Honors at the 2025 VEX AI Robotics Competition Championship

Clubs and Organizations

rnorris Wed, 06/18/2025 - 13:01

At ��, robotics isn’t just a competition — it’s a proving ground for innovation. Kettering’s VEX U team, KUdos, showcased their abilities at the 2025 VEX AI Robotics Competition Championship in Houston, where they brought home the prestigious Excellence Award and the Energy Award.

VEX AI is a step beyond the standard VEX U world competition, challenging teams to design robots that compete entirely autonomously. This year, KUdos rose to the challenge, and then some, achieving an undefeated record in all qualification matches and earning the No. 1 ranking among collegiate teams.

The VEX AI awards come on the heels of a top showing at the VEX Worlds competition in May, where the team brought home the Innovate Award. The award recognizes teams whose engineering approach challenges convention and advances the game.

“We Built the Complete Package”

“Winning the Excellence Award is the culmination of everything we’ve worked toward,” said Nathan Nguyen ’26, mechanical engineering major and team captain. “It’s not just about building a robot; it’s about engineering, strategy, documentation, and collaboration, the complete package that defines a championship team.”

The Excellence Award stands as one of the highest honors in VEX AI competitions, recognizing overall excellence across both judged categories and on-field performance. Criteria include a fully developed engineering notebook, demonstration of independent inquiry, strong interviews, student-centered ethos, and consistently ranking in the top 40% in Qualification Matches, Robot Skills, and Autonomous Coding Skills Challenges. KUdos’ dedication to thorough documentation, innovative engineering, and teamwork earned them this coveted distinction.

A Team That Powers the Event

Beyond technical achievements, KUdos brought unmatched enthusiasm and energy to the competition, earning the Energy Award. This award recognizes teams that maintain a high level of excitement throughout the event, enriching the experience for everyone involved.

“Everywhere we went, people wanted to talk about our robots,” said Connor O’Keefe ’25, computer science major and strategy lead for the team. “It wasn’t just about us. It was about inspiring others and sharing the passion we have for robotics.”

Nguyen added, “Our team has always been about bringing energy and positivity, whether we’re answering questions from younger competitors or cheering on other teams. Winning the Energy Award was a reminder that robotics is as much about community as it is about competition.”

Redefining the Game

This season, KUdos made history with a groundbreaking design: “Rafiki” and “Simba”, two robots operating as one throughout an entire match. “That idea came up early in the season,” Nguyen said. “No one’s done it in any VEX high school, university, or AI competition before, and it changed the way we approached the game.”

Their “strategy dictates design” philosophy shaped every decision. “We don’t innovate just to stand out,” O’Keefe explained. “Every idea is a deliberate choice to support our game plan and make sure we lead the competition.”

Engineering Excellence and Emotional Milestones

KUdos’ season included Innovate Awards at every competition they entered, culminating in another at Worlds. “One of our mentors called 'Rafiki' and 'Simba’ the definition of world-level Innovate robots months in advance,” Nguyen said. “Seeing that prediction come true was unforgettable.”

This championship also marked O’Keefe’s final season with KUdos. “When we received the Innovate Award at VEX U Worlds, I saw Connor cry tears of joy,” Nguyen recalled. “We’ve built this team together over three years, late nights, big ideas, even arguments turned into breakthroughs. I’m going to miss him dearly.”

Powered by Kettering’s Co-Op Advantage

KUdos’ success is a testament to Kettering’s hands-on, experiential learning. “My Co-Op in program management taught me how to lead cross-disciplinary teams,” O’Keefe, who has Co-opped with MAHLE in Troy, MI, said. “That experience was invaluable in building a winning robotics team.”

Nguyen agreed. “Kettering’s Co-Op program lets me work back home in California while continuing to innovate and compete on campus,” he said. “It’s hands-on, paid experience that gives us an edge.” Nguyen ‘26, a Cypress, CA native, made the decision to complete his Co-op assignment closer to home at RadiaBeam in Santa Monica, CA.

Other members of the team leverage a variety of Co-op experiences. Katee Callicutt ‘27, a mechanical engineering major, found Co-op work in her hometown of Greenville, SC, at Magna Seating on its BMW account. A.J. Martinek ‘28, a computer science major from Berrien Springs, also found Co-op work with Magna, but in the New Mobility division in Troy, MI. Andrew Bolthouse ‘27, an engineering major from Hudsonville, MI, has completed Co-op rotations at Bissell Homecare. Adreiana Lippolis ‘28, a computer science major from Linden, MI, has spent time working at Ford Motor Company. Chris Schutter ‘28, a mechanical engineering student from Jenison, MI, works for Bradford White Corporation in Middleville, MI, while Cameron Smith ‘28, a mechanical engineering student from Grass Lake, MI, works at Eaton Corp. in Jackson, MI.

What’s Next?

As KUdos looks ahead, their mission is clear: raise the bar again. “Every year, our mantra is: how do we go further?” Nguyen said. “At Kettering, we’re not just building robots. We’re building a mindset that drives innovation and redefines what’s possible. With the momentum of our first-year success in VEX AI, we’re more driven than ever to push the boundaries of innovation and explore what’s truly possible through this competition.”

Built to Break the Mold: KUdos Wins Innovate Award at VEX Worlds

rnorris — Thu, 29 May 2025 14:30:50 +0000

Built to Break the Mold: KUdos Wins Innovate Award at VEX Worlds

Competition Teams

Combat Robotics

Robotics

Robotics Community Center

VEX

Undergraduate

rnorris Thu, 05/29/2025 - 10:30

Combining ingenuity, bold strategy, and cross-league collaboration, Kettering’s robotics team stands out on the global stage.

At ��, students don’t wait to build the future — they engineer it now. That mindset powered KUdos, Kettering’s VEX U robotics team, to win the Innovate Award at the 2025 VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas.

The award recognizes teams whose engineering approach challenges convention and advances the game. KUdos delivered on both.

“We came up with a strategy that had never been done before in VEX history,” said Andrew Bolthouse ’27, an engineering major with a specialization in mechatronics systems from Hudsonville, Michigan. “Our robots, Rafiki and Simba, connect at the start of the match and stay joined the entire time. That decision shaped everything.”

Instead of focusing on scoring rings, the team prioritized maximum elevation. The KUdos climbing system allowed Rafiki and Simba to scale anywhere on the field, even on top of other game elements, as long as they touched the ladder. That move gave KUdos a competitive edge that other teams couldn’t match.

“We really just focused on ways to win without caring what our opponents did and without scoring a ton of rings,” said Connor O’Keefe ‘25, the Strategy Lead for the team.

“We knew the points for a top-tier climb were so high that if we could pull it off consistently, we’d force other teams to adjust to us,” Bolthouse said. “And they did.”

What made the KUdos win even more impressive was the diversity of experience behind the build. The team includes alumni from VEX, FIRST Robotics, and Square One, combining distinct competition mindsets into a single, high-performing unit.

“It’s rare to see a team bring together students from three different robotics leagues and have them mesh so well,” said Kim Shumaker, Director of the Robotics Center & Robotics Outreach at Kettering. “That kind of collaboration is what sets KUdos apart. They’re not just building for competition — they’re building on each other’s strengths.”

Many KUdos team members come from out of state, drawn to Kettering by its robotics culture and its 50/50 rigorous academic and paid professional Co-op program. Connor O'Keefe ‘25, a computer science major, hails from Vancouver, WA. He spends his Co-op terms in Troy, MI, working at MAHLE. Nathan Nguyen ‘26, a mechanical engineering major from Cypress, CA, made the decision to complete his Co-op assignment closer to home at RadiaBeam in Santa Monica, CA. Katee Callicutt ‘27, a mechanical engineering major, found Co-op work in her hometown of Greenville, SC, at Magna Seating on its BMW account. Bolthouse credits his Co-op with helping him understand the value of documentation and version control.

“What I’ve learned on the job, I’ve brought back to the team,” Bolthouse said. “Every time we made a change to the robot, I took photos, tracked updates, and kept our process transparent. That discipline made us stronger.”

Throughout the season, the team met virtually while split between school and work terms and collaborated on CAD and documentation using tools like Onshape and Google Docs. The team’s engineering notebook — another competition component — was the product of real teamwork.

“We like to say: two sections, one team,” said Callicutt. “We can pass off what we’re doing with the robot and know confidently that our teammates on the other section are going to do what they need to do.”

“My proudest moment was when Bob Mimlitch, the co-founder of VEX Robotics, stopped by our booth,” Bolthouse added. “He took photos of our robot, asked questions, and told us how impressed he was with our approach. That made it all worth it.”

As KUdos looks ahead to future seasons, the vision is clear: keep pushing, keep climbing — and maybe one day, take the world title.

“We’re proud of what we built,” Bolthouse said. “But we’re not done.”

Engineered for Impact: Kettering Clean Snowmobile Team Earns First Place Honors for Emissions and Fuel Economy

rnorris — Mon, 12 May 2025 13:45:24 +0000

Engineered for Impact: Kettering Clean Snowmobile Team Earns First Place Honors for Emissions and Fuel Economy

Competition Teams

Clean Snowmobile

rnorris Mon, 05/12/2025 - 09:45

Kettering students don’t wait for the future — they engineer it.

At this year’s SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge, Kettering’s Team delivered industry-relevant results where it counts: performance. Built and tested in Kettering’s SAE Garage and labs, the team’s entry led the field in two critical categories:

In-Service Emissions (Spark Ignited Class)
Lowest total carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) per mile
Score: 196 out of 200 — First Place

In-Service Fuel Economy (Spark Ignited Class)
23 miles per gallon using just 0.0777 gallons over 1.787 miles
Score: 100 out of 100 — First Place

“I’m extremely proud of the effort of our team members,” said Dr. Greg Davis, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Advanced Engine Research Laboratory at Kettering. “A snowmobile getting 23 miles per gallon is something many cars can’t achieve.”

“I knew we placed well in emissions, but did not expect first place, so when I heard the news I was very happy and proud of all my team members,” said team captain Jaysen Ruhl ‘25 (Mechanical Engineering). “Our initial goal this year was to get the team back on its feet and to compete, and to come out with a win in two large categories of the event was very positive!”

More than a project, the snowmobile was a hands-on proving ground — hundreds of hours of data analysis, design refinement, and industry-standard testing. For students, it was about more than building a better vehicle. It was about pushing clean mobility forward.

“These competitions let students apply what they’ve learned to solve real problems,” Dr. Davis said. “They think differently: While manufacturers often play it safe, our students push boundaries and inspire better industry solutions.”

At Kettering, innovation is never hypothetical. It’s built. Tested. Measured. Because when you’re built for challenge, you don’t talk about potential. You prove it.

�� Esports Expands Lineup with "Marvel Rivals"

rnorris — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 16:49:13 +0000

�� Esports Expands Lineup with "Marvel Rivals"

Clubs and Organizations

Esports

Competition Teams

Esports

rnorris Thu, 03/27/2025 - 12:49

�� Esports is adding firepower to its competitive lineup with the introduction of Marvel Rivals. After overwhelming student interest, the fast-paced, team-based title is now an official part of the program — launching with three full team rosters in its inaugural season.

The decision came after Kettering’s Overwatch 2 team explored its competitive direction for the Spring season. While Overwatch 2 remains available for players who want to compete, the majority of the team chose to focus on Marvel Rivals — a game that has quickly gained traction in the collegiate scene. The shift resulted in the largest Esports tryout in Kettering history, with 23 students participating. As a result, Kettering is now home to three Marvel Rivals teams, each ready to take on the growing collegiate competition.

Marvel Rivals is a fast-paced 6v6 team-based player versus player (PvP) shooter featuring iconic Marvel superheroes and villains. Players engage in dynamic battles across various Marvel multiverse locations, choosing from a growing roster of characters, including Spider-Man, Captain America, and Iron Man. The game also highlights some of Marvel’s more niche and fan-favorite characters, including Squirrel Girl and Jeff the Land Shark, giving players a wide range of play styles and personalities to choose from.

“From the moment we started talking about Marvel Rivals, the energy was different,” said Dan Nowaczyk, ��’s Director of Esports. “Players were excited. They were engaged. It was clear that this was the game they wanted to compete in. Our program is built to give students that opportunity.”

Kettering’s Marvel Rivals teams will make their tournament debut this month, competing in an event hosted by the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC). With collegiate interest in Marvel Rivals rapidly growing since the game’s December 2024 launch, Kettering is stepping in as an early contender in the emerging space.

This isn’t the only expansion for Kettering Esports. The program is also adding Deadlock, a tactical third-person shooter with multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) elements, and preparing a World of Warcraft Mythic+ team to compete at the highest level of play.

Since its first competitive season in 2020, Kettering Esports has grown from three game titles and 20 players to 10 titles and nearly 100 competitors. More than just a competitive program, esports at Kettering brings together students across academic terms, forging friendships, leadership skills, and a strong sense of community.

“Winning is great, but for me, Esports is about something bigger,” Nowaczyk said. “It’s about teamwork, personal growth, and giving students something they can take pride in. That’s why we have a near 99% retention and graduation rate — this program is more than competition; it’s a support system.”

Kettering Esports is always looking for new talent. If you're ready to compete, build lifelong connections, and push your skills to the next level, visit �� Esports.

��/GMI Alumni Association Awards $30,000 in Sponsorships to High School Robotics Teams Across FIRST, VEX, and FTC

rnorris — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 16:39:27 +0000

��/GMI Alumni Association Awards $30,000 in Sponsorships to High School Robotics Teams Across FIRST, VEX, and FTC

Alumni

Kettering Combat Robotics Team

rnorris Fri, 01/24/2025 - 11:39

The ��/GMI Alumni Association (KGMIAA) announced today it has awarded $30,000 in sponsorships to more than 60 Michigan high school robotics teams participating in FIRST, VEX, and FTC programs. The initiative reflects a core value that drives ��: equipping young problem solvers with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities they need to shape the future.

The sponsorships provide resources for students to build robots, compete, and deepen their STEM experience. These students are following a hands-on path that mirrors the journeys of many Kettering and GMI alumni who began their careers with an early passion for STEM.

“We are incredibly proud to support these bright, motivated students who are exploring their interests in engineering and technology through hands-on experience,” said Joe Lemieux ’85, outgoing president of the KGMIAA. “Many of us — alumni of Kettering and GMI — can trace our own careers back to the formative experiences we had in high school and early college. These sponsorships not only provide the students with the resources to excel in their robotics competitions but also encourage their growth in STEM fields as they prepare for their future careers. These efforts also allow us to raise awareness of �� as a leading institution for STEM education and open the door for many students to consider us as the next step in their academic journey.”

KGMIAA’s sponsorships go beyond financial support. The Association also recognizes alumni who dedicate their time and expertise to mentor high school robotics teams, serving as coaches and advisors. This hands-on mentorship ensures students have guidance as they navigate competitions and plan their futures in STEM fields.

“We owe a great deal of thanks to our alumni who volunteer as coaches and mentor the next generation of robotics enthusiasts,” said Lorenzo Jones ’89, incoming president of the KGMIAA. “Their dedication to supporting their high school alma maters or their children’s teams is invaluable, and it’s inspiring to see how they continue to give back to their community. At the same time, these sponsorships introduce students to Kettering’s outstanding programs, creating opportunities for them to envision their future here with us.”

For �� and its alumni, this initiative underscores a commitment to investing in young innovators, providing them with experiences that build confidence, technical expertise, and a passion for tackling real-world challenges.

For a complete list of robotics teams that received a 2025 KGMIAA sponsorship, visit /robotics/kgmiaa-sponsorships.

�� the ��/GMI Alumni Association
The Kettering/GMI Alumni Association (KGMIAA) unites alumni in support of ��’s mission to advance STEM education and innovation. With a focus on fostering lifelong loyalty, promoting core values, and providing financial support, the KGMIAA serves as a key resource for University leadership and alumni engagement. Membership is automatic for all graduates of Kettering/GMI, with no membership fees required. The KGMIAA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Learn more at kettering.edu/alumni.

�� Esports Teams Win Regional Championship and Three Divisional Championships

rnorris — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 19:21:12 +0000

�� Esports Teams Win Regional Championship and Three Divisional Championships

Competition Teams

Esports

rnorris Fri, 12/15/2023 - 14:21

Three �� Esports teams won a regional championship and three divisional championships in matches Dec. 4-6, 2023.

The “Valorant” Grey team earned the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) Great Lakes Regional Championship with wins against Indiana Wesleyan, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and Union College in Kentucky. The “Valorant” Grey team also won the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) Divisional Championship by defeating Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio and Saint Xavier University in Illinois.

The “Valorant” Blue team and “Overwatch 2” Blue team each also earned NACE Divisional Championships. The “Valorant” Blue team defeated North Central University in Minnesota and Texas A&M International University while the “Overwatch 2” Blue team defeated Nicholas College in Massachusetts and Northern Michigan College.

“Our teams worked so hard this season, and since we also took a new approach to team construction this year, I didn’t want to create any expectations,” Esports Coach Dan Nowaczyk said. “As the season went on, it started to look like the new approach worked really well since all of our rosters qualified for playoffs in at least one conference. Bringing home some championships after it’s all said and done just shows how much work these students are putting in and how much they’ve grown as players and academics this year.”

“Overwatch 2” is a multiplayer game in which teams defend their areas on a map against one another. “Valorant” is a multiplayer game in which teams play a set of agents who are assigned to either attack or defend. The attacking team tries to plant a bomb and detonate it while the defending team’s goal is to defuse the bomb if it is successfully planted.

Because the players’ skills were similarly matched this year, Nowaczyk eliminated the traditional varsity and junior varsity system and instead created evenly matched teams based on personalities.

“I couldn’t be more proud of everything our Esports students have accomplished over not just this season but over the last year,” Nowaczyk said. “These students do so much, not just within Esports, but all over campus, and it’s so awesome to see their work in Esports paying off.”

Aaron Spengler ’23 said it felt amazing to win the championship. Spengler, who majors in Mechanical Engineering, is the captain of the “Overwatch 2” Blue team.

“I’ve been on the team for about two years now, and this is our first season win outside of one other small tournament win,” he said. “This is also my second-to-last season on the team, so it feels great seeing my hard work being rewarded. I’m so proud of the team and am so happy I get to be a part of this experience with them.”

Spengler co-ops at Our Next Energy (ONE) in Novi on the Battery Management Systems Mechanical team. He said participating in Esports has helped him better his teamwork skills.

“I’ve learned that I need to be flexible working around others’ strengths while applying people to what they excel at,” Spengler said. “At the same time, I’ve also learned that while I’m the leader of this team, I’m also still a player. I learned there’s a time to lead and a time to follow when in that dual-focused role.”

Robert Lim ’24 agreed that the skills he learns participating in Esports are applicable to life outside of gaming. Lim is the team captain and in-game leader for the “Valorant” Grey team. In this role, he analyzes how the competing team is playing and adjusts his team’s style accordingly. Lim will start his next Co-op as a project manager at Bosch.

“As a Management major, much of what I do in Esports is practical for my Co-op and soft skills,” Lim said. “Being the coach and overall leader for the players, I can enhance and adapt my leadership style. Coaching them in gaming has allowed me to become a better teacher. Esports also improves everyone’s soft skills in teamwork, communication, time management and, for some people, emotional intelligence.”

Ernest Reschke ’25 echoed his fellow gamers. The Computer Engineering major plays on the “Valorant” Blue team. In his role as the “initiator,” he helps create opportunities for his teammates in the game. He co-ops at Detroit Diesel.

“The skills I have learned in Esports translate greatly to the work environment through Co-ops,” he said. “Communication, planning and execution are all pivotable parts of being on an Esports team. Learning these skills through an environment that I really love helps me in my Co-op because it just feels like second nature to create a route for success, just like Esports.”

Reschke wasn’t surprised the team earned the win after they put in a lot of hard work this season, he said.

“It feels great to win the division with my team,” he said. “I have grown close to them over the years being in the program with them, so it felt awesome to take home the victory.”

The �� Esports program started in January 2020 with teams for “Overwatch,” “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” and “League of Legends.” “Rainbow Six Siege” was added a month later, and “Rocket League” teams formed in August 2020. “Valorant” teams started in summer 2021. Nowaczyk hopes to add teams for “iRacing” and “Counter-Strike 2” in summer 2024.

In June, the “Rainbow Six Siege” team earned the NECC National Championship. In July, two members of that team were named All-NACE at the NACE National Convention in Indianapolis.

“From the inception of the program, I thought it would be a fun extra thing for 25 to 30 students with just a few game titles,” Nowaczyk said. “Now, having over 100 students as part of the program and reaching beyond just the walls of Kettering to help K12 programs find their footing; work with those programs to host events for K12 players to get extra competition; help the community raise money for good causes; and collaborate with nonprofits to spread the word about Esports and what it offers kids from both a career perspective and educational one every day, I’m in disbelief of how far we’ve come in such a short time and the things our students have accomplished. I wouldn’t change any of it.”

Varsity ‘Rainbow Six Siege’ Team Wins National Championship

eoboyle — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 20:05:58 +0000

Varsity ‘Rainbow Six Siege’ Team Wins National Championship

Competition Teams

Esports

eoboyle Fri, 07/21/2023 - 16:05

The �� varsity “Rainbow Six Siege” team can add a national championship to its list of accomplishments.

The team defeated Oklahoma Christian University 3-0 in the virtual National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) National Championship on June 14. The national championship is the University’s first since the Esports program started in January 2020.

“This has been the culmination of all the hard work our players and coaches have put in,” Esports Coach Dan Nowaczyk said. “We wouldn’t be where we are without their drive. I’m so proud of these guys and everything they have done to get to this point. I still don’t think it’s sunk in that this actually happened and we have a national title in Kettering Esports.”

“Rainbow Six Siege” is a multiplayer game in which teams defend their areas of a map from competing teams. The NECC National Championship was a culmination tournament based on a points system. Teams earned points based on their finishes in fall and spring tournaments. The top four teams with the most points earned a spot in the National Championship. Kettering defeated the University of Louisville 2-0 in the semifinals before moving on to the finals.

“During the regular season, both matches with these teams went to the full three maps, pulling out a narrow win over Louisville and losing to Oklahoma Christian,” Nowaczyk said. “To come into this against teams we struggled against in the regular season and not lose a single map is crazy. I’ve never seen our team playing at this level all season; it was like a completely different team than who was playing all season.”

Charlie Sweet ‘24 couldn’t believe what the team accomplished.

“To win after all of the challenges and obstacles throughout this season was a major relief,” he said. “It was something we had set our goals on since the start of the season, and at some points, it really seemed impossible, like it just wasn’t feasible. But after a lot of effort, work and practice, we walked into the finals and competed like we never had before. It was a refreshing sight to see all of our work suddenly come to fruition in the exact moment we needed it most.”

Sweet, who majors in Chemical Engineering, plays the flex-intel/support role for attack and as a flex anchor on defense for the team. This means he identifies and fills in various roles best for the team as needed.

Garrett Stockham ’22 previously played on the team but has moved into a coaching role since he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.

“It felt very good to finally have all the pieces come together and win this championship,” he said. “... Lucas [Sweet] and I knew as coaches that our players could win a championship but saw there was a bit of a disconnect in how everyone worked together during the games. After switching a few things around in the prep time before the playoffs, the players finally felt like they were having everything sync up and got the level of chemistry we all knew would win a championship. So we stuck to it, and the players did a fantastic job closing the season out on top.”

Stockham is an associate calibration engineer in braking systems at Bosch. He uses many skills he acquired on the Esports team in his career.

“‘Rainbow Six’ is based on teamwork and requires a lot of communication among the players during their games and between the players and coaches during practice time,” Stockham said. “Applying the skills used to work in high-emotion, high-stress or high-pressure situations, where there are also considerable frustrations at times, is applicable to any career.”

In addition to teamwork and communication skills, Sweet said he’s learned about perseverance.

“We have had a lot of failures on the way, but we have always had to get back up, brush the dust off and try again,” he said. “This team has competed for a little over two years now and has consistently been very close but never totally victorious until now. It’s taught me to always get back up and try again, because maybe next time, it’ll work out.”

The team finished second in the NECC fall tournament and the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) fall tournament and third in the NACE spring tournament.

The varsity roster for “Rainbow Six” includes seven students: Samuel Erman ‘26, J-D Gadd ‘26, Nolan Jones ‘24, Jason Sedluk ‘24, Charlie Sweet ‘24, Jack Tuttle ‘24 and Aaron West ‘24.

More than 100 students are part of the University’s Esports program. In addition to “Rainbow Six,” the University has teams for “League of Legends,” “Overwatch,” “Valorant” and “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.”

�� offers Esports scholarships of up to $5,000 a year. To learn more, click here.

Kettering AutoDrive Team Earns Third Place in Mobility Innovation at AutoDrive II Challenge

eoboyle — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 18:15:44 +0000

Kettering AutoDrive Team Earns Third Place in Mobility Innovation at AutoDrive II Challenge

Clubs and Organizations

Competition Teams

Autodrive

Mechanical Engineering

eoboyle Wed, 06/21/2023 - 14:15

The �� AutoDrive team, Bulldog Bolt, wrapped up its second year of competition this month, finishing third in Mobility Innovation.

The team and its Chevy Bolt EV competed June 4-10 at MCity in Ann Arbor. The four-year competition, sponsored by SAE International and General Motors, tasks 10 teams with developing and demonstrating a completely autonomous-driving passenger vehicle. Each year, the competition builds on the next by adding more challenges.

The Mobility Innovation Award is based on two items the team submitted. The first is a report on the 0-0-0 Challenge, in which students needed to build on last year’s work by validating the power consumption of the vehicle’s sensors.

“This is important because the power consumption of sensors impacts the vehicle range, which is a major concern to consumers,” said Dr. Diane Peters, the team’s faculty advisor.

The Mobility Innovation Award also is based on a video the team produced that focused on finding issues with an autonomous vehicle future and how to sell solutions to lobbyists.

Although it’s the second year of the competition, it’s the first year teams worked with an actual car. During the challenge's first year, the team outfitted a large metal cart with sensors to collect data.

“Transitioning from the cart to the car presented some challenges,” Peters said. “The perception algorithms developed on the cart could be carried over, but interfacing with the car was a significant challenge as it involved propulsion and steering, which weren’t a factor in the stationary cart. And, of course, safety was critical since we needed to ensure students were always working in a safe environment where the car wouldn’t do anything unexpected.”

Team Captain Kevin Patterson (’24, EE) agreed transitioning from the cart to the car was challenging but is pleased with the team’s results.

“Even though the Kettering AutoDrive team had a tough year, it was impressive how the team performed and how much it faced,” he said. “The biggest takeaway of the year is to keep pushing forward.”

Participating in AutoDrive helps students gain experience and network with others in various industries.

“There is plenty of work to be done, whether it’s designing different mounts for cameras and sensors, real-time project management skills for business majors, and electrical engineering to help design and develop the harness and various electrical components,” Patterson said.

During the competition, he also met with representatives from sponsoring companies.

“I spoke with multiple companies that are very interested in not only Kettering students but AutoDrive Kettering students with the experience to do what their companies do,” Patterson said.

The rules for the Year 3 challenge will be released in late summer or early fall. Until then, Peters said students are making a list of things it needs to improve on from this year so they’ll be prepared and ready to get to work.

College of Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

�� AutoDrive Team Wraps Up Second Year of Competition

rnorris — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 17:13:39 +0000

�� AutoDrive Team Wraps Up Second Year of Competition

Competition Teams

Autodrive

rnorris Wed, 06/21/2023 - 13:13

The �� AutoDrive team, Bulldog Bolt, wrapped up its second year of competition in June of 2023, finishing third in Mobility Innovation.

“This is important because the power consumption of sensors impacts the vehicle range, which is a major concern to consumers,” said Dr. Diane Peters, the team’s faculty advisor.

The Mobility Innovation Award also is based on a video the team produced that focused on finding issues with an autonomous vehicle future and how to sell solutions to lobbyists.

Team Captain Kevin Patterson (’24, EE) agreed transitioning from the cart to the car was challenging but is pleased with the team’s results.

Participating in AutoDrive helps students gain experience and network with others in various industries.

During the competition, he also met with representatives from sponsoring companies.

“I spoke with multiple companies that are very interested in not only Kettering students but AutoDrive Kettering students with the experience to do what their companies do,” Patterson said.

Kettering Intelligent Ground Vehicle Team Finishes 2023 Competition Strong

rnorris — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 17:24:48 +0000

Kettering Intelligent Ground Vehicle Team Finishes 2023 Competition Strong

Competition Teams

Intelligent Ground Vehicle

rnorris Wed, 06/14/2023 - 13:24

The students on Kettering’s Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC) team felt stressed ahead of the annual competition, but their hard work earned them a third-place finish.

The team, which consisted of the undergraduate and graduate-level Introduction to Autonomous Driving (CE-451 and CE-651) classes, competed June 2-5, 2023 at the 30th Annual IGVC at Oakland University in Rochester. It finished third in the Self-Drive Challenge and fourth in the Self-Drive Design/Presentation. Six teams participated in these challenges.

“I felt happy with the results because ultimately, my class spent about seven weeks working on this car compared to other colleges who had a lot more time than us,” said Nicholas Switalski (’24, Computer Engineering), who worked on the perceptions group.

Because the Kettering team consists of two classes, different students participate each year versus other schools, whose teams consist of the same students each year.

Students design, develop, document, test and sell systems engineering projects for the competition. IGVC features two challenges: the AutoNav Challenge and the Self-Drive Challenge. This was the third year Kettering competed in the Self-Drive Challenge in which competitors adapted U.S. Army–provided software to develop an autonomous golf cart.

“Our vehicle was the only system at the competition that uses a cutting-edge autonomy layer,” said Co-Captain Henry Grasman (’24, Computer Engineering). “A lot of teams were able to gain points with simpler systems but would ultimately run into roadblocks attempting to add complexity. Our struggle was working with such a complex system from the start, especially with such a short timeline.”

Switalski said learning the software was the team’s biggest challenge, followed by figuring out what improvements to make.

Grasman and Switalski said teamwork and collaboration were critical for the class to finish the project.

“Early on, our sub-teams worked mostly independently with my group attempting to make the vehicle functional,” Grasman said. “I learned quickly that working on something so advanced would not be possible without the close collaboration of the entire team.”

He said this class made him more confident in his problem-solving skills.

Switalski agreed, adding, “The most important skill I learned was troubleshooting. Through figuring out what software worked from previous years to fixing the new implementations and figuring out how to make the process faster. Troubleshooting is an essential quality companies look for in any industry.”

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Kettering Intelligent Ground Vehicle Team Finishes 2023 Competition Strong

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