In February nearly 300 interdisciplinary researchers, industry leaders and government officials converged on Clemson, SC for three days of research discussions and demonstrations on the future of mobility.

The gathering was part of the annual review of the VIPR-GS Research Center, a partnership between Clemson University and the US Army DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) aimed at developing innovative digital engineering tools for rapid exploration and design of the next generation of on- and off-road vehicles. VIPR-GS, an acronym for Virtual Prototyping of Autonomy-Enabled Ground Systems, consists of 80 Clemson faculty from across 13 departments and more than 130 student researchers. Together, they are working on 43 active translational research projects in labs throughout South Carolina.

“Our partnership with the US Army and industry leaders helps ensure that our research is grounded in real-world application. The ability to take our foundational research and transition it into something that moves the industry forward is really meaningful.”

– Dr. Rob Prucka,
Director, VIPR-GS Research Center
Director, Deep Orange Vehicle Prototyping Program
Alan Kulwicki Professor of Motorsports Engineering

After a tour of the VIPR-GS Research Center facilities at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) in Greenville, SC, the events moved to the Madren Conference Center in Clemson, SC for two days of demonstrations and presentations. In addition to sessions featuring faculty and industry professionals, student researchers had the opportunity to highlight their work during a poster display exhibition. Each presentation was aligned with ongoing research based on the key components of the VIPR-GS Research Center: autonomy, power systems, and digital engineering. In recent years some research has been tested and displayed through vehicles produced by the Deep Orange program, an accelerated and immersive vehicle concept development framework within the Department of Automotive Engineering. In partnership with GVSC and the VIPR-GS Research Center, Clemson students produced two high-speed autonomous vehicles designed for off-road, non-combat missions. These prototype vehicles will continue to serve as platforms for real-world validation of joint research projects.

Now in its sixth year, the VIPR-GS Research Center produces an impact far beyond any single project by compressing design and development timelines producing tools for smarter, faster and more cost-effective autonomous vehicles. Two critical themes of this process and the future of the VIPR-GS Research Center are digital engineering and Human Machine Integrated Formations (HMIF), the optimization and integration of technology and human capabilities. Dr. Philip Frederick, Deputy Chief Scientist for the US Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center, emphasized each discipline and the value of the VIPR-GS Research Center during his keynote address.

“As demonstrated through the recent Deep Orange projects, VIPR-GS is ideally positioned to utilize the knowledge of faculty and students, along with digital engineering and industry relationships, to not only create valuable research for today, but that continually builds for a lasting impact.”

– Dr. Philip Frederick, Deputy Chief Scientist for the US Army Ground Vehicle Systems

A common theme in the presentations was the importance of people and relationships. In addition to the touted Clemson faculty and students, GVSC and the VIPR-GS Research Center maintain strong partnerships with universities and industry leaders across South Carolina and the nation. Dr. Frederick stressed that while the research has valuable real-world applications, “it’s always the people who ultimately develop and use the technologies.” To illustrate this value, Dr. Prucka told the story of Drew Girshovich, a graduate of the Department of Automotive Engineering and Deep Orange 15 team member, who, after graduation began working for an industry partner in Greenville, SC, where he is continues to collaborate with VIPR-GS and GVSC on ongoing projects.

“The mission of the VIPR-GS Research Center is to help the US Army produce research and resources to develop better vehicles, but perhaps our most meaningful product is our students and future industry leaders. Ultimately the industry is run by people, and I couldn’t be prouder of the role Clemson plays in developing the future workforce and pushing the industry forward.”

– Dr. Rob Prucka,
Director, VIPR-GS Research Center
Director, Deep Orange Vehicle Prototyping Program
Alan Kulwicki Professor of Motorsports Engineering

Acknowledgment: This work was supported by Clemson University’s Virtual Prototyping of Autonomy Enabled Ground Systems (VIPR-GS) under Cooperative Agreement W56HZV-21-2-0001 with the US Army DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC

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Las Vegas is synonymous entertainment, new relationships and unforgettable experiences —an apt description of a recent trip for Clemson University’s Automotive Engineering students.

Student and faculty representatives from Deep Orange, Clemson University’s accelerated vehicle concept development program, were invited to display their latest prototype vehicle at the 2024 Special Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas. The event brings together the latest innovations and custom vehicle trends from across the world, and this year featured a high-speed, off-road, semi-autonomous search and rescue vehicle know as Deep Orange 15.  While the vehicle and program were acclaimed for their potential impact on the industry, the experience itself made quite an impression on the attending students.

Situated in the “Future Tech Innovation” section of the event, the Deep Orange display provided students the opportunity to showcase their work and engage with industry leaders. Deep Orange team member Dev Gupta reflected on his experience saying, “I was pretty nervous about how our work would be received at such a grand show, but the overwhelming interest and feedback from professionals in the mobility industry have inspired us to push even further.”

Fellow team member Rohit Godse echoed these sentiments, noting the value of interacting with industry professionals. “This marked my first ‘business trip,’ and it was an exceptional opportunity for me to interact with a diverse group of industry leaders. Answering technical questions about our vehicle and explaining our design choices was challenging, but incredibly rewarding. It was a great exercise in communication—something I’ll carry with me as I move forward in my career,” said Godse.

When they weren’t engaging with visitors at the Deep Orange display, the students explored the rest of the event’s expansive show floor to see the latest in design and innovation. “As a passionate engineer I have an appreciation for the value of sophisticated software and advanced technology, but I observed some vehicles where the only significant changes were to the exterior design – fancy lighting and sleek aesthetics – and those booths were just as packed,” said Deep Orange member Ajay Krishnan. “It was a real eye-opener, offering a fresh perspective on everything the end user may value.”

While in Las Vegas, the team tested the functionality of Deep Orange 15 at Nellis Dunes, an off-road vehicle recreation area offering vastly different terrains than their testing grounds in South Carolina. “Watching months of work pay off during the testing process was incredibly fulfilling,” said Godse. “Completing successful tests and then driving the vehicle to our booth with sand-covered, dirt-streaked tires was a moment I’ll never forget.”

As the trip came to a close, the team members reflected not only on their once-in-a-lifetime experience at the SEMA Show, but also on the educational journey that led them there. “Being part of a university that prioritizes hands-on, project-based learning has been invaluable. Opportunities like SEMA Show empower students to bridge the gap between academia and industry,” said Gupta. “It was such a privilege to represent Clemson and showcase our work on such a prominent platform.”

DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. OPSEC9311.

Acknowledgment: This work was supported by Clemson University’s Virtual Prototyping of Autonomy Enabled Ground Systems (VIPR-GS), under Cooperative Agreement W56HZV-21-2-0001 with the US Army DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC).

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