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What is EcoCAR? The Team
The Rose-Hulman EcoCAR Team
Faculty AdvisorsZac Chambers
 Department: Mechanical EngineeringGrade: Professor Biography: Dr. Zac Chambers is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and faculty co-adviser for the RHIT EcoCAR team. He is an advocate of Model-Based System Design and enjoys teaching Senior Capstone Design. His hobbies include renovating his 101 year old house, driving his Cummins powered Dodge dually, and not having cable. Marc Herniter
 Department: Electrical EngineeringGrade: Professor Biography: Crash earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a B.A. in Physics from Boston University and M.A. & Ph.D in Electrical Engineering from University of Michigan. Professor Herniter is an expert in high power electrical systems and he always carries a fire extinguisher in case his circuits have an accident. He has built drives for electric race cars that reach speeds of 120 mph and inverters for photovoltaic systems that power small houses. He is the author of the best selling text book, “Cool Circuits” that was banned by the publisher because it showed how to cook a hotdog electronically. To date, his Cool Circuits book has sold 103 copies. However, this is better than any of his other books, so this is his best selling book. Currently he is driving an alternative fuel 2000 Chevy 1500 truck. Team LeadersRebecca Winer
 Department: Mechanical EngineeringGrade: Senior Biography: Rebecca is the virtual integration team leader this year. She is a Senior Mechanical engineering student and in her third year of Eco Car/Challenge X. Last year she was the mechanical team leader for ChallengeX, and winner of the Lynn St. James outstanding woman in engineering award. Other than EcoCAR, Rebecca just finished her position on the executive board of Chi Omega as the recruitment chair, and is also a member of the lacrosse team. She has accepted a position with South West Research Institute for after graduation. Cameron Hazel
 Department: Mechanical EngineeringGrade: Junior Biography: A Junior mechanical and electrical engineering major. I’m a member of the outdoor venturing club and the climbing club. Hobbies include sports, weightlifting, carpentry, the outdoors, and about anything that lets him get out and get his hands dirty. Jonathan Kellerman
 Department: Electrical EngineeringGrade: Senior Biography: Jon is the controls team lead and a Senior Electrical Engineering major from Pinckneyville, Illinois. He currently is involved in EcoCAR, plays trombone in the Pep Band, and is a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. After graduation, he is currently slated to work for Allison Transmissions in Fault Management software in Indianapolis Bob Warden
 Department: Mechanical EngineeringGrade: Senior Biography: Bob Warden is a member of the Solid Modeling team for EcoCar. He is a senior Mechanical Engineering major and has been involved with hybrid vehicle programs at Rose-Hulman for the past two years. In the final year of ChallengeX, he served as a Mechanical Integration Team Leader and had a large part in the renovation of “The Nox” interior. His responsibilities this year include working with 3D Models of the vehicle to integrate components that will be used in the Vue. Outside of learning how to use a 3D Mouse for class, Bob enjoys playing racquet ball, cooking, and carpentry. Ashley Erffmeyer
 Department: Engineering ManagementGrade: Grad Student Biography: Ashley is the Outreach Coordinator this year for EcoCAR. She is a first year grad student getting her masters in Engineering Management and the first grad student EVER on the RHIT EcoCAR team. Last year, as a senior Mechanical Engineer, she was the Challenge X Outreach Coordinator. Her responsibilities this year include writing Outreach documents and Business plans and getting the team excited for Outreach in general! With all of her free time as a grad student after conquering the undergrad curriculum at Rose, Ashley has taken up several hobbies including, pet sitting, E! Channel watching and iPod listening. She is excited about Year 1 of EcoCAR and can’t wait to get researching, writing, and educating people about hybrids. Team MembersChadwick Conway
 Department: Electrical / Mechanical EngineeringGrade: Freshman Biography: Chad Conway is part of the Wiring and Battery Design Team for EcoCar. He is a freshman planning to major in Electrical Engineering with a double major in Mechanical Engineering. He has a wide range of experience in electric vehicles. In high school, he rebuilt a 1980 electric Comuta-Car, then drove it every day to and from school. Additionally, he worked with graduate students at the MIT Media Lab designing the City Car. He is looking forward to a great year working on the design of our vehicle. Andrew Corsten
 Department: Mechanical EngineeringGrade: Sophomore Biography: Andy is a sophomore Mechanical Engineer from the dry, east side of Washington State with a concentration in Aerospace Engineering, and is a member of the controls and HIL simulation team for EcoCAR. He's been a part of EcoCAR since the writing of the proposal during his freshman year. He first joined the team with little knowledge or interest in automobiles. After countless hours of battling with Simulink and looking at Wikipedia articles, Andy has become a devoted member of the team. Jordan Eaker
 Department: Mechanical EngineeringGrade: Sophomore Biography: Jordan is a sophomore Mechanical Engineering major from Brownsburg, Indiana. He joined the EcoCAR team at the beginning of Year 0, and put his main work into controls. Now, he is heading up the transmission team. He is involved in the Air Force ROTC program here at Rose-Hulman and is also a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. During his free time, he enjoys being at the dragstrip, where he has been racing since he was 8 years old. David Hodson
 Department: Mechanical EngineeringGrade: Senior Biography: My name is David Hodson and I am a senior mechanical engineering student at Rose-Hulman. I was previously a member of the Challenge-X team for three quarters and I really wanted to get involved with the EcoCar team this year, so I decided to join. I am currently on the vehicle modeling and integration team. In my free time I enjoy hanging out with my fraternity brothers and being active outdoors. Scott Minchuk
 Department: Mechanical EngineeringGrade: Freshman Biography: Scott is a Freshman Mechanical Engineering student at Rose-Hulman and is from Tempe, Arizona. He is very excited about his first year on the EcoCAR team. His responsibilities include working on the design and integration of the fuel and cooling systems. Scott is a Senator in the Student Government Association, a member of the Rose-Hulman football team, a member and InterFraternity Council representative for Phi Gamma Delta, and an AIAA member. The EcoCAR project is very important to Scott and he is looking forward to the hands-on construction of the car and enjoys being part of a great team of people. Shaun Quirk
 Department: Electrical EngineeringGrade: Junior Biography: Shaun is a junior Electrical Engineering and Economics major who is part of the controls team. He currently serves as the recruitment chair for the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. In his free time, he enjoys playing sports, playing the piano and guitar, and making money. Stephen Sakai
 Department: Mechanical EngineeringGrade: Sophomore Biography: This is Stephen’s first year in EcoCAR as well as Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Stephen is a mechanical engineering student whose current responsibilities include design of the fueling and cooling systems. In his spare time, Stephen enjoys working on engines and cars, and watching the occasional movie. Kyle Schmelz
 Department: Mechanical EngineeringGrade: Junior Biography: Kyle is new to EcoCAR this quarter. He is a junior Mechanical Engineering major from San Antonio, TX. In addition to EcoCAR, Kyle is a DJ for Rose-Hulman’s radio station, enjoys playing guitar, and probably spends more time than he should playing Rock Band. Brandon Shavers
 Department: Mechanical EngineeringGrade: Junior Biography: Brandon is on the EcoCAR NX modeling team. He is a Junior in Mechanical Engineering and has a great interest in sustainable technologies, especially when it comes to automotive engineering. Having been involved in previous vehicle and drive-train design and construction projects, he would like to further study the process of translating ideas to reality on a more professional level. Brandon has found EcoCAR to be a great opportunity for that kind of experience. Eric Stokes
 Department: Software EngineeringGrade: Sophomore Biography: Eric is a Sophomore Software Engineering Major, born in Binghamton, NY, but raised in Fort Wayne, IN. He is the sole computer related major on the team, and is focusing on controls. Eric is an Eagle Scout who enjoys reading, web programming, turning old Mindstorms RCX bricks into thermostats and biking. Kyle Wilson
 Department: Mechanical Engineering / MathGrade: Sophomore Biography: Kyle is a member of the Physical Modeling subteam. He is a second year Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics major. Whenever he escapes from homework, he plays his violin and reads stacks of books. |
| Last Updated ( Saturday, 13 June 2009 14:32 ) |
