MOVIES

AUSTIN, Texas -- Beginning today, engineering students from 15 North American universities are attending the FutureTruck Summit for advanced technical training sponsored by the Ford Motor Co., the U.S. Department of Energy, and National Instruments. The training helps them prepare for the 2003 FutureTruck competition, which challenges student teams to redesign a Ford Explorer for lower emissions and higher fuel economy without sacrificing performance, utility, safety and affordability. At the Summit, students also have an opportunity to improve their knowledge of the LabVIEW graphical development environment and other computer- based tools used to design more environmentally friendly SUVs. "We are here to gain valuable hands-on experience with NI LabVIEW Real- Time and other virtual instrumentation technologies to develop a hydrogen- fueled vehicle for the competition," said engineering student Bruce Billian, who leads the FutureTruck team from Virginia Tech. "Learning to optimize industry-standard tools such as LabVIEW gives us competitive skills that we can apply not only to FutureTruck but also to school engineering projects and future careers." Ford and the DOE, through its research facility at the Argonne National Laboratory, are participating in the training as part of their sponsorship of FutureTruck. Research done by FutureTruck teams supports the ongoing work of Ford and the DOE in increasing the fuel efficiency of SUVs while reducing vehicle emissions. "By attending the FutureTruck Summit, students gain valuable technical skills and learn to apply virtual instrumentation software and hardware tools to real-world issues such as fuel economy and environmental protection," said Ray Almgren, NI vice president of product marketing and academic relations. "We are excited to play such an active role in FutureTruck because it not only illustrates how engineers can use technology to improve everyday life but also helps us in our continuing commitment to educate and inspire engineers around the world." During training, students learn how virtual instrumentation tools such as LabVIEW Real-Time, NI Compact FieldPoint distributed I/O and other NI data acquisition hardware can help them quickly design engine control and monitoring systems. Also, Ford representatives discuss electric vehicle systems designed for its line of Ford Ranger trucks. Other sessions cover FutureTruck judging requirements, telematics and wireless networking. FutureTruck culminates in 10 days of judging that begins June 2 at the Ford Michigan Proving Ground in Romeo, Mich. and the Allen Park Testing Laboratories in Allen Park, Mich. Vehicle evaluations include technical performance, such as acceleration, handling and fuel economy, as well as a thorough review of vehicle designs. A vehicle display and awards ceremony will be held June 12 in conjunction with Ford's Centennial Anniversary in Dearborn, Mich.