The student team from Cornell University (shown above) clinched the top trophy in the 2024 Annual Student Conference Chem-E-Car Competition® finals, winning with a distance of 12.4 cm from the target. The target distance was 26.62m and no load was required this year.
The Cornell Team — with a nod toward iconic Queen frontman Freddie Mercury — dubbed its vehicle "Under Pressure," referencing the car's pressurized CO2 propulsion system. Among the unique charcteristics of Cornell's car is its motor, which is built from Lego bricks and 3D-printed custom parts.
The victory marked the fifth time in the team's 21-year history that Cornell took the top prize at the annual competition.
The second place winner was Centro Universitário FEI (15.2 cm), followed by the National Technical University of Athens (19.3 cm), City College of New York (CCNY) (31.8 cm), and Nanjing University of Science and Technology (NJUST) (45.2 cm).
Awards
The winners of the poster competition were, in descending order, University of Arkansas (1st), University of British Columbia, Texas A&M University, Qatar; and Tecnológico de Monterrey.
The award for the best car name went to McMaster University. Their team name was MacVerstoppen.
The Golden Tire Award went to Tecnológico de Monterrey. The most innovative car design was awarded to Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco (UNSAAC), and the SAChE Safety Award to Iowa State University.
Tecnológico de Monterrey won the Spirit of Competition Award. McMaster University received the award for outstanding sportsmanship.