TI’s Innovation Challenge was as competitive as ever this year, attracting 810 participants from 120 different engineering universities from the United States, Canada and Mexico. This contest showcases innovative, interesting, and fun technical projects, many of which are out to solve a real-world problem. Follow along as we highlight the top three projects from this year’s contest.
Ohio State University engineering student Aaron Bonnell-Kangas is definitely in the fast lane, taking first place at the TI Innovation Challenge for his project to improve the battery management system (BMS) of an electric racing motorcycle. Developed for the Buckeye Current team at the university’s Center for Automotive Research, Bonnell-Kangas’ Battery Interface Module, which integrates seven TI components, allows the team to connect and monitor voltages inside the motorcycle’s batteries, achieving the maximum power needed to reach top speeds as high as 105 mph.
Watch as Aaron describes how the electric motorcycle works: (Please visit the site to view this video)
Aaron’s project included seven TI components in its design:
- BQ76PL536A battery pack protector
- TMS320F28035 Piccolo microcontroller
- SN65HVD230 controller area network transceiver
- LMR14206 step-down voltage regulator
- ISO7241CDW digital isolator
- SN74AHC1G86 single 2-input exclusive-OR gate
- SN74LVC1G07 Single Buffer/Driver With Open-Drain Output
Aaron said that creating the battery in-house allowed the team to receive data more quickly and accurately, so they could make small tweaks to the project after every test run. Additionally, Aaron said that almost the entire motorcycle is built off of TI processors, embedded controls and analog parts. “For us to be able to get evaluation modules and ICs, as well as design support from TI engineers, makes what we do possible.”
He adds that the Ohio State team is challenged each year to build a new bike for under $50,000, while their nearest competitor in 2014 spent $6 million. “I like to say we get nine-tenths the performance at one one-hundredth of the price,” he adds.
Congratulations to Aaron on his first place win and $10,000 prize. Aaron will be starting his Master’s at Ohio State University – and hopefully continuing to work on this project!
