Spring 2025 Recruitment
The Georgia Tech EcoCAR VIP Team is looking for undergraduate and graduate students interested in learning about and working with innovative vehicle technologies. Spring 2025 will be during the third year of the challenge, and our focus will be on refining the physical systems and propulsion controls implemented in the vehicle during year 2 while also implementing the autonomous and connected software designed and simulated in year 2!
We are looking to recruit dedicated and highly motivated individuals to aid in a multitude of mechanical, electrical, computer science, communications, and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
By joining our team you will:
- Gain hands-on experience working with industry hardware and software tools
- Gain experience on how electric machines, batteries, and other EV technologies work
- Participate in the process of deconstructing, modifying, and rebuilding a vehicle
- Understand the process of developing reliable, market-ready hardware and software systems
- Participate in the development and testing of an autonomous vehicle with a team-developed V2X capability
- Learn about DEI concepts and apply them to your engineering designs and projects
What’s Happening in Spring 2025
Coming to the Spring 2025 semester, our team will be focusing on refining their design for their architecture and actually building the car!
- Using GM-provided CAD on the Cadillac LYRIQ, design a previously RWD EV into an AWD EV
- Finish integration efforts before competition in May
- Complete vehicle testing once new architecture is installed into the vehicle
- Begin software design and testing of sensor suite for autonomous driving systems
VIP Class Applications
Undergraduate Students
Since we are a VIP team, all interested undergraduate students are required to apply for the EcoCAR VIP class in addition to applying to specific sub-teams of interest (see below). The VIP website may be accessed by clicking here
Graduate Students
It is possible for graduate students working on our VIP team to receive credit toward graduation requirements. In particular, non-thesis MS students should apply through the VIP 6603 VPU course to receive credit. The VIP website may be accessed by clicking here. Additionally, applicants must apply to sub-teams of interest (see below) and discuss potential projects with sub-team leads (contact list here).
Subsystem Design and Integration
Join us as we go through the design process to convert a rear-wheel drive electric Cadillac Lyriq into an all-wheel drive vehicle with adaptive cruise control. Our responsibilities for the Spring 2025 semester will include:
- Thermal system modeling for radiators and pumps to cool new components
- CAD design work for fabrication and integration of components upon delivery of the vehicle.
- Manufacturing of designs and integration into the vehicle.
Members should understand the importance of tangible designs, manufacturability of parts, and be able to work well with fellow sub-team members and other sub-teams to make designs that meet team and vehicle requirements.
SDI Desired Skills
- Computer-Aided Design
- Finite Element Analysis
- Manufacturing Processes
- Manual & CNC Machining
- Strong ability to work well with teammates
- Basic automotive experience is a plus
- Experience with wire routing and management is a plus
- Experience with power distribution and parallel circuits is a plus
- Welding experience is a plus
- Most of all, looking for someone who comes to shop regularly and is always willing to learn something new
These skills are not required but will help you hit the ground running. Most of all, we are looking for someone who comes to shop regularly and is always willing to learn something new.
SDI application: click here
Propulsion Controls and Modeling
With the design of an all-new vehicle, this sub-team is looking for new members to help with the following in Spring 2025:
- Developing an electric vehicle model in Simulink
- Developing competition-provided vehicle models for Model In the Loop (MIL) and Hardware In the Loop (HIL) simulations
- Bench testing of new components in the vehicle
- Creating energy-conscious algorithms for motor control of an electric vehicle
PCM Desired Skills
- Minimum Sophomore level credit hours (30+)
- Proficiency in MATLAB
- Familiarity with Simulink
- Experience with serial data and CAN bus is a plus
- Experience with Vector tools or dSPACE Hardware is a plus
- Experience with any of the following programs is a plus: ControlDesk, AutomationDesk
- Experience with controls algorithm development for a hybrid or battery-electric vehicle is a plus
- Automotive experience is a plus
Most of all, we desire someone who is meticulous, willing to commit time, and has a desire to learn.
Almost everyone in our team started EcoCAR with no automotive experience so don’t let that hold you back from applying!
For the 2024-2025 school year, our efforts on the CAVs team will primarily be focused on:
- Software Development for CAV Subsystems ranging from perception and control to human-machine interface and driver monitoring system
- Model-in-the-Loop Testing
- Compute Design Vehicle Integration
- Energy-Optimal Longitudinal Planning and Controls Design
- Lateral Controls Design
CAVs Desired Skills
- Well-versed in MATLAB and Simulink
- Familiar with GitHub version control software
- Systems, Controls, DSP, or Software Development background
- Knowledge of automotive sensors (radar, camera, lidar)
- Knowledge of sensor fusion & tracking (tracking filters, data association algorithms, methods-based testing)
- Knowledge of planning and controls (state feedback, integral control, plant inversion)
- Knowledge of systems of systems concepts
- Experience with serial data and CAN bus is a plus
- Experience with C-V2X communication is a plus
- Experience developing software in a team is a plus
- Experience developing and testing requirements-based software is a plus
CAVs application: here
Communications Team
Join our communications team this Spring 2025 to work with us on getting connected with government officials, writing blog posts and features, posting on our social medias, and coordinating and putting together community outreach events ranging from the Atlanta community, to Georgia Tech students, to k-12 schools. You will be working with a communications team to achieve all of the following:
Our responsibilities for the fall include:
- Connecting with local and state government officials
- Creating deliverables and presentations on our Year 1 progress and work
- Attending and coordinating outreach events
- Social media posting on several platforms via Hootsuite
CM Desired Skills:
- Management and leadership
- Strong presentation skills
- Ability to learn, understand, and communicate advanced vehicle technologies
- Public Relations
- Event Planning
- Social Media
- Video Production
These skills are not required but will be useful and used skills throughout your time on the communications team. We have several roles in order for everyone to find a place where they can use their skills effectively. We are looking for candidates who want to increase EV awareness who may have a prior interest in automotive industries and wants to use communications skills to aid in this.
If interested please email Natalia Alvarez at nia3@gatech.edu.
Equity in Mobility Team
The EcoCAR EV Challenge attacks sustainability issues that affect clean transportation and mobility. Tackling these issues requires an understanding of the benefits and necessities of diversity, equity, and inclusion. The EiM sub-team has two responsibilities: fostering an inclusive team environment by reinforcing a strong team culture of inclusion, promoting equity in STEM education, and providing employment opportunities to team members, and secondly finding ways to innovate for an identified stakeholder community. The EiM subteam will be a small team of up to 4.
EiM Desired Skills:
- Organizational development
- Career development
- Virtual and in-person communication tactics
- Building cross-functional partnerships
- Documentation Writing
- Strategy building
If you don’t have the above skills, still apply if you want to build them, learn, and reap the benefits and fulfillment of being on an award-winning team!
EiM application: click here