Lake Superior State University
Lake Superior State University
 
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Alum Success

"I graduated from LSSU in Mechanical Engineering in 1999, and have since had a heavy focus in robotics and systems integration. I spent my first 7 years with FANUC in Rochester Hills as a product manager, and have since worked for Hartness International managing a robotic automation group. We continue to grow at a rapid pace, and will integrate 60+ robots this year and see no slow down in sight. My experience at LSSU has enabled me to take charge in this challenging and growing market."

Matt Job Business Unit Manager Automation Group Hartness International

School of Engineering & Technology

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Student Organizations

Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

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SAE is a student organization that allows students to design, build and take to competition a mini Baja vehicle. The SAE Collegiate Design Series (part of SAE International) hosts three competitons each year throughout the United States in which colleges and universities from around the world compete in. Teams are provided with a rulebook and are give a 10 horsepower Briggs & Stratton engine. After that, let the engineering begin! Students must design and then build a mini Baja kart to perform in various challenges such as acceleration, sled pull, maneuverability and finally a four hour endurance race. Everything from the frame to the drivetrain must be built from scratch or modified from previous products on the market. Being a part of this engineering process is a great way for students to get a hands on experience of what engineering is all about!

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Meetings are held on Wednesday evenings at 6 pm in the CAS 123.

In the 2011-2012 school year, LSSU SAE or team Lake State Racing modified the previous year's Baja kart by updating the rear portion of the frame. The improved rear frame made it easier to remove and replace the engine and drivetrain when servicing the Baja kart. The rear suspension was also remanufactured to fit on the new frame.

In mid February, 2012 Lake State Racing participated in the Winter Baja competition hosted by Michigan Technological University in Houghton, MI. This competition is sort of a fun event separate from the SAE Collegiate Design Series competition. Our kart held up well during the first endurance race but on the way back to the pits, it was noticed that one of the gear shafts had wore it's way out the side of the transmission. Some quick work by our pit crew and we were up and running for the second endurance race. It wasn't until the very end that the rear shock mount broke forcing us to call it quits early. Overall the team thought we were very successful and got a good taste of the competition atmosphere.

Then, in June, a few of Lake State Racing's students joined the Senior Design team as they entered their kart into one of the SAE Collegiete Design Series competitons held at the MGA Research Facility in Burlington, WI. The Senior Design team upgraded a separate Baja vehicle by improving it's steering system and drivetrain servicibility as part of their Senior Project.Overall we placed in the mid sixties out of 100 teams.This was another great experience for our Lake State Racing students as we hope to get our own vehicle into the competition next year.

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Winter Baja Picture 01 Winter Baja Picture 02 Winter Baja Picture 03 Winter Baja Picture 04 Winter Baja Picture 05
Winter Baja Picture 06 Winter Baja Picture 07 Winter Baja Picture 08 Winter Baja Picture 09 Working on Baja Vehicle 01
Working on Baja Vehicle 02 Working on Baja Vehicle 03 Wisconsin Baja 01 Wisconsin Baja 02 Wisconsin Baja 03

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President:
  Brian Parkham
bparkham@lssu.edu
Vice-President:
  Nick Letts
nletts@lssu.edu
Faculty Advisor:
  Jon Coullard
jcoullard@lssu.edu

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SAE Collegiate Design Series

Lake State Racing's Facebook Page (Visit for more pictures of our events)

Laker Racing YouTube Channel (From 2010 competition)

Back to Student Organizations

Second place

Design Competition Senior project Team Rock Rover Design & Development qualified to advance to the international student design competition on November 18, 2009.

ASME Student Design Expositions provide a platform for all engineering students to showcase their innovative design and build projects to a broad audience. Bringing practicing engineers, faculty and students into one venue, this program also provides educational and professional development opportunities for exhibitors as well as spectators. For students, it is an opportunity to demonstrate their products or present their design concepts to potential employers and even investors. For industry leaders, the Expos are like career fairs in reverse; an opportunity to observe the landscape of student design, get to know extraordinary engineering students in the region and see first-hand the innovative ideas and skills students can bring to their companies.

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