Winners of CCS-Michelin Challenge Design competitions announced

Michelin has announced the winners of the Michelin Challenge Design contest for the College for Creative Studies (CCS).

13 senior students entered this year's challenge, which carried a theme of "Half! Lightweight with Passion." The students were asked to explore inventive concepts of shared mobility to solve personal transportation needs within megacities.

Teams were challenged to create an urban transportation system, with this category's winners being Colin Pan and Hyun Woo Lim, who developed a modular chassis utilizing new materials and structures.

The central core material is the metal organic framework (MOF), a composite metal that can store hydrogen molecules within its own structures. Its large surface area and hexagonal molecular structure make it lightweight and strong.

The two students used elastic cords to link the chassis to the wheels, making the suspension structure simpler and lighter, much like the design of a suspension bridge.

Each student designed a vehicle that best embodies the spirit of their city as well as a tire/wheel assembly with a unique design and functional capabilities best suited for the application.

Within the individual category Yoongkyung Hwang took first prize with his lightweight, efficient and eco-friendly design. The body structure is inspired by a bicycle helmet design characterized by a strong, safe lightweight structure made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) with a sleek aerodynamic shape.

The interior design is inspired by a hammock, which works with the main structure for support while the powertrain uses electromagnetic technology. Each wheel spoke and rim works as a magnetic motor meaning there is more freedom to design.

Second place went to Arthur Coudert for his ‘Citroën BEE' shared city car. The car is designed to create a living space and meeting area in which you share the car with others. Thanks to multiple electric jacks that stretch the tires out, changing their surface to show or hide the tread for better traction.

Merrill Matthew was chosen as the third prizewinner. His proposal was a lightweight vehicle for disabled people that would give them the ability to drive where they want, as opposed to being chaperoned in a wheelchair-accessible minivan.

The car, designed around the Nike brand, uses an exterior that is stretched with vectran wires that work as vertical suspension cables to carry the weight like a suspension bridge.

The central pillar has a cantilever shape that stores additional components for storage and lowers the car's center of gravity. The architectural forms of Calatrava bridges and Nike flywire material inspired the forms and features of the car.

Design judges for this year's event were Brandon Faurote (Chrysler), Joel Piaskowski and Lon Zaback (Ford), Robert Boniface (General Motors) and Scott Roller (CALTY).

The CCS-Michelin Challenge Design winners were awarded trophies and scholarships while their work will join 15 designs representing 12 countries selected in the global Michelin Challenge Design competition.

The top three finalists of the global competition will be invited to the Cobo Center as Michelin's guests and presented during Michelin's private Designer's Reception.

By Rufus Thompson