August 5, 2005
Purdue packs up, heads south for the Indiana State Fair
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. –In between trips for corn dogs and deep-fried pastries, fairgoers will get an inside glimpse of the university during Purdue Day at the Indiana State Fair on Wednesday (Aug. 17).
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Beginning at 8:30 a.m. visitors can get a closer look at the university's schools, departments and achievements through more than 50 tents and exhibits located both on Main Street and at the Pioneer Our Land Pavilion at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.
Victor Lechtenberg, vice provost for engagement, said this is the fourth consecutive year of universitywide participation at the State Fair, which is part of a statewide initiative to bring Purdue's programs to Hoosiers.
"Each year it's fun to travel to the fair and reconnect with old friends and make new ones," said Lechtenberg. "We also appreciate having a great venue to highlight many of the exciting technologies and discoveries happening every day at Purdue."
Children of all ages can enjoy numerous hands-on activities and demonstrations, including everything from cooking to robotics demonstrations.
On Aug. 17, Purdue University students will present two vehicles they designed, engineered and built. The first is a dune buggy-style autonomous vehicle that contains computers that operate the car, functioning as its eyes, hands and feet, as well as supplying the vehicle some decision-making capabilities.
The car is powered by a Chevy Cavalier engine and will compete in the $2 million Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Grand Challenge event, sponsored and funded by the U.S. Department of Defense.
The second vehicle is a Baja-style racecar that will be displayed on the Purdue stage from 11 a.m. to noon on Aug. 17. The car is designed to perform on various types of terrain and competes in the areas of maneuverability, acceleration, braking, speed, hill climbing, sled pulling, rock crawling and a four-hour endurance race. The car placed fifth in the SAE Mini-Baja in the Midwestern competition held in Dayton, Ohio, in June.
Purdue's College of Agriculture has a number of exhibits in the Pioneer Our Land Pavilion. One display features a 24-foot by 32-foot simple post-and-beam structure for constructing homes and other wood buildings. The entire exhibit emphasizes products in the Indiana wood industry.
In addition to the displays and demonstrations, Purdue alumni are scheduled to be on hand to visit and sign autographs near the Purdue tents located on Main Street. Guy Gardner, former astronaut and Purdue alumnus, will be available.
The Purdue Alumni Pep Band will provide musical entertainment at 4 p.m., to be followed by a pep rally.
Purdue Day at the State Fair 2005 events on Aug. 17 include:
• 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. – "It's Happening Here" will feature interactive displays and exhibits on Main Street.
• 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. – Purdue Cooperative Extension exhibits in Pioneer Our Land Pavilion.
• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Cricket spitting in the Marsh Grandstands.
• 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Purdue Live! will feature a variety of educational experts and entertainment located on the Main Street stage.
More details on events on Purdue Day at the State Fair can be found online.
Writer: Jesica E. Webb, (765) 494-2079; jwebb@purdue.edu
Source: Amy Hinds, events coordinator, (765) 496-2169
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: Broadcast-quality video and audio clips are available by contacting Jesica Webb at (765) 494-2079, (765) 426-1071 or jwebb@purdue.edu.
Related Web sites:
Purdue University Home Page
Purdue at the State Fair Home Page
Related news releases:
Purdue Agriculture to be well represented at state fair
Purdue engineering students unveil autonomous vehicle
PHOTO CAPTION:
Purdue engineering students do final modifications on the autonomous vehicle that will be displayed Aug. 17 at the State Fair. This is the second-generation prototype of an "autonomous" vehicle — that will move without a driver or remote control. From left are: Bobby Zapaoski, a mechanical engineering senior from Lavonia, Mich.; Matt Bramlage, a mechanical engineering senior from Lexington, Ky.; Zita Crayner, a mechanical engineering senior from Noblesville, Ind.; Julian Juergens, a mechanical engineering student from Universität Karlsruhe in Germany; Mark Gries, an electrical engineering senior from Wolverine Lake, Mich.; and Dustin Hofer, a mechanical engineering senior from Brookville, Ind. The vehicle was designed and built in one semester by a multidisciplinary, global team including more than 120 Purdue students and is operated by a complex set of computers that function as eyes, hands, feet and a limited-capacity "brain." (University News Service file photo/David Umberger)
A publication-quality photograph is available http://news.uns.purdue.edu/images/+2005/hirleman-vehicle.jpg
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