NIU Supermileage Competition with Ashley

I currently serve on the Executive Board of the Society of Women Engineers and am also an active member of NIU’s Supermileage team. On April 2nd, our team had the incredible opportunity to compete in the Shell Eco-Marathon, and I was honored to attend as a key contributor responsible for both the vehicle’s braking system and its body components.

My role involved ensuring the brake system was fully functional and met all safety standards required for technical inspection, as well as maintaining the vehicle’s body attachments to allow for efficient access and quick changes, crucial for both safety and performance during the competition.

Despite being a brand-new vehicle driven by first-time competitors, our team secured an impressive 7th place finish. However, the journey wasn't without its challenges. During our initial tech inspection, the vehicle failed the brake test. With time working against us, my teammates and I collaborated quickly to diagnose the issue and implement a solution. I worked late into the night replacing and reworking brake components to ensure a smooth and safe system for the next day's inspection.

Thanks to that effort, the vehicle passed the brake inspection not just once, but five additional times without a single issue or adjustment needed. These inspections are mandatory before every run to ensure driver and track safety. Ultimately, we were able to complete three successful qualifying runs, making the experience both a technical and personal success.

-Ashley Wubben, Secretary