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Students use plastics to create vehicle designs

A Sabic Innovative Plastics product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jan 27, 2006

About 20 students are exploring the potential of such innovations as thermoplastic glazing, plastic body panels and lighting technologies in futuristic vehicles as part of Plasticon competition.

Graduate students from the vehicle design department of London's Royal College of Art (RCA) are imagining and prototyping automotive design in plastics during a three-month programme and competition called Plasticon, which began in December.

About 20 students are exploring the potential of such innovations as thermoplastic glazing, plastic body panels and lighting technologies in futuristic vehicles.

They are researching, designing and building models of blue sky vehicles aimed at the needs of different markets - from SUV owners to Gen-Y consumers - and competing for prizes and prestige.

GE Plastics is giving Plasticon participants materials and capabilities to use in creating concepts such as environmental compliance and aesthetic directions.

The programme divides students into teams of three for research into specific scenarios, including emerging generations, emerging markets, auto segment redefinition, formal freedom and function integration.

Once the groups have completed an analysis and reached conclusions, each team member designs and models a personal interpretation of the scenario.

In addition to automotive exteriors, students may be expected to design interiors or subsystems.

GE advisors are working closely with RCA staff and the students to provide guidance and resources.

Judging will be done by GE experts.

The winner will receive a weekend in New York and a chance to present the design to GE's design council.

The RCA's vehicle design curriculum trains students to pioneer approaches for private and public transportation, including addressing such concerns as traffic congestion, safety and environmental issues.

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