Students Design Versatile and Scalable Vehicle
Students at California State University, Chico, gained hands-on experience and technical expertise that will empower them to excel in real-world engineering and innovation roles.
Shannon William Vlaming
Cool Stuff
May 4, 2026
Design
The vehicle platform was all about simplicity and precision. Designed for easy scalability, it used a skid-steer configuration, controlling the left and right wheels independently for unmatched off-road maneuverability. A compact single-board computer handled the drives with analog velocity commands, while a separate computer processed high-level commands, seamlessly controlling the vehicle's actuators over a wireless network.
Engineering an initial design was about laying a solid foundation for success by combining creativity, precision, and problem-solving in order to deliver a streamlined, responsive system ready to tackle any terrain with ease. The student engineering team consisted of Laine Wood, Lars Bartels, William Kettle, and Adam Garza. Joshua Mirand was the Capstone Design Program Coordinator who oversaw the project.
Handling Multiple Drives
As in any engineering endeavor, challenges and obstacles arose throughout each process.
The main challenge was expanding control of the drives from discrete signals on the vehicle controller to network-based control over the drives. The existing setup relied on individual signals for each drive, which limited the flexibility and scalability of the system. To achieve a more efficient and dynamic control mechanism, the team aimed to transition to a network-controlled system that handled multiple drives simultaneously with more precision.
Every challenge encountered along the way became an opportunity to refine the team’s ideas, strengthen the overall design, and build resilience. By embracing obstacles as part of the journey, engineers set the stage for innovative solutions and lasting impact.
ADVANCED Motion Controls played a critical role in the vehicle's design. To ensure the platform could scale easily, Digiflex® Performance DPCANTE-060B080 and DPRALTE-060B080 servo drives were chosen for their versatility. These drives come in a wide range of amperage ratings and form factors, which allowed the team to use the same motion and control system whether they scaled the platform up or down.
Working with the Digiflex amplifiers informed AMC was a great experience. The software and documentation were straightforward, which made the integration process smooth. The team was able to get each of the drives controlling the motors within a few hours of unboxing them, which led to an efficient and seamless integration.
According to Joshua Miranda, Senior Capstone Design Program CoordinatorCollege of Engineering, Computer Science, and Construction Management, “The performance of these drives met our expectations, expanding our control capabilities and opened up a wide range of possibilities for future developments. We are excited about the potential these new platforms bring and look forward to further advancements.”
Moving forward, the California State University Chico Engineering team made significant progress by getting two more vehicles up and running. The first platform is now ready for testing and is better suited for indoor navigation, incorporating 4 Digiflex® Performance DPRALTE-020B080 servo drives that are also used in the Motion and Machine Automation Course at Chico State. The second platform is a smaller vehicle utilizing RC components. The team is currently looking at implementing AMC drives for traction control.
For more information:
California State University Chico