Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR)—Automotive Manufacturing

Inception:
2003

About the Center:

CU-ICAR is a worldwide automotive/motor sports research and development campus where university, industry, and government organizations can engage in synergistic collaboration. It is strategically located in Greenville, S.C. on the Interstate 85 corridor and in the rapidly growing Southeastern automotive and motorsports region. At CU-ICAR, Clemson University offers the nation’s first Ph.D. in automotive engineering.

The CoEE chair in Automotive Manufacturing leads the efforts by CU-ICAR to develop novel micro-electromechanical systems technologies for manufacturing as well as to improve the efficiency of manufacturing large, complex objects.

This CoEE has contacted or is in discussion to develop private sector partnerships with GM, IBM, Toyota, Honda, Daimler‐Chrysler, Hewlett‐Packard, Nissan, and Bosch. In 2009, the Automotive Manufacturing CoEE Team hosted two major conferences at the research campus that introduced more than 300 researchers and
engineers to CU‐ICAR.

Scientific discoveries include the development of an apparatus that simulates the effects of contaminants, soil, and lubrication on rotating machinery such as gears, wheels, and fan blades.

Since inception, this CoEE has received more than $1 million in federal and
private research funding.

State funding:
$5 million

CoEE Endowed Chair :

More information can be found at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research.

BMW Automotive Manufacturing Chair Tom Kurfess is using the Zeiss Pro T Compact Dual Column Full Vehicle CMM, a drive-on research tool to allow full vehicle and other large-item coordinate measurements.