Case Study: Hamburg University of Applied Sciences trains future automotive engineers with MathWorks

RC Cars, VR, and Haptic Feedback Transform Automotive Engineering

Hamburg University of Applied Sciences sought to provide its automotive engineering students with practical, hands-on experience. However, the high cost, space requirements, and safety risks of testing with full-sized vehicles made this a significant challenge. To overcome this, the university partnered with MathWorks and utilized MATLAB, Simulink, and a suite of related toolboxes to create a modern development and testing curriculum.

The solution implemented by MathWorks involved using highly programmable, scaled-down RC cars that students control and test using MATLAB and Simulink. This setup, which includes a driver-in-the-loop simulator with VR and haptic feedback, allows students to experience a complete development workflow. The results are industry-ready graduates; an estimated 99% go on to work for major automotive companies, equipped with unique programming skills and practical experience that directly translates to their careers.

Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Dirk Engel

Professor