Electric-Vehicle Go-Kart "Grand Prix" to Engage Students in STEM Education: Autotronics-Challenge

The present work presents a case study involving an initiative launched by Tec de Monterrey in order to encourage and enroll high-school students into STEM areas. Autotronics-Challenge is an electric-vehicle Go-Kart "Grand Prix" local contest, where high-school students compete to conquer the biggest distance traveled within a circuit during a 20-minute competition, enabling the development of academic competencies in three different subareas; namely, i) financial literacy, ii) electronics, and iii) computer sciences. The crucial aspect of this effort relies on an efficient follow-up plan-action workshop implemented within a six-month time-frame for developing in high-school students the usage of: a) smart electronic devices compliant with quality, reliability, and cost standards; b) design telecommunication systems based on sustainable, efficient, and reliable performance requirements; and, c) development of efficient energy signal conditioning power electronics. This work also highlights the success of the initiative, measuring it through satisfaction surveys to find out the students’ potential, paying attention at how their perception of STEM areas changes after attending the workshop. Finally, a monitoring activity is implemented after their five-year undergraduate experience to assess STEM incorporation after the Autotronics-Challenge experience.