The university and city called Clemson took a hard blow from Hurricane Helene last year, but it was the trials of neighbors just north of the state line that inspired the 16th version of Deep Orange.
Clemson University graduate automotive engineering students each year immerse themselves in the program to design and build a concept vehicle. This year’s model is a semi-autonomous vehicle designed to transform emergency response in extreme conditions. The vehicle merges advanced technology with mission-critical functionality to enhance the speed, safety and efficiency of rescue operations, according to a news release.
Sponsored by the Virtual Prototyping of Autonomy-Enabled Ground Systems (VIPR-GS) Research Center and developed in collaboration with the U.S. Army and other strategic partners, Deep Orange 16 is engineered to tackle some of the toughest challenges in high-risk rescue scenarios — reducing response time while limiting the number of personnel needed in the field, according to the release.
Inspired by the real-world challenges faced during Hurricane Helene, the Deep Orange 16 team engineered the vehicle to support critical disaster response efforts, the release stated. On its outbound journey, the vehicle can deliver a full pallet of emergency supplies to affected areas. For the return trip, the vehicle operates autonomously — transporting up to six individuals, including injured passengers, to safety. Capable of reaching the scene within the “golden hour,” the vehicle also generates a high-resolution digital terrain map for the autonomous return, allowing the original driver to remain on-site and assist ongoing rescue efforts.
Features include:
- High-speed, semi-autonomous vehicle with a 350-kilometer range and off-road capabilities built for unpredictable terrain.
- Series hybrid powertrain enables continuous battery charging to extend range and supports near-silent operation for special mission scenarios.
- Designed for real-time deployment, Deep Orange 16 features a lightweight, weatherproof exterior engineered for reliable operation in a variety of environmental conditions.
- A 360-degree camera system provides full situational awareness, including tire-level views for obstacle detection.
- An AI-powered heads-up display alerts drivers to hazards up to 100 feet away, enhancing navigation and safety.
- Onboard medical monitoring tracks patient vitals in real time, including temperature, heart rate and perspiration during transport.
- Interior accommodates the transport of six people, including a rotating passenger seat to support multiple operational roles.
- Ergonomic litter loader streamlines patient or supply loading.
- MOLLE storage system offers secure, modular organization of rescue and medical gear.
- Rear hatch fits a standard pallet of supplies, while the clam-shell design enables flexible loading of oversized cargo.
Deep Orange is a framework that immerses Clemson University graduate automotive engineering students into the world of future automakers and suppliers as part of their education, the release stated. Working collaboratively, students, multi-disciplinary faculty and participating industry partners focus on designing and producing a future vehicle concept incorporating breakthrough technology innovations with new development, manufacturing and assembly processes.
Deep Orange 16 showcases the innovation, technical expertise and dedication of the 17-member team of graduate students from Clemson’s automotive engineering program, according to the release.
See a history of the Deep Orange program, including all 16 projects, here.
“Deep Orange pushes us to think like real-world engineers,” team lead Rohit Godse said in the release. “We are not just learning theory, but solving complex, high-stakes problems that prepare us to lead in the industry from day one.”
From initial concept to fully functional prototype, the team collaborated with the VIPR-GS Research Center, government agencies, and industry partners to solve practical challenges — gaining hands-on experience that prepares them to enter the workforce as industry-ready engineers.
“The Deep Orange program demonstrates what’s possible when academia, government and industry come together to solve real-world problems,” Robert Prucka, Kulwicki Endowed Professor and Chair of the Department of Automotive Engineering, said in the release. “Our students are not only driving innovation — they’re helping to save lives by improving how we respond to emergencies in the most challenging environments.”
Deep Orange 16 was officially unveiled at the Ground Vehicle Systems Engineering & Technology Symposium (GVSETS) in Novi, Mich. It will now serve as a test and validation platform for ongoing research by the VIPR-GS Research Center, located at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) in Greenville, the release stated.
The Virtual Prototyping of Autonomy-Enabled Ground Systems Research Center at Clemson University is a research initiative focused on advancing digital engineering, autonomy, propulsion systems and virtual prototyping for next-generation military ground vehicles.
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