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General Motors Innovation Challenge Calls On Students To Invent Applications For 3D Tech

Could Google Glass like devices and 3D printing have a practical application in automotive manufacturing? This is the premise behind General Motor’s newest four-college innovation challenge.

The challenge will consist of students at Pennsylvania State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. These students will be tasked to develop new uses for the technologies that improves GM’s production systems.

“This challenge is one of multiple things GM is doing around the world to change the perception that manufacturing employs old-world techniques to build vehicles,” said Kurt Wiese, vice president of Global Manufacturing Engineering. “In fact, many new and emerging technologies that are often viewed as fads have practical applications in a factory.”

Currently, GM uses Google Glass to train paint shop employees at the Orion Assembly plant.

The hope is the college students will develop even more uses for the new products.

“GM employees around the world already look at unconventional tools, technologies and processes and how they can be applied in our factories,” said Jeffrey Motala, manager of vehicle systems integration at GM. “By challenging college students to do the same, we hope to demonstrate the possibilities that await them if they choose a career in manufacturing.”

The contest beings on Oct. 6 and wraps up during a finals presentation on November 17-18. Each winning team will receive $500 per team member. The overall winner will get $1,000 per team member and a 2015 summer internship at GM.

Tim is a married father of three living in Western Nebraska. He is the editor and contributor to several automotive sites. He spends a lot of time reading, writing and talking cars/trucks with fans, insiders and manufacture reps. When he isn't talking about cars, he is usually out playing golf - a never ending obsession to see how far the little white ball will fly.

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