Clemson Drives Innovation at Most Influential Tech Event in the World

Clemson University and its International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) shined bright on the world’s largest tech stage at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on January 5-8, 2023, alongside global industry giants such as Google, Amazon, LG, Sony and many more.

Clemson faculty, staff and alumni showcased groundbreaking research and impacts to an estimated 100,000 industry leaders and influencers and alongside 3,000 companies showing off everything from flying cars to haptic suits. Clemson debuted the latest eye-catching product of its Deep Orange program, the flagship project for automotive engineering at the University.

Mobility innovation

“This is Clemson on a world stage,” said David Clayton, executive director of CU-ICAR. “This is really the world’s largest technology show. Clemson was invited because our work is head and shoulders above a lot of universities, especially for automotive and mobility innovation.”

Alumni who worked on the project from around the country reconvened in Las Vegas to showcase Deep Orange 11, a sustainable-by-design prototype vehicle that demonstrates circular economy concepts from the vehicle’s creation to its retirement. In addition to engaging with industry leaders on the CES show floor, members of the University participated in marquee CES events.

Alan Kulwicki Professor of Motorsports Engineering Professor Robert Prucka served as a color analyst during the Indy Autonomous Challenge hosted at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Clemson also joined a featured panel at the Connect2Car conference track as a frontline leader in connected, automated and electrified mobility with a focus on racing and performance.

The Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) is a 250-acre advanced-technology research campus where university, industry and government organizations collaborate. CU-ICAR offers master’s and Ph.D. programs in automotive engineering and is conducting leading-edge applied research in critical areas such as advanced product-development strategies, sustainable mobility, intelligent manufacturing systems and advanced materials. CU-ICAR has industrial-scale laboratories and testing equipment in world-class facilities. 

Deep Orange is a flagship rapid vehicle prototype program within Clemson University’s two-year master’s degree focused on systems integration in automotive engineering. The program provides students with experience in market analysis, target customer profiles, vehicle design, prototyping and manufacturing while balancing costs and design targets in an aggressive timeline. The innovative vehicle prototype program encourages students to push the boundaries of conventional design and engineering.