Valeo Reveals The Winners Of The Second Valeo Innovation Challenge

Valeo has announced the winners of its international innovation contest. For the second time, Valeo invited students from around the world to be part of an active role in automobile innovation by designing a product or system to make smarter, and more intuitive cars by 2030.

Participation this year was up 40 percent compared to last year, and 1,324 teams from 89 countries took part for a chance to invent and develop bold, revolutionary solutions.

Valeo experts examined many projects, primarily in the field of driving assistance systems, autonomous driving and safety. The engineering students took this opportunity offered by digital technology and adapted it to the automotive sector to improve safety on board.

The three winning teams were selected by a jury chaired by Valeo's Chief Executive Officer, Jacques Aschenbroich and made up of eminent figures from the world of science as well as members of the Valeo group.

First prize went to the Chinese team, "Falcon View" from Peking University. The team came up with a new way for autonomous cars to detect their surroundings. Instead of using lasers, the team built a wheel-based system, using a camera.

Two teams tied up for the second place: team M.A.D. from India and Auto Gen Z from Germany. The Indian team from Sri Aurobindo International Center of Education in Pondicherry, created a connected system reinforcing traffic safety. Based on satellite navigation, this advanced collision warning system alerts drivers, in real time, from potentially dangerous conditions.

The German team from Saarland University also developed a connected system, reinforcing traffic safety. This alternative system effectively combines the three mirrors in a car into a single widescreen display.

The winning team was awarded a cash prize of 100,000 Euros (Rs. 73 lakh), while the second teams took home 10,000 Euros (Rs. 7.30 lakh) each.

At the end of the ceremony, Valeo kicked off the third annual Innovation Challenge, which will serve to recognise not only technological innovation, but also ideas for using cars in new ways. The winners of the upcoming third annual Innovation Challenge will be awarded a cash prize of 100,000 Euros.