CRANE, Ind. –
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane) Mobility Systems Engineering team had the opportunity to travel to the United States Naval Academy (USNA) and attend the Capstone Day presentations for Navy Racing 2023 (NR23).
Through the Naval Innovative Science and Engineering (NISE) program, NSWC Crane personnel were able to mentor senior midshipmen and provide their expertise in the area of hybrid and electric vehicle technology. NISE is a program that allows certain funds to be provided at select Naval warfare centers to assist with research and development. During Capstone Day, the Mobility Systems Engineering team was able to look at the NR23 racecar and made suggestions to enhance efficiency and functionality between the motor and motor inverter.
Members of the Mobility Systems Engineering team including Braden Yake, Gary Loper and Casey Main, attended Capstone Day and were impressed with the midshipmen and the progress they have made since starting the project.
 Emily.jpg?ver=yC_3EmL4iSXm5XZxkcfpVA%3d%3d)
“The USNA midshipmen did an excellent job briefing their project.” said Yake. “Their electrical and mechanical teams briefed what they had learned over the course of the project, as well as some of the challenges that they overcame. They built an outstanding solution with the limited amount of resources available to them.”
According to Yake, the USNA has a long history of partaking in the Formula Society of Automotive racing series; however, they have only competed with cars using internal combustion engines. This year, the team decided to use a battery-electric drivetrain and through its partnership with NSWC Crane, were able to receive batteries, motors, motor inverters, and other components that were left over from previous efforts.
Through this working relationship, NSWC Crane has been able to mentor and provide subject matter expertise to young sailors and been able to forge relationships with the USNA faculty making this partnership vital to both parties involved.
Yake stated, “this partnership was an invaluable opportunity for NSWC Crane personnel to mentor our future naval leaders and expose them to the numerous capabilities that NSWC Crane provides to the warfighter.”
In 2018, NSWC Crane and USNA established a partnership to provide summer internship opportunities to midshipmen. These internships are broken into three blocks that last three and a half weeks.
According to NSWC Crane University Liaison Dr. Bryan Woosley, 32 midshipmen have completed their internship at NSWC Crane.
About NSWC Crane | NSWC Crane is a naval laboratory and a field activity of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) with mission areas in Expeditionary Warfare, Strategic Missions and Electronic Warfare. The warfare center is responsible for multi-domain, multi- spectral, full life cycle support of technologies and systems enhancing capability to today's Warfighter.
Join Our Team! NAVSEA employs a diverse, highly trained, educated, and skilled workforce - from students and entry level employees to experienced professionals and individuals with disabilities. We support today's sophisticated Navy and Marine Corps ships, aircraft, weapon systems and computer systems. We are continuously looking for engineers, scientists, IT and cyber specialists, as well as trade and other support professionals to ensure the U.S. Navy can protect and defend America. Please contact NSWC Crane Human Resources at crane_recruiting@navy.mil.