Corey Robinson, Virginia Tech’s most recent graduate, is now working at General Motors as a global lead design release engineer in the chassis electronics and controls group. Corey participated in both the EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge and the EcoCAR 2: Plugging In to the Future competitions. While with the Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team (HEVT), he was a volunteer on the electrical subteam, and was one of the few electrical engineers on the team.
“I first got involved in Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions (AVTCs) after Lynn Gantt, one of the HEVT leaders from EcoCAR 1, told me about the program during our internships at GM,” Corey said. “He suggested that I get involved, so when I got back to school I began volunteering with the team.”
Corey Robinson working on the ESS for EcoCAR 2.After he volunteered with the program, he decided to make it his senior design project for Virginia Tech. Corey was a team member when HEVT won 1st place in Year Three of EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge. “It was really cool to see all the hard work and long hours pay off after we won,” Corey said. “I liked seeing all of the teams from across North America participating and working with one another.”
Corey working on the VT-REX (EcoCAR 1) battery pack.Corey acted as a mentor for the EcoCAR 2, Year 2 team during the fall 2012 semester. “His experience with building a car and participating in these kinds of competitions was very beneficial to the team,” said team leader Chris Manning. “We definitely miss him here, but know he’s doing great at GM.”
Corey with other EcoCAR 1 Team Members.The AVTC program was very beneficial in preparing him for the real world and his current job. “By being exposed to many different environments and tasks while working with HEVT, I gained perspective for non-electrical thinking and problems,” Corey said. In addition to his time at HEVT Corey interned and did co-ops with General Motors for several summers before being hired.
Corey is living in Michigan now, and is adjusting to life after HEVT. In his spare time he wishes to start working on a power racing series with some other HEVT alumni at GM.
