On November 21, the Fourth Shanghai University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum was held at Shanghai University. Representing the Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), the University of Michigan- SJTU Joint Institute (UM-SJTU JI) team, composed of undergraduates Ziqi Guo, Chaofeng Wu, Chongzhao Mao, presented their project “Design and Implementation of Smart Car Rental System Based on Car Networking System” and won the “Innovative Use of Technology Award ” from the Shanghai Education Committee.
The project was initiated by the students as a SJTU Student Participation in Research Project (PRP). Under the supervision of Professor Jigang Wu, the students have worked from freshman to sophomore year, advancing their project to the Shanghai PRP level. Eventually they were selected as one of SJTU’s three teams to participate in the forum.
To solve various problems faced by the traditional car rental industry, the JI team has developed a smart car rental system based on the car networking concept, implementing total self service for the customers while providing the rental companies with a brand new car management solution, which includes a core smart device at the vehicle terminal, an APP at the user mobile terminal APP, a cloud terminal at the car rental company and the parking lot terminal. Through the 3-way data exchange among the vehicles, the users and the car rental companies, it is possible to use a phone to control vehicles, authorize car rentals, monitor the rental traffic, etc. The smart system enhances user experience as well as operational efficiency of the rental companies and thereby promotes the upgrading of the car hire industry.
Currently, the project has been successfully completed and has applied for national patents. Meanwhile, Ziqi Guo’s team is actively exploring the possibilities of collaborating with domestic electrical car manufacturers and American smart car projects. They intend to do further research in the field of electric car batteries and intelligent mobile management. They hope to apply their results to real life as soon as possible.
JI strongly supports PRP, encouraging undergraduates to participate in SJTU’s PRP and innovation practice projects. Every year 20 to 30 JI projects have been submitted and funded by SJTU and Shanghai Education Committee, more than 50% of which have advanced to the Shanghai level and national level for their outstanding quality. Since 2015, JI has integrated PRP into the undergraduate curriculum: Ve/Vm490 are based on professors’ projects and open to the juniors and seniors. Moreover, JI supports students’ Innovation Club and provides students with plenty of opportunities to participate in various innovation competitions.
The Shanghai University Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum is organized by the Shanghai Municipal Education Committee and held every 2 years. In the past 2 years, excellent PRP projects have been promoted to the Shanghai and national levels. Students have been offered more opportunities to showcase their innovative projects.
