Mouser Electronics the global authorized distributor with the newest semiconductors and electronic components, is teaming up with Local Motors and celebrity engineer Grant Imahara to build a fully transforming vehicle cockpit for 3D-printed autonomous vehicles. It is the latest series from Mouser’s highly popular Empowering Innovation Together educational program.
The build will focus on reimagining the interior of the Local Motors Strati, the world’s first 3D-printed vehicle, to highlight the extraordinary possibilities with autonomous car design. Features of this innovative build will combine electronic components from Mouser’s valued manufacturer partners and Platinum Sponsors of the series, Maxim and Murata. The design, created by Finn Younkers of Rhode Island, features a drone mounted on the rear of the vehicle that, when launched, gives the driver an unprecedented birds-eye-view of the surroundings. Younkers’ design was chosen as the winner of the Local Motors Challenge.
“At Mouser, we love to help engineers push the boundaries of innovation. It’s not just fun — it’s rewarding. By increasing innovation and the speed of technology, we can all do more to help humanity and our world,” said Glenn Smith, President and CEO of Mouser Electronics. “We look forward to unveiling the finished product soon. Stay tuned!”
“Local Motors already had most of the technology to make the autonomous vehicle figured out. This project was about taking it to the next level,” said Grant Imahara. “To do this we called on the imaginations of engineers all across the world. Mouser’s Empowering Innovation Together™ program and vast array of parts enabled this, so it was a great partnership to bring our shared vision to life.”
“The Local Motors approach to direct digital manufacturing and the ingenuity of our co-creation community means that we have the ability to partner with cutting-edge suppliers like Mouser Electronics to bring innovations to life at unprecedented speeds,” said Local Motors Co-founder and CEO John B. Rogers, Jr. “The Mouser Strati offers a glimpse into the future of autonomous driving right now.”
In addition to the platinum sponsors Maxim and Murata, gold sponsors Lumileds and Phoenix Contact made this build possible. To learn more about all of Mouser’s Empowering Innovation Together series —featuring the newly developed Innovation Lab for new projects ranging from bringing super hero technology to life to future projects like pushing the boundaries of drone technology
