Cadet’s SIP Hut earns QinetiQ Prize

Published May 7, 2013
U.S. Military Academy (USMA) at West Point Cadets construct a Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) Hut structure.

U.S. Military Academy (USMA) at West Point Cadets construct a Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) Hut structure.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—U.S. Military Academy (USMA) at West Point Cadets with the Structural Insulated Panel (SIP) Hut Energy Evaluation Team, led by Col. Fred Meyer, director, West Point’s Civil Engineering Division, and ERDC Engineering Fellow Lt. Col. Steve Hart, earned the QinetiQ Prize, $3,000, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Soldier Design Competition (SDC).

Located at MIT’s Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology May 4, both undergraduate cadets and students participated in the competition.

The competition yielded 11 finalist teams that presented their design and prototype solutions for specific Soldier challenges to judges.  Event judges included representatives from U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, MIT, USMA, and private industry.

The SDC annually offers students a variety of specific design challenges, based on the needs of real Soldiers, as well as an open design category for creative new ideas.

Army leaders present at the event included U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command Director Dale Ormond and Command Sgt. Maj. Lebert Beharie.

View the construction video at SIP Hut and B Hut Construction.