ENGAGING LAB TOUR AT THE RESEARCH CENTER FOR POWER SOURCES AND AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES: HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SHOW KEEN INTEREST IN GREEN FUEL

    No longer a mere formal tour, the Lab Tour at the Research Center for Propulsion Systems and Autonomous Vehicles, School of Mechanical Engineering, truly became an “open classroom” in every sense. From the very first minutes of entering the Center — equipped with synchronized, modern engine, automobile, and motorcycle testing facilities — many high school students could not hide their curiosity, continuously asking questions to the guiding instructors.

Green Fuel — The "Hottest" Topic of the Tour

    Among the research areas introduced, clean fuel, renewable fuel, and E10 gasohol drew particularly strong interest. The high school students raised a wide range of questions: How do green and renewable fuels differ from traditional gasoline and diesel? Why is the world shifting toward renewable energy for vehicles? Where does Vietnam stand in this transition journey?

   Responding to this enthusiasm, the Center's instructors took the time to explain in detail, combining theory with real-world evidence drawn from ongoing research projects at the Center. The open exchange of ideas helped students not only grasp the technical aspects but also gain a clearer sense of how meaningful this field of study is to the country's sustainable development goals.

Autonomous Vehicles — A Technological Highlight

    Equally lively, the research area on autonomous vehicles also drew a large crowd of high school students. They observed firsthand the operating principles of sensors, positioning systems, and data processing — the foundation that allows a vehicle to “see, think, and drive” on its own without direct human control. One current student research project — an autonomous cargo vehicle (designed for transporting components and goods within factory premises, or delivering food within restaurants, among other applications) — captivated many of the visiting high school students. Through vivid visual demonstrations, they gained a clearer understanding of how autonomous vehicles determine their own routes, avoid obstacles, and deliver precisely to their destination, while also picturing the practical, everyday applications of autonomous technology — no longer something distant or abstract.

    Numerous questions were also raised on this topic: How do autonomous vehicles operate without GPS? How can this technology be applied to self-driving cars? What research and testing has Vietnam already carried out in this field? The lecturers answered in detail, helping the high school students see more clearly the connection between what they are learning in school and the technologies shaping the future of the transportation sector.

From Curiosity to Career Orientation

    The Lab Tour was not simply a "sightseeing" experience — it genuinely helped many high school students gain a clearer sense of their career direction. Through the dedicated sharing of lecturers and researchers — those who carry out research firsthand every day — the students gained a more authentic understanding of what it means to work as an engineer in the field of transportation vehicles: from research and testing to the practical application of technology. They also came to understand that this field spans a vast space encompassing clean energy, autonomous vehicles, and other advanced technologies — promising directions amid the global shift toward green transition.