Clemson engineering students saw the raging floodwaters and residents stranded by Helene. They designed a self-driving rescue vehicle to help. (Photo provided by Clemson University.
A group of Clemson University engineering students watched the nonstop news last September as Helene tore a path of death and destruction through the Carolinas and Tennessee.
The raging floodwaters that isolated the storm’s victims prompted them to question: What if a team of medics could have driven into mountain towns and far-flung homesteads with a Humvee loaded with supplies? And what if they could have sent the vehicle back on its own to transport injured and rescued passengers?…