Driven to innovate

From research labs to off-road rigs, Vehicle Dynamics Group is training the engineers of tomorrow

- Jamaine Krige

At the University of Pretoria’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, the Vehicle Dynamics Group (VDG) is driving change literally and figuratively.

This year, the small but effective team, led by Prof Pieter Schalk Els, earned an Engineering Research Capacity Development Award in recognition of their pioneering work in off-road vehicle technologies and postgraduate training.

Specialising in heavy-duty vehicles used in mining, agriculture, construction and forestry, VDG plays a pivotal role in the industries that power South Africa’s economy.

“From bicycles to bulldozers, vehicles are central to the economy of the world and play a major role in the lives and livelihoods of its citizens,” Els explains. “Our focus is on the heavyweights — machines that move tonnes of material over rough terrain and under extreme conditions.”