Students of the Faculty of Engineering of the Slovak University of Applied Sciences in Nitra innovated a quad bike
12.04.2026
A student competition focused on the design of an innovative pedal quad bike was held at the Faculty of Engineering of the Slovak University of Applied Sciences in Nitra in recent weeks. The competition was announced by the dean of the faculty with the aim of supporting the technical creativity of students and motivating them to practically solve design challenges.
The task of the competitors was to propose technical improvements that would increase the functionality, efficiency or maneuverability of the quad bike. The proposals could include modifications to the drive, transmission, steering, braking system, or other innovative solutions. The condition for participation was the preparation of a detailed technical description, drawing documentation (including 3D models) and an economic estimate of the implementation.
The individual proposals were evaluated by an expert committee based on several criteria, such as technical level, functionality, innovation, feasibility and economic adequacy.
The winner of the competition was Bc. Matej Lehocký, whose proposal impressed the committee mainly with its comprehensive approach to the solution – it included the areas of steering, brakes, drive and ergonomics. The high-quality 3D documentation processed in the SolidWorks environment and the interesting solution of the electrical “assistance” were also positively evaluated.
The committee also pointed out the need to refine some technical details, especially in the area of the transmission system and realistic cost estimation. Despite this, the proposal was recommended not only as the winning one, but also as a suitable basis for the final thesis.
The second evaluated proposal, submitted by Bc. Marek Portášik, brought interesting considerations about the differential drive and its variants. However, the committee pointed out the lower level of processing and the lack of detailed documentation, which affected the overall evaluation.
The competition winner was awarded a material prize by the dean of the faculty, Prof. Gálik. In his speech, he thanked the students for their active participation in the competition. "I really appreciate your technical approach, creativity and the time you dedicated to designing solutions. Students like you are proof that theoretical knowledge from your studies can be transformed into real and functional innovations," said the dean of the faculty. The winning proposal has the potential for further development. If successfully completed, the solution can also be implemented on a quad bike or used as a topic for a bachelor's or diploma thesis.
The competition once again confirmed that students of the Faculty of Technology have creativity and technical thinking that they can transform into practical and innovative solutions.
