Ford Motor Company and the University of Michigan engineering department held an event that allowed students from a variety of technical majors to showcase their ability to develop innovative new software to run inside vehicles.

Ford was looking for the best program which integrated most of its vehicles’ communications capabilities: internet access, internal monitoring, GPS tracking, and more. Organizers placed a special emphasis on incorporating cloud computing functions into the software, as well. Students were to use the company’s Fiestaware development platform to design and code their teams’ program within a limited amount of time. Suggested uses included caravan management programs, car-pooling aids, leisure travel guides, and more.

The winning program was called Caravan Track, which lets multiple drivers within a caravan manage and track each other’s position and state. The program uses GPS tracking to let drivers keeps tabs on each other real-time, and everyone can see each other on a map overlaid with the group’s suggested route. Drivers can also use preset messages to text each other, and can send general alerts about road conditions, traffic, or even well-hidden highway patrol vehicles.

Even more amazing is the ability of the program to track vehicle fuel levels and put up an alert when the group should pull over and stop for gas. For anyone who’s ever gone on a long road trip with a large group, this little student-developed wonder seems like a godsend.

Other programs developed at the event integrated still other cloud-computing functions. The Greenride Challenge uses social networking access to coordinate potential carpoolers and suggest to drivers which passengers might be ready for pick-up.

“Listen. Speak. Rate. Share” is essentially a mobile location review program, allowing drivers to connect to various social networking sites and record an audio review of any particular site of interest.

NostraMap integrates GPS tracking functionality to allow users to place markers on a map denoting traffic incidents, road hazards, or construction sites.

Points-of-Interest also takes advantage of GPS tracking functionality, but pulls data from social networking sites to give drivers the 411 on destinations that might match their interests.

The students who developed Caravan Track will be able to showcase their work at Mater Faire, an innovation-focused technology festival in San Mateo, CA, after making a road trip with their new program.