Week 4 Post 1

4/30/12- We are nearing the final designs for our car. There are three components we have yet to consider. It has been determined that our car will have rear wheel drive, but the gear ratios are still yet to be determined. To find the best gear ratios, we are analyzing the formulas shown below. Also, we are still deciding if the front of the car will have one wheel or two. Finally, we are planning tests to try our final design with and without mirrors on the top of the car. We plan to test if the added solar power compensates for the increase in mass.

Gear ratio:

Angular velocity:

Torque out:

Speed of car:

Power out:

https://learning.dcollege.net/webct/urw/tp2604862946111.lc2491898185011//RelativeResourceManager?contentID=2636949721081

-JDN

Week 3 Post 1

4/23/12- We have decided on our final design. We will absolutely minimize mass by creating a skeleton of our former design, using just enough balsa wood to support the solar panel on top, the electrical components in the middle, and the can in the back. We have drawn an orthographic sketch in autoCAD of our design.

-JDN

Week 2 Post 3

4/15/12- Today is an exciting day! Our kit came, complete with a solar panel, motors, wheels, axels, and balsa wood.  Another two posts will be put up later today for the budget and Project Overview.

This is our proposed design for the body of our solar sprint car with the solar panel attached done in Pro ENGINEER. This design was done with dimension done in a 1 to 1 ratio.

-JDN

Week 2 Post 2

4/12/12- In this post, we will describe our proposed solutions for the problems suggested in post "Week 2 Post 1." The following list will be filled with numbered solutions corresponding with the goals presented in last week's post:

1. In order to do this, we will increase gear ratio.
2. Minimizing the mass of the car will involved using the least dense materials and making the inside of the car hollow.
3. To minimize the coefficient of rolling resistance, we will use the most efficient material as a wheel, not necessarily what comes in the kit.
4. In order to minimize wheel mass, we will use rings as wheels, not disks.
5 and 6. To minimize drag, we will employ a flattened football shaped design with a low cross sectional surface area being presented in the forward direction. This will increase aerodynamics and increase speed.

These will be the guiding principals for our design, and once our kit arrives in the coming days we will begin experimentation and research as to which materials are optimal.

-JDN

Week 2 Post 1

4/10/12- Today in lab we ordered our solar car kit. We also came to a decision on the shape of our design. We have chosen to employ an aerodynamic torpedo-like shape with an indent in it to house the solar panel. This decision was made from an analysis of the "work required" formula provided by Dr. Scoles in lab. The formula is as follows:

This formula is the inspiration for a set of goals for the design of the car. There are two main goals. The first is to decrease the amount of work needed so that the car can maximize all of the power it produces. The second goal is to maximize velocity in order to win the race. Based on the formula, a low amount of work can produce a large velocity if certain variables are minimized. The above formula was analyzed and the set of goals designed to achieve the main goal is as follows:

1. Maximize mechanical efficiency

2. Minimize the mass of the car

3. Minimize the coefficient of rolling resistance

4. Minimize the mass of the wheels

5. Minimize drag

6. Minimize frontal area

A post will follow this one later in the week describing the proposed means of accomplishing each of these six mini-goals in order to accomplish our two main goals. 

-JDN

Week 1 Post 1

4/3/12- Today we experienced a huge success when we welcomed our elusive group mate Derek into the family! Group 03 is ecstatic to add such a valuable team member. Also, we made our blog. Obviously. We decided to choose the solar sprint car design as our project for the term. Today's class was spent researching optimal aerodynamic designs and potential chassis ideas. Possible wheel ideas were also discussed. The goal for next time is to start drawing up plans for potential cars and to decide on the best material(s) to construct the car with. We are excited to proceed with the next 10 weeks of the term and develop the single greatest solar car ever to grace the earth with its existence.

(from left to right) Derek, Nate, Jeremiah

-JDN