Final Design

       This week the group worked on the construction of the solar car structure. The group specifically focused on building the center support system that is meant to not only hold up the solar panel, but also to secure the soda can required for the competition. There are pictures listed below to display the groups current progress.

Construction Update

        During this week's lab, progress was made in regards to the construction of the chassis. The group utilized the ProEngineer drawings to aid in the measurements of the cuts. Using the table saw, razor blade, and knife present in the lab room, cuts were made to the frame of the Solar Car. The material used as the basis of the frame was balsa wood. Because of the cuts made to the chassis, the group was now able to begin building the gear box of the Solar Car. During the construction of the frame design, the group also discovered an online article that could be used in the continued construction of the Solar Car. The link for this source is listed below.  Images of the updated design and the table saw used to make the cuts are also posted below.

<http://www.nrel.gov/docs/gen/fy01/30828.pdf>

Figure 1- The image above is a picture of the table saw used for the cuts.

Figure 2- The image above is a picture of the lateral view of the updated design.

Figure 3- The image above is a picture of the frontal view of the updated design.

Project Materials

Materials included in pre-ordered package:

• Balsa Wood - 2 
• Gears of various sizes
• Solar Panel - 1
• Alligator Clips -2
• Pitsco GT-F Wheels - 2
• Pitsco GT-R Wheels - 2
• Screw Eyes - 2
• Wide Rubber-bands - 2
• No. 14 Rubber-bands - 2
• Plastic Gear Front - 1
• Steel Axles - 2
• Nylon Spacers
• No. 280 Motor

Additional Materials:

   -Still deciding on what material to hold down the 

    aluminum soda can during the race

   -Motor Mount:

          *idea to create a divot in the wood underneath the 

            motor to act as a cradle to the motor

          *1 side of the motor connected to the gear box and 

            the other side linked to an external attachment mechanism

Project Deliverables

The group will have a vehicle that is both aerodynamic and lightweight. The vehicle will also be powered by a solar panel giving the motor power. 

Project Budget

Price of solar car kit- $57.00
Miscellaneous(Projected)- $20.00

Problem Overview

The group must design and construct a vehicle to compete in the Philadelphia Junior Solar Sprint Open Division. The group is to build the vehicle using a Ray Catcher Sprint Kit, and can only have light adsorbed from the solar panel power the motor of the vehicle. 

Project Schedule

• Week 3- Prototype Pro-Engineer Design of the vehicle. Also have the measurements of the structure.
• Week 4- Final Pro-Engineer Design for vehicle. 
• Week 5- Begin body construction for the chassis.
• Week 6- Construct the gear box and begin motor testing. Make connections from the solar panel to the motor.
• Week 7- Finish construction of the vehicle.
• Week 8- Test the vehicle. Final adjustments.
• Week 9- Compete in the Philadelphia Junior Solar Sprint Open Division 

Possible chassis design

Design Goal

The groups goal is to design a car that can attract the most amount of light, therefore giving it a lot of power. They also want to design a car using the least amount of weight possible and be the most aerodynamic. The group wants to win their division.

Design Constraints

• The vehicle must be safe for contestants and spectators.
• The vehicle must fit withing the following dimensions: 30 centimeters (cm) x 60cm x 30cm.
• Sunlight will be the only power source for the vehicle. No batteries are permitted.
• Any energy-enhancing devices, like mirrors must be attached to the vehicle.
• The vehicle must be steered by the guide wire using one or more eyelets affixed to  the vehicle.
• The car must have a chassis that is three-dimensional. Teams will not be allowed to bolt axles and wheels of the car directly to the solar module.

Project Group Members

Evan Bensch
erb57@drexel.edu
Mechanical Engineering
Project Responsibilities:
         Electrical and Wiring Component Creation

Tzu-Hsuan Fang
tf352@drexel.edu
Chemical Engineering
Project Responsibilities:
          Computer Design
           Put the team on his back

Colin Lord
cel83@drexel.edu
Chemical Engineering
Project Responsibilities:
          Blogger Maintenance

Anthony Mack
amm493@drexel.edu
Mechanical Engineering
Project Responsibilities:
          Transmission and Gear-Box Construction
           Pro-Engineer Chassis Prototype Design

Melissa Zorij
mjz44@drexel.edu
Biomedical Engineering
Project Responsibilities:
         Structure and Frame Design
         Creative Design

Advisor(s)
Dr. Kevin Scoles
scoleskj@drexel.edu
College of Engineering