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GT Solar Racing

GT Solar Racing

Course
VW4
Sponsor
American Solar Challenge, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, SGA, Delta Tech Ops, Boeing, FedEx, Ford, GM, Marand, SBM Solar, etc.
Goals
To design and build a solar powered vehicle to compete in the Formula Sun Grand Prix, an endurance based track race, and the American Solar Challenge, a cross-country road race.
Issues
Solar powered race cars are ultra-efficient electric land vehicles capable of travelling across entire continents at highway speeds on a single battery charge. Their design and operation represent one of the most unique and challenging problems of systems optimization and cross-country logistics as the vehicles are designed to race in environments ranging from the American Midwest to the Australian Outback. GTSR focuses primarily on speed-based vehicles, known as the Challenger class, and competes in the American Solar Challenge.

Overall, the goal is to optimize speed per power: to achieve the fastest velocities for the least amount of power cost. To do this requires both depth and breadth of knowledge across multiple STEM and non-STEM fields. The overall team is broken into five divisions with subteams that dig deeper into each facet of the vehicle’s design. They are:

· Mechanical à Aerobody, Brakes & Pedals, Frame (Chassis), Steering, and Suspension

· Electrical à Drivetrain, Batteries, Solar, Telemetry, and Auxiliary Systems

· Business – Acquires and manages sponsors for the team and oversees budget planning

· Outreach – Coordinates the team’s physical presence at displays and media online

· Race Operations – Plans the race and coordinates team logistics for drive tests

Members can tackle technical & non-technical problems in-depth such as streamlined aerodynamics, space frame design, solar array design & fabrication, battery protection systems, CAN communication, welding (TIG/MIG), carbon fiber/fiberglass layup, long-range telemetry, human-machine interface design, structural analysis, suspension design & analysis, controller design, battery balancing, and more.
Tools and Methods
Advanced Systems Optimization
Aerodynamic Analysis & CFD
CAD & FEA
CAM/Advanced Machining
Composite Structures & Construction
Solar Array Design
Battery Management Systems
Lithium-Ion Battery Packs
Microcontrollers
Circuit Board Design
Desired Majors
Aerospace Engineering
All Disciplines
Business Administration, Management
Computational Media
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Sponsor
American Solar Challenge, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, SGA, Delta Tech Ops, Boeing, FedEx, Ford, GM, Marand, SBM Solar, etc.