Solar Challenge: April 2007

Monday, April 16, 2007

The chassis

The chassis with the solar array substrate

Our team's computer graphics designer finishing the body molds

Chassis, solar array substrate and front body

Some of the solar array panels

This was what I wore in our clean room. Initially, we experimented with using a conformal coating for the solar array. The conformal coating was similar to clear coat paint. Due to technical issues and time constraints, we ended up using Tefzel. Tefzel was a clear film and it also required a separate clear thin film adhesive. The main advantages of Tefzel were relatively easy to apply, consistent thickness, and doesn't cause cancer in animals. I was the team's solar array project manager.

Initially, we used a room in one of the residence halls, but we were allowed to used it for a limited period of time. So we needed to continue our work elsewhere. We ended up creating a clean room using plastic sheets, a furnace filter, box fan and duct tape. I became the bubble boy.

Inside the bubble clean room. I created a wide squeegee to apply the clear thin film adhesive to the Tefzel and then both of them to the solar panel.

Our team's president schmoozing with the engineering department. Our main driver enjoying the scenery.

A test drive

The front body primed and sanded

The front body finished

Our team's vice-president using the CNC to mill the hub

Unveiling our solar car:

Photos by Adrian Silveanu

Photos: Sunrayce 99 - Part 2 of 4 - At the Qualifiers

Arriving at the qualifiers

Being a solar car driver was tiresome

Entering the turning radius test

The first time we did this test, our turning radius turned out to be too large. After adjusting our steering linkages, our driver completed the test in record time.

The brake test

We had a problem

Both front tires were blown. This was due to tire pressure and our driver still needed to get used to the solar car's brakes.

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Stanford University / University of California - Berkeley

University of Virginia

Western Michigan University

United States Military Academy

During the brake test, University of Alberta had a suspension failure

First pass of scrutineering. There was still work to be done.

We finally passed the brake test

Messiah College

Northwestern University

University of Arizona

Northern New Mexico Community College

McGill University

University of Alberta

Texas A&M University

Virginia Western Community College

Tokyo Institute of Technology

Follow the sun

Solar Car Traffic - Purdue University and University of New Orleans

Photos by Adrian Silveanu

Photos: Sunrayce 99 - Part 3 of 4 - Qualification laps

Purdue University entering the track to start laps. Western Michigan on the track.

Purdue University on the other side of the track

Purdue University and University of Pennsylvania

Purdue University, Stanford University / University of California - Berkeley, and University of Virginia and University of Michigan

Purdue University, University of Virgina, University of Pennsylvania and Stanford University / University of California - Berkeley

University of Pennsylvania, Unknown, Western Michigan University and Stanford University / University of California - Berkeley

Unknown, University of Pennsylvania, and Northern New Mexico Community college

A UFO had landed. Taylor University had a suspension failure. Lincoln Land Community College on the track.

Purdue University and University of New Orleans

Messiah College

FAMU-FSU College of Engineering

Purdue University completed the qualification laps! Hooray!

We were all green

Photos by Adrian Silveanu

Photos: Sunrayce 99 - Part 4 of 4 - The Sunrayce

Purdue in Washington, D.C. It rained recently and it wasn't warm.

We finally started the rayce. The time period before this photo was frustrating. The rayce started on a declined street, which should of made things even easier. But all morning it rained. When our turn came to depart, the car would only go backwards. We eventually found a motor controller connector had water in it. When two terminals in the connector were shorted, the car would only go backwards. Once the connector was dried, the car was back to normal. Throughout the race, teams had various problems associated with the rain. Thus the Sunrayce became the Rainrayce.

Passing Waterloo

The solar cars in impound at night

Starting the next day

Waterloo passing

Waterloo cut in front of our solar car to avoid hitting the cameramen

On the highway

Passing through a checkpoint

The Purdue solar car team

Solar car teams charging

Queen's University arriving

Kansas State University arriving

University of Missouri-Rolla arriving

Solar cars charging at the Charlotte Motor Speedway

Passing University of Michigan

Tire change at the end of the day in Clemson, South Carolina

Solar cars charging on top of a parking garage at Georgia Tech

Purdue charging. Our team's logistics manager taking a break under the solar array.

Purdue University and University of Missouri-Rolla

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and Purdue University

Here ends my photos of Sunrayce 99. The rayce ended at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. It was quite the learning experience and it was fun. Sunrayce 99 was the last solar car rayce sponsored by GM (General Motors), the company who built the solar car that won the World Solar Challenge in Australia in November 1987.

Photos by Adrian Silveanu

Photos: Mini Solar Challenge - Spring 1998

In the Spring of 1998, there was a mini solar challenge from West Virginia to Indiana. Ohio State University and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology teams participated with their solar cars. My fellow Purdue team members and I participated as Observers.