Team Volt-Tech met in the lobby at 6:30 and were unloading the solar car in its bay at the Texas Motor Speedway by 7:00. Our task was to review the judges' stipulations from yesterday and make alterations as required. Everyone was eager to complete the car so that the last station, endurance, could be completed. Below is Nick adding new brake lights; the judges said that our brake lights were not bright enough. Mr. Harris made a trip to the auto store and bought brighter lights. You will notice that the back of the car is very slender and choosing the right type of light was a bit of a challenge.
Each solar team is required to have signal flags. Mr. Smith and Brittany cleverly used surplus vests to make these.
During the electrical inspection the judges wanted electrical connections to be taped and grommets added. Myles is shown adding liquid tape to the wires on the underside of the canopy which are wired to individual solar cells.
Chris discovered a wire break in the solar cell wiring and soldered it.
Joe had spent a great deal of time designing the layout for the interior air exhaust system. He had the duct work going into the front wheel wells, but the judges said that the duct work had to be behind the driver. Joe had to reassess his work and move the duct work. Brittany volunteered to help when needed.
Mr. Smith and Nick consult on the switch for the rear lights.
Tyler, Brittany, and Nick
In the photo below you can see a few of the teams. All of them have chairs, work benches, power tools, etc., in their work area. All the teams are supportive of each other. When one of the judges required us to seal our grommets, super glue from a neighboring team was willingly loaned as we likewise did to other teams.
Breakfast break—bagels and butter, yummy.
Tyler finding the correct spot in the battery box to drill a hole for the wiring.
Another team was drowsy from having to be awoken so early.
The judges said that our rear view camera angle had to be adjusted. Myles took on the task.
Chris balancing on frame.
Nick and Myles with a judge who is checking alterations.
Joe, Mr. Smith, and Chris troubleshooting, bundling, and labeling wires.
The judges required that boxes be put around high voltage areas. Myles and Joe used plastic tubs that Mr. Harris had in the trailer to create such boxes.
The car had to be assembled and driven out in the bright sunlight so that the judges could see whether the new brake lights were sufficient. Here is the team and the car. Left to right are Tyler, Brittany, Joe, Myles, Chris, and Nick.
That's Joe behind the wheel and Brittany as the flag person.
The new lights were bright in the bay, but in the sunlight were difficult to see. Most of the other solar cars have a rectangular roof extending beyond the body of the car. This casts a shadow upon the brake lights and increases their visibility. The judges could not see our brake lights from 30 feet away. However, they did allow us to mount them below the body and inside a bit so that some shadow would enhance their visibility. Mr. Harris retrieved a metal bar from the trailer and quickly mounted it; this allowed the brake lights to be moved.
The endurance test was the last task of the day. Chris drove the car around the race track. He drove once by himself and then again with the lead car and two chase cars. I am sorry that because I was required to drive, I was unable to video or photograph Chris. However, I did take a few short videos which explain the procedure of the endurance station.
This evening is a muggy night and as I look at the pool below me, well lit from underneath, I see that its surface is undisturbed. Although there are a hundred or so students at this hotel, none of them are tempted by its cool water. The Volt-Tech and other teams are in a muggy parking lot doing last minute alterations to their cars. I wandered down to see how they were doing and everyone was hard at work; Chris, Nick, and Tyler were repairing a wire that broke during the endurance test, Brittany was organizing the tools, Myles was examining and encasing high voltage areas throughout the car, and Joe was working on a better way to secure the driver's canopy to the upper body. Students from an engineering school offered their assistance to Mr. Harris while he was working on the rear lights of the trailer. Everyone was focused and happy in their work. Tomorrow we meet at 6:00 am and will begin the race shortly thereafter.
No comments:
Post a Comment