2010 American Solar Challenge

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2010 American Solar Challenge - June 20, 2010

The 2010 American Solar Challenge (ASC2010) is a competition to design, build, and drive solar-powered cars in a cross-country time/distance rally event. Teams compete in a 1100 mile drive from Tulsa to Chicago. The route has been chosen to combine pieces of old routes used in previous events, giving a bit of an historical tribute for the 20 years of organized events in North America.




The American Solar Challenge (ASC) is a competition to design, build and race solar-powered cars in a cross-country event.

ASC promotes:

• A greater understanding of solar energy technology, its environmental benefits and its promise for the future;
• Educational excellence in science, engineering and mathematics—and the creative integration of technical and scientific expertise across a range of disciplines;
• And, a “hands-on” opportunity for students and engineers to develop and demonstrate their technical and creative abilities.
For more information please contact: ascinfo@americansolarchallenge.org or visit our site at American Solar Challenge - Home Page.

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American Solar Challenge (ASC) – Road Race


ASC is for those teams that successfully complete scrutineering and the qualifier to demonstrate that they are ready for the on-road challenge. The route has been chosen to combine pieces of old routes used in previous events, giving a bit of an historical tribute for the 20 years of organized events in North America. More details on the raycing regulations will be forthcoming as the details of the route and locations are finalized.

Sat, June 19: Travel day / Support Vehicle Inspections in Tulsa, OK
Sun, June 20: Start in Tulsa, OK; must reach Neosho, MO checkpoint
Mon, June 21: Finish in Topeka, KS
Tue, June 22: Start in Topeka, KS; must reach Jefferson City, MO checkpoint
Wed, June 23: Finish in Rolla, MO
Thu, June 24: Start in Rolla, MO; must reach Alton, IL checkpoint
Fri, June 25: Finish in Normal, IL
Sat, June 26: Start in Normal, IL; finish in Naperville, IL
Sun, June 27: Ceremonial run into Chicago, IL and awards ceremony

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Volunteer Information

The American Solar Challenge is looking for volunteers for this summer’s race. Individuals with EMT Training (Emergency Medical Technician) are especially needed. For more information please contact Sue Eudaly at smseudaly@embarqmail.com.

Volunteer Application

ASC 2010 Volunteer Form

Please return completed application to Sue Eudaly at smseudaly@embarqmail.com

Thank you!

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The teams


The most beautiful solar car in the world is located at the Bochum University of Applied Sciences. That is only if it is not currently traveling Australia or America to compete in the World Solar Challenge or the North American Solar Challenge. Solarworld No.1 was granted the Design Award in 2007 on top of coming in 4th place at this world championship of solar cars. The students, employees and professors of the faculty of mechatronics and mechaical engineering as well as the faculty of electrical engineering and informatics proudly present this prime example of energy efficiency, which was built within a year by the students themselves.

In bright sunlight the six square meters of solar cells produce the power a blow-dryer uses. This is enough for Solarworld No.1 to travel at 85 km/h and by utilizing the energy stored in the rechargeable batteries she will reach top speed of 125 km/h. This Project requires the application of all facets of the engineering profession: Teamwork, project management, intercultural perspectives and last but not least the fascination of modern technology.

Main sponsor is the Solarworld AG, which supports the project with dedication. Solar powered racecars have been developed at the Bochum University of Applied Sciences since 2002.

Hochschule Bochum - SolarCar: SolarCar

The Project
Utilizing the energy of the sun

Since 1999 students of the Bochum University of Applied Sciences have been developing solar-cars, which are exclusively powered by the energy of the sun. The Project originated at London South Bank University, a partner of Bochum University of Applied Sciences. After being developed by German students in London, Mad Dog III competed at the World Solar Challenge (WSC) in Australia in 2001.

“Hans Go!” was a solar powered car which was constructed in the years 2001 to 2003. It made 5th place in 2003 and 8th place in 2005 when in took part in this unofficial world championship for solar powered cars, the WSC. Furthermore, the Technical Innovation Award was granted in 2003 by the "Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation" (CSIRO) for implementing a Bluetooth-telemetry system. This accentuates the extremely high standard of development.



The most beautiful solar powered vehicle in the world

SolarWorld No. 1 was planed and built in the years from 2005 to 2007 and came in 4th place at the World Solar Challenge in 2007. On top of this the car was granted the award for “Best Design”. In 2008 this solar powered car took the third place at the North American Solar Challenge as well as being awarded for excellent technology in the field of mechanical and electrical engineering. So, the most beautiful solar car in the world is located at the Bochum University of Applied sciences. Of course, that is only if it is not currently traveling Australia or America. The students, employees and professors of all faculties proudly present this prime example of energy efficiency.

In bright sunlight the six square meters of solar cells produce the power a blow-dryer uses. This enabled Solarworld No. 1 to travel the 3000 km’s at 73 km/h under the Australian sun. The top speed it can reach is 125 km/h. This Project requires the application of all facets of the engineering profession: Teamwork, project management, intercultural perspectives and last but not least the fascination of modern technology. The challenge to power a vehicle without emissions by solely utilizing renewable energy efficiently is part of this.



The future

A new car will be developed and built to compete in the World Solar Challenge in October 2009. Being a consistent further development, the new vehicle will not be a race car. It will be a more realistic “every-day vehicle” with passenger car-like dimensions. Being the first to cross the finish-line is not a necessity. The aim is rather to prove to the public again what “made in Germany” really means by presenting the most innovative and therefore best vehicle to compete in the challenge.



The Solar-Car Project at the Bochum University of Applied Sciences

Didactic and scientific background

The solar-car projected was established in the mid 90’s at the London South Bank University (LSBU), partner of the Bochum University of Applied Sciences. Both schools operated the venture as a joint research as well as teaching project. Ever since Prof. Dr. Mike Duke has switched to the University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand, the venture is being exclusively conducted as a problem based learning research project with students from all faculties being involved. Problem Based Learning (PBL) stands for a teaching method that focuses on the learning student. Step by step the student is given more responsibility to acquire the necessary knowledge on his own behalf. Consequently, this leads to an independent student who is responsible for his own learning success and studies on his own effort. The student team leaders take on responsibility for all the steps in development. The entire team plans the acquisition and use of all the necessary resources. The Tutors act as trainers, supply the necessary infrastructure and guide the students in their undertaking. Each phase of the project is concluded by revising the different processes of developing the required solutions by benchmarking and self-evaluating the student’s performance. The voluntary class “development of solar powered vehicles” has become a fixed element in Bochum University of Applied Sciences’ tuition curriculum.

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Iowa State University



Team PrISUm is a multidisciplinary, student-run organization at Iowa State University (ISU) which designs, builds, and races solar powered electric vehicles across the United States every few years in the American Solar Challenge. Outreach and education are also important aspects of our project as we attempt to raise awareness about solar energy and efficient transportation. Don't hesitate to email us if you would like to have our solar car at an event.

This project would not be possible without our current and past sponsors. We encourage you to take a look at our sponsorship page and download a copy of the corporate sponsorship packet or an adopt-a-cell form to find out how you can help us pave the way towards a future in renewable energy!

2010 American Solar Challenge
Team PrISUm is currently building its tenth solar car, which will be competing in the 2010 American Solar Challenge in June. This race is of historic value to our team because it will be our 10th race with our 20th anniversary car. We look forward to another exciting season of solar car racing!

PrISUm Solar Car Team

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The Michigan State University Solar Car Racing Team is working to build an entirely solar-electric vehicle named Brasidius. This project serves as an example of what environmentally friendly technologies are available today. It provides students with the opportunities to develop teamwork skills, be self-motivated, and pursue alternative energy technologies. Please explore our site to learn more about our team, our car, our plans, and how you can get involved!

Due to financial difficulties, we will not be attending NASC 2010. We were not able to raise sufficient funds to make the necessary improvements to our solar car, Brasidius, and to be able to attend and pay the race fees. If you would like to support us in finishing our car and entering the next race, please visit our donations page. We still plan to do some local testing over the summer, and we are organizing a testing event for our sponsors.

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History of the Missouri S&T Solar Car Team
The first car manufactured by the team was Sol Survivor in 1993. Four years later, the Solar Miner series of solar cars came into existence with Solar Miner. Our first championship came in 1999 with Solar Miner II, which went on to the World Solar Challenge and placed 3rd in its class. Solar Miner VII is the ninth car the Missouri S&T solar car team has produced. SMVII will race in the 2010 American Solar Challenge this summer.

•1st Place - 1999 American Solar Challenge (Solar Miner II)
•1st Place - 2002 Formula Sun Grand Prix (Solar Miner III)
•1st Place - 2003 American Solar Challenge (Solar Miner IV)
•1st Place - 2004 Formula Sun Grand Prix (Solar Miner IV)
•2nd Place - 2001 American Solar Challenge (Solar Miner III)
•4th Place - 2001 World Solar Challenge (Solar Miner III)
•4th Place - 2005 North American Solar Challenge (Solar Miner V)
•7th Place - 2008 North American Solar Challenge (Solar Miner VI)

Solar Miner VII is the latest addition to the Solar Miner series. With a new body design and a improved frame Solar Miner VII is one of the lightest Solar Cars from Rolla. Adapting to the recent rule changes in the American Solar Challenge Solar Miner VII is the second Solar Miner with a steering wheel and drivers seated in a upright position.
The body made of carbon fiber and Kevlar will reduce both the car's weight and its aerodynamic drag while increasing stiffness. The body will be covered with six square meters of Gallium-Arsenide solar cells providing an extremely powerful array. The body is no more than a foot thick at any point, thanks to a narrow chromoly steel chassis weighing only 34 pounds.

Missouri S&T Solar Car Team

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The Apollo Solar Car Team


The National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences (KUAS) was originally founded as the National Kaohsiung Institute of Technology in 1963. This University enjoys a high reputation in southern Taiwan as well as nationwide. In four proud decades, under the commendable leadership and guidance of successive Presidents, this institution has evolved from Taiwan Provincial Kaohsiung Institute of Technology to National Kaohsiung Institute of Technology and to the present day name, National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences. In its current manifestation, a progressive, pragmatic, innovative, and versatile pedagogy continues to steer the university through globalization in the 21st century.

Presently, KUAS has an enrollment of over ten thousand full-time students and a faculty of more than three hundred full-time lecturers. The various departments contain many eminent and highly qualified members, in addition to advanced laboratory facilities for optimum learning efficacy.

KUAS comprises of two campuses: Chien-kung campus is situated in downtown Kaohsiung; it is a lush vibrant academic oasis, amidst the hustle and bustle of a high quality functional metropolitan environment, offering serenity and repose from the warm subtropical climate of southern Taiwan. The Yenchao campus sits on an area of 110 hectares, in the greater Kaohsiung area and has reserved considerable space for the University’s expansion.

KUAS has four academic institutes, the College of Engineering, the College of Electric and Information, the College of Management, and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences; together with a division for promotion of continuing education.

Our predecessors have built up a reputable record at National Kaohsiung University of Applied Sciences; praised for its educational excellence and its extensive collaboration with both local and national industries. Rising to meet the learning wave in the era of globalization, the school has been building academic alliances across Asia, America, and Europe; presently connected with more than twenty prestigious universities. The KUAS ethos of entrenchment in Taiwan coupled with a cosmopolitan outlook focused on creating a world-wide network has proved tremendously efficacious creating international competitiveness for both the school and its students.

The Introduction of the Apollo Solar Car Team

The Apollo Solar Car Team was founded in 1998. It was the first solar car team in Taiwan. Professor Herchang Ay has been in charge of the team since 1998. Most of the team members are engineering students. The funds to develop the solar cars mainly came from the National Science Council and the Ministry of Education. The Apollo solar car team has so far developed 5 vehicles. At the end of 2002, our team used Apollo III, our third generation solar car, to complete a 700-kilometer round trip route between Tainan and Taipei. This is first record for a solar car in Taiwan. Residents of Taiwan followed the solar car event with great interest as it representsed the country’s successful pioneering work. In 2003, the Apollo team entered the World Solar Challenge (WSC); the first time Taiwan was represented in the WSC. Even though it was the team’s first time entering the event, they were able to obtain 7th place; the best grade among Asian teams. The Apollo team holds the record for the trans-Australia crossing in a time of 43 hours and 41 minutes traveling more than 3,000 km from Darwin to Adelaide. In 2004, Professor Ay led the team again to enter the Phaethon 2004 Solar Rally, which is an initiative of the ²Cultural Olympiad². The event saw 22 teams from 9 countries in the race. Apollo was the only Taiwanese team. Although the Apollo IV solar car flipped over before the rally race, they were still able to obtain 4th place. In 2005, the team used the Apollo-PLUS solar car in the Suzuka DreamCup in Japan. This was the first time Taiwan was represented in the DreamCup. At the end of September 2005, the Apollo team entered the WSC again. Even though the team had an accident causing serious damage to the Apollo V solar car on the beginning day, they still managed to obtain 7th place again.

Solar vehicles are solely powered by the sun’s energy. The Apollo V team has made tremendous progress over the past few years with the recently established Southern Solar School by the Ministry of Education. The Apollo V is the lightest, thinnest and most technologically advanced solar car yet. It combines aircraft composite construction with satellite grade solar cells and lithium-polymer batteries, all based on an ultra-light composite space frame chassis. Apollo V’s arrays are 25% efficient Gallium Arsenide cells. The arrays peak at 1800 watts of power. For the front suspension, the Apollo solar car uses Double A arms due to required vertical clearance, while a trailing arm used at the rear suspension. Apollo V has regenerative braking where the car's motor becomes a generator and adds energy to the batteries during deceleration. The Apollo V can reach a top speed of 150 km/hr. By pursuing the solar car project, the team hopes to demonstrate the viability and applications of renewable energies in our daily lives. As our world’s resources decline, we must look to new and innovative ways to supplement our energy needs.



http://140.127.118.1/laboratory/%E5%...A4/theteam.htm

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Northwestern Solar Car

Founded in 1998, the Northwestern University Solar Car Team is an undergraduate student organization composed of students and faculty advisors from the broad range of engineering disciplines at Northwestern University working together to design, build, and race solar electric vehicles for competition in the American Solar Challenge and Formula Sun races.

The team is composed of three fundamental teams: Operations, Research and Development, and Business. Each is responsible for a function critical to the project. The Operations team is responsible for the maintenance and improvement of the current car. Operations also does research on the current car in order to learn what could be improved upon for our next generation solar car. The Research and Development team is responsible for designing and building the next generation solar car. This responsibility includes the aerodynamic, electrical, and mechanical components. There is an aerodynamic responsibility to design a lightweight aerodynamic shell. There is an electrical responsibility to design an efficient solar array to maximize energy conversion, a lightweight battery pack to store supplemental power, an optimized motor to maximize efficiency, and electronic systems for control and monitoring. There is an mechanical responsibility for a lightweight yet strong frame and a reliable suspension system. The Business team is responsible for building ties with industry leaders to support the needs of the team. The integral teamwork of these subgroups ensures our success in achieving our goals.

The Northwestern University Solar Car Team gives students an opportunity to become better engineers by teaching practical engineering skills in working with budgets, deadlines, and real world problems in addition to developing valuable leadership skills. Students are able to learn valuable design techniques, as well as steps to implement the designs they produce. They must figure out the necessary materials, tools, and processes that best fit the application of their designs. Throughout the process, they must work directly among their peers collaborating, brainstorming, and solving any problem they may encounter.

A roster of current team members can be found here.


Join the Team
The team is constantly looking for new members to assist in achieving our goals. If you are a student interested in joining the team, email us to find out how you can get involved or come to one of our meetings.

Any faculty member or individual in the Northwestern community who is interested in assisting our effort should email us to discuss participation opportunities.

We encourage everyone interested to contact the team and see what opportunities for involvement are waiting. Don’t miss your chance to become involved with one of Northwestern’s premiere engineering groups!


Sponsor the Team
Developing a high efficiency solar race car is an expensive endeavor. If you are an individual or a company who is interested in making a monetary or in-kind donation to the team, check out the sponsors section of our web site for information on how you can help.

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Founded in 1989, the Stanford Solar Car Project is an entirely student-run, non-profit organization fueled by its members’ passion for environmentally sustainable technology. We provide a unique opportunity for Stanford students to gain valuable hands-on engineering and business experience while raising community awareness of clean energy vehicles. The team generally operates on a two-year design and build cycle and enters the finished car in a cross-continental solar race.

Members usually join SSCP as undergraduates with little to no engineering background and gradually build their knowledge while working on a vehicle. Coordinating a project of this magnitude also requires considerable management and planning, allowing students to develop these vital business skills in an engineering environment. With this approch, the team has fostered eight generations of award-winning vehicles, proving that a hands-on education in creative design and execution produces impressive results.

Members who graduate from SSCP go on to work with some of the most cutting-edge technologies and firms today, such as Tesla Motors, Nanosolar Inc, and other companies they had encountered through the SSCP as undergrads. Even in fields as diverse as cancer therapeutics research and software marketing former team members are at work, leveraging many skills they first developed working with SSCP

Team | Stanford Solar Car Project

Apogee
Apogee is our ninth vehicle, designed for competition in the 2009 World Solar Challenge and the 2010 North American Solar Challenge. It represents a major step up in the level of refinement in every system on the car. It has a new body shape, mechanical system, solar array, electrical system. Be sure to check the blog often to check up on its progress.