Jennifer Love

Engineering Design

Summer 1 2012

Solar Car

Objective

In a team of 2-3 students, design and build a solar-powered model car that can transport at least one small payload (one Tupperware container of water instead of kerosene) for at least a distance of thirty (30) feet on a flat smooth surface. This project is considered the prototype analogy of an actual design that would be implemented in the Solomon Islands to help the islanders transport kerosene from a town to their remote villages.

Primary Design Constraints:

1. Car must weigh less than 3 lbs (approx. 1360 grams).
2. Car must be less than 24 inches long by 12 inches wide by 12 inches tall.
3. Maximum $20 budget (not including the solar panel and motor, provided).

3 events in the Solar Car competition:

1. Speed (top 2 fastest cars win the Speed Category of Excellence over a test track of 30 feet long, 28 inches wide)
2. Accuracy (top 2 straightest cars win the Accuracy Category of Excellence over a test track of 30 feet long)
3. Power (every car eligible to win the Power Category of Excellence if it can carry 4 or more small containers of water over a distance of 30 feet)