Solar Racing Team
November 1, 2010
We are proud to announce our recent partnership with several more company sponsors. Teinert Metals Inc. has donated aluminum for our frame, National Instruments has donated our telemetry equipment, Cytec Engineered Materials will be providing us and Formula SAE with carbon fiber, and Bell Helicopter will be making contributions as well. Thank you for all of your support.
After a long semester, our design is now approaching it's final stages. We will draw power from the sun using 384 Sunpower A300 solar cells in our solar array and utilize 4 RACEMAX 600B power trackers to convert that into usable energy. From there it will either go directly to the NuGen SCM 150 in-hub motor or the energy will be stored in 120 of Tenergy's Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries in our battery pack for later use. To monitor all of this activity, we will be using the generously donated National Instruments sbRIO-9611. We have come to a decision on the frame, suspension, and wheels, and we are currently running tests on our battery cooling system.
Our homecoming entry was a great success; we were able to gain significant publicity with the Lubbock and Texas Tech Community. Pictures can be viewed on our Facebook page.
September 28, 2010
With the fall semester in full swing and deadlines fast approaching, we have been working diligently to accomplish our goals. Our recruitment campaign at the Student Organization Fair and the Whitacre College of Engineering Kickoff was a great success and the addition of several new members who are eager to get involved brings a new foundation for continuation of the team and the expansion of our Public Relations Committee. We are happy to announce that we have obtained sponsorship arrangements with Lockheed Martin and Lubbock Skylight Mfg. and will be exploring other sponsorship opportunities in the near future with companies that we have spoken with at the Engineering Job Fair and the National Fireball Run.
We are working towards completing our Preliminary Structural Report by October 20th which will detail the mechanical and electrical aspects of our vehicle. This semester, we have had two guest speakers: Dr. Richard Gale, who spoke about the engineering design process and broke down the parameters of our project, and Dr. Timothy Dallas, who spoke about MEMS and how nanotechnology could be applied to solar cells to potentially boost efficiency.
July 19, 2010
Texas Tech greeted the Hunt-Winston Solar Challenge as they traveled through Lubbock on their way to boulder, Colorado. Along with FSAE and EcoCAR, we displayed our design and promoted interest in Texas Tech and careers in science and engineering. Pictured below is the Stony Point High School solar car team and former Stony Point team member Jordan Littlejohn, now president of the Texas Tech Solar Racing Team. Coverage of this event was provided by KCBD news and can be viewed on thier website. More photos can be viewed on our Facebook page.
July 11, 2010
We are currently in the process of building the plug for our fiberglass concept shell which we will be displaying on July 19th at the Hunt-Winston Solar Challenge display. For photos and videos of the build, visit our Facebook page. Thanks to Derek, Josh, Jordan, Andrew, Taylor, Pedro and John for all of your hard work.
