It\u2019s the hottest day of the year, and you\u2019re in the middle of a desert in the Australian Outback with 10% of the fuel you need to complete an 1800 mile (3000 km) journey. You have just enough space in the car to squeeze your body in, and not much else.<\/P><\/p>\n
This is the scenario a team of students from the University of Michigan<\/A> will face, along with 45 other solar car teams from around the world, in just a few weeks\u2019 time at the World Solar Challenge.<\/P><\/p>\n The race begins in Darwin, Australia. Teams must recover kinetic energy from their vehicles or get power from the sun in order to complete the trek down Stuart Highway to Adelaide. It will be tough, but according to the website (and those who have participated in the past) it is an adventure of a lifetime. <\/P><\/p>\n The Michigan solar team has come a long way to get here, and not just in miles they will physically travel to reach Australia and the race\u2019s end. They have worked to improve the solar car\u2014dubbed Aurum after the Latin word for gold\u2014with respect to speed, performance, and the compeititon.<\/P><\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t just settle on what we\u2019ve done,\u201d business lead Edina Lee said. \u201cWe make sure we\u2019re ahead of the curve. If someone throws something new out there, we\u2019re always saying why did they do that? What can we do next to top that?\u201d<\/P><\/p>\n This attitude is what led Michigan to the car they have today. Well, that and simulation. They put a greater emphasis on analysis this year than those of the past. \u201cEverything mechanical in the car is analyzed,\u201d mechanical lead Josh Agby said. \u201cThis includes mechanical systems in the car, front suspension, rear suspension, brakes and steering.\u201d<\/P><\/p>\n Analysis helps ensure all parts of the vehicle are safe and reliable. After all, the team will be on its own for the 8-day duration of the World Solar Challenge<\/A>. It\u2019s not just about safety, though that is a primary concern. Performance of the car is obviously a huge factor when it comes to their success.<\/P><\/p>\n The team managed to improve simulation of the six-meter solar array with the use of NX CAE, modeling each part individually to account for weight, cell area, and cell direction. This has helped them reduce weight, increase speed and efficiency, and ultimately make what they consider to be a winning car.<\/P><\/p>\n<\/P><\/p>\n