Solar Car Aerobody

About:

The University of Virginia (UVA) Solar Car team is a multi-disciplinary group of students who work together to design, build, and race a solar powered vehicle. The team is divided into subteams: mechanical, electrical, and operations. These teams are further divided to groups where each member focuses on just one aspect of the car. However, this is a bit of a paradox. Focusing on one part of the car is focusing on the whole vehicle as each component must work together with the rest. The aerobody team designs and builds the outer shell of the vehicle, working to improve aerodynamic efficiency, reduce weight, and house exits. 

Contributions:

As a first year, I used Autodesk Fusion 360 with my team to redraw aeroshell part. This included working with lofting, splines, and constructions based on drawings.

I used power tools to shape and cut the carbon fiber aeroshell of our original car.

The car's exits had specifications which must be met so I came up with a system for locking the vehicle which would allow the driver to open the doors from the inside and outside.

With my teammates, I performed CFD analysis on the aeroshell to determine the drag forces acting on it as it moved at various speeds. This allowed us to measure the necessary strength of our solar cells.

Lessons Learned:

Solar Car was one of my first joined organizations at UVA. I learned teamwork, dedication, mechanical skills, and software skills. I gave presentations to the general body as well as advisors and learned what it is like to participate on a long term project. This club is still improving and building new cars. I have a strong foundation in aerodynamics, CAD, and a growing one in CFD because of the skills I have learned in solar car.