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The 2001 UNSW Solar Racing Team (SRT) entered their final phase of preparation for the upcoming World Solar Challenge race from Darwin to Adelaide. The team checked for its final working camp, dubbed "Camp Wagga" after their favourite holiday destination, yesterday morning. This weekend's plan spans a wide variety of activities, from packing and making shopping lists, to final wiring of the solar cell array to the and maximum power point trackers. The team will spend the rest of the weekend at what has to be the best-located solar racing car workshop in the world - Little Bay, Sydney. They'll be checking out on Sunday evening, in time to return for the final week of university classes.
The World Solar Challenge race begins Sunday, November 18 at 8 am. The UNSW SRT departs for Darwin at the crack of dawn on November 5. They'll arrive a few days in advance of the pre-race events - two days of inspection (famously known as "Scrutineering") and one day of time trials. If the weather is good, the UNSW Sunswift II car will arrive in Adelaide on about November 22. The team will finally return to Sydney on about November 30, just in time for a bit of studying and then they're off to take their final exams.
Luckily the weather has been excellent for solar cell array testing purposes. The finished array has spent all day, both days, out in the sun with Kate Fisher and Peter Cousins working over its underside with multimeters and oscilloscopes. The big question on everybody's mind is "How much power does the array produce." Kate and Pete's answer so far -- "Yes." The maximum power point trackers are being installed today, fixed to small carbon-fibre composite shelves on the underside of the array. They'll ensure that the maximum possible power is extracted from the solar array in any driving or weather conditions.
There are a number of other preparations underway. New spats - aerodynamic wheel coverings - with a fared fillet are being constructed and tested, as are the new front disc brakes, the new wireless telemetry network and new LED brake and turn indicators. The Logistics and Web/Media teams are making preparations for the race as well. Karen Sharpe, the team's Media Manager, asked Sammy Diasinos, UNSW Sunswift II's Project Leader about the team's preparations...
Karen: "It must take a long time and cost heaps to build a solar car. How did you find the team members and convince them to spend all of their free time building a solar powered car?"
Sammy: "Most the team members are committing endless number of hours into building the UNSW Sunswift II because they all wish to be a part of a large-scale, high-profile, multi-disciplinary project. Students who join the UNSW SRT obtain valuable practical experience which should assist them later in there careers. Each member also has an opportunity to attend a race somewhere around Australia. These advantages always seem to attract the brightest, most motivated students."
Karen: "And, how did you raise the money to fund the project."
Sammy: "Fortunately for the team, all our materials and supplies are obtained through some sort of sponsorship/partnership arrangement. The best example of this is the relationship that the team has with our three technical partners the Key Centre for Photovoltaic Engineering, Boeing and TAFE Sydney Institute, as well as tyre supplier Michelin. For the remaining items, funding provided our naming right sponsor, the University of New South Wales, and other major sponsors and grant providers. The Faculty of Engineering also assists in this area as well as providing invaluable advice for managerial items."
Karen: "You're leaving in 7 days. Will the team and the car be ready to go?"
Sammy: "The team is currently working very hard to ensure that all the items required to be completed are done, despite the huge conflict with end-of-semester assignments and exams. At the current work rate, I believe that the UNSW SRT will be adequately prepared for our departure on the 5th of November.
Karen: "How are you getting to Darwin?
Sammy: "The team has obtained six vehicles that will allow the us to transport the 23 race members and the required equipment to Darwin for the WSC. This will allow the team to stop in Newcastle to thank E&M signs for their assistance in the construction our array, and also to do some testing once we reach the Northern Territory. We expect to reach Darwin on either the 11th or 12th of November."
Karen: "What does it feel like to be living with 22 other people, day in and day out, trying to build a solar car and get ready for a 4 week road trip?"
Sammy: "They becomes your second family. I know that I have spent more time with the UNSW SRT members over the last 4 years than I have with my family, and I am sure that is the case with the majority of the team. I don't expect it to be a major shock for the team living on the road for the next four weeks, especially when they have all been working so hard to compete in the World Solar Challenge."
Karen: "And finally, who gets the lucky job of doing all the cooking and cleaning up when you're on the road?"
Sammy: "A group of four are expected to be responsible for the catering while we are on the race. The entire UNSW SRT appreciate the effort that Andrew Ridings, Florence Chen, Craig Paddon and Luke McPherson will be putting in to ensure that the UNSW Sunswift II keeps going."
Willy The Whale
Willy!
Mail Bag
If you have a question for the team, or would like to wish them well, write to our mail bag, care of Ask Willy. | | | |
