Our Team
Our Team
Team proficiency is the core to the success of the Sunswift Project. Currently the team is comprised of approximately 60 students across a variety of faculties. This team is divided into five sub-teams, which in turn are divided into smaller highly specialised groups. Collaboration between sub-teams is essential for the project with regards to both technical and administrative matters.Executive
The role of the executive group is to ensure constructive collaborations, maintain communication between the different sub-teams, oversee the project and to liase with the university on a variety of matters.Project Manager: Daniel Friedman
 Daniel is in his 4th year of university, studying a combined Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Physics. He enjoys design, photography and mathematics. |
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Assistant Project Manager: Sam Paterson
| Sam is in his first year of Engineering at UNSW. He has previously completed a Bachelor of Art in Music | |
Mechanical Sub-Team
The mechanical sub-team is concerned with the physical design, on road characteristics and composite construction of the car. Driver safety is the paramount concern of the UNSW Solar Racing Team, and hence the foremost consideration of the mechanical team during design and manufacture. This sub-team consists of three groups:
Aerodynamics
For a car travelling 70km/h or faster, 70% of it's energy is lost due to aerodynamic drag. As an example, a standard commuter car uses approximately 20kW of power to travel at 80km/h. The primary goal of the aerodynamics group is to design the shape of the solar car to minimise this power loss, and thus help to maximise the energy efficiency of the solar car. In other words, they must design the car so that is uses less than 1.5kW when travelling at 70km/h which is 10% of the power of a standard car.
Mechanical control systems
The suspension group is responsible for the mechanical control and safety systems in the car. They design, analyse, manufacture and test the steering, suspension and braking systems, as well as the wheel hubs, wheel motor casing, roll bar and seat belt systems. Each component must be as light as possible to increase the energy efficiency of the car, while being 100% reliable, to ensure the safety of the solar car driver.
Composites
Special materials are required in the construction of modern solar cars to maintain strength and low
mass.The UNSW SRT uses combinations of carbon fibre and nomex to achieve these characteristics. Fibreglass is used
in areas requiring electrical insulation (such as the battery casings).
The composites group works in close partnership with one of The UNSW SRT's technical partners, Boeing
Aerostructures Australia
Electrical Sub-Team
The electrical sub-team works with the complex electrical systems and components in the car. They aim to
minimise the energy used by the electrical systems, and to operate the car at it's maximum efficiency. The majority
of the electrical systems in the car are designed and developed entirely by team members.
This sub-team is concerned with three main components of the car:
Power Systems
The power systems of the solar car are the essential electrical
systems, without which the solar car would be unable to drive. They are
the equivalent of the engine and its fuel in a standard
petroleum/diesel powered car.
These systems are:
- The solar array,
- The batteries, and
- The electric motor.
As with any electrical system, there are power losses in each of the components, and between components, which drain the amount of energy available to the solar car. The power systems team aims to minimise these power losses, which will in turn maximise the amount of power available to drive the solar car, and help to increase the driving range and top speed of the car.
Telemetry
The entire car is monitored by numerous devices, connected with a Control Area Network (CAN) allowing the electrical group to control and monitor over 100 variables ranging from motor temperature and motor speed to the right indicator. This system is crucial to determine the car's condition and ensure maximum performance in a race or record attempt.
Strategy
A team's performance in a race can essentially be decided by their strategy. The strategy group takes into account the route, length of the race, the topography of the land, expected weather conditions and the capacity of the batteries to drive the car at it's maximum efficiency and to finish in the fastest possible time.
Business Sub-Team
This Sub-Team includes three different groups:
Marketing
Marketing works towards the promotion of the project and developing materials to do so. They are responsible for presenting the solar car project to the wider commmunity. They manage the design and release of the project logo, website, uniforms and numerous print materials.
Sponsorship
The UNSW Solar Racing Team is a not-for-profit volunteer organisation which relies on the generous contributions of our corporate sponsors. The role of the sponsorship group is to establish and maintain these links to industry in a professional manner to ensure that the conditions of contribution are met, as stipulated by initial agreements.
Media
The UNSW Solar Racing Team act as ambassadors for the potentials of renewable technologies. The team highly values raising awareness about environmental issues facing our world today and to promote the use of clean and green technologies. The role of this group is to generate media around events including races, school tours, fairs and exhibitions to raise the profile of the team and the solar racing community, as well as increase awareness of and education about renewable energy options.
Operations Sub-Team
The operations sub-team works behind the scenes to keep the project running smoothly.
Operations comprises of three separate groups:
Occupational Health and Safety
The Sunswift Project is dedicated to promoting a healthy work ethic and ensuring the safety of everyone involved with the solar car. The role of the safety officer is to implement and enforce measures to minimise risk and prevent injury both at the workshop and at external events.
Information Technology
An extensive intranet is required to ensure effective transfer of information within the team. The IT group is responsible for maintaining the team intranet and keeping IT assets working flawlessly. This includes keeping adequate functionality of software and hardware on computers at the office and workshop and ensuring that computer stored knowledge is easily accessible and secure.
Logistics
The logistics group are responsible for planning events by creating the itinerary, arranging transportation and food and keeping contact with event organisers. They also oversee the construction of the trailer for the car and manage the fleet (support cars accompanying the solar car whilst on the road) when necessary, particularly during races.
Mentors
Many former members of The UNSW Solar Racing Team are still active mentors, and transfer invaluable knowledge and experience to newer members.
Mechanical Mentors
- Konrad Zurcher: Konny was Mechanical team leader in 2006-2007
- Mark Smith: Designed and built the suspension in 2006-2007, which lightened the car by almost 10%, and made driving the car an absolute pleasure.
- Tim Wardrop: While working with Sunswift Tim formed strong links with our technical partner Boeing by whom he is now employed. Tim's expertise in both solar car design and carbon fibre make him an incredibly important mentor to the mechanical group. He also approves of mechanical designs to make sure they are safe for installment into the car.
- Yael Augarten: As Project Leader from 2006-2007, Yael plays an important role in the composites, mechanical and logistics teams, passing on valuable information and practical training to new members. She is currently completing her PhD in Photovoltaics and is vital to the progression of the team.
Electrical Mentors
- David Snowdon: Dave is a highly active mentor to the electrical group, he is currently completing his PhD in Computer Engineering and is Sunswift's longest serving member (since 1999), having been both the assistant project leader and electrical team leader. Dave has significant experience with all of the electrical and some mechanical systems, developing our composite-curved solar panel technique, CAN network, customised power-point trackers and strategy software.
- Andrew Wrigley: The Assistant Project Leader in 2006-2007, Andrew continues to provide much useful information, contacts and training for the electrical team, the logistics team, and the composites team.
- Simon Li: Simon has entered into the final year of his degree and so has taken a less intensive role, he has been crucial this year in providing I.T support and the occasional trip to the workshop to educate new recruits.
Power Systems (Solar Array):
- Raphael Janssens: A previous member of the Nuon Solar Car Team who won the World Solar Challenge in 2003 and 2005 (while he was in the team) and co-founded the Belgian Solar Car team who came second in 2007. Raphael has a Bachelor of Mechatronic Engineering and is currently completing a Masters Degree for the UNSW Photovoltaics Centre of Excellence. Raphael provides knowledge and advice with his long solar car experience.
Business and Logistics:
- Ryan McCarthy:The Project Leader in 2004-2005, Ryan provides expertise in the areas of marketing, logistics and management. Ryan is currently manager of the company 'Steplight,' which provides energy and water assessments for residents of various local councils.
