Tommy Heyser – Mechanical Team Leader
Tommy leads a team of student-mechanical engineers and oversees all mechanical projects on Sunswift IV, including: Maintenance of existing mechanical system, e.g. front and rear suspension, steering, wheels and hubs, and brakes; Design, manufacturing, and assembly of improved brakes system and new wheels and hubs, new steering column; and Liaise between suppliers, sponsors, and mechanical [...]
Drive by wire!
Driver controls are one of the critical components of any car. In a solar car, not only does there have to be a mechanical connection to the front wheels via a steering column, but also a connection to the drive train to control torque and velocity. There is no gas pedal in IVy, only a [...]
GPS Barometer Progress
This next month we will be posting some personal reports from team members who will share the projects they are working on in the lead up to this Octobers World Solar Challenge. Today’s story is once again from the electrical team from one of our newer members, Rob. Over the past few months I have been working on [...]
Sunswift members report on Altium training
This week Tommy and I attended a 3-day training course run by Altium. As one of Sunswift’s sponsors, Altium provides our team with software licensing and periodic training sessions to assist us in our PCB design. We began our first day learning the basic layout of the software, the drawing tools and electrical tools. It [...]
Sunswift IVy Observer Node (SION)
Over the past year numerous students have undertaken thesis work as part of their degree to improve components within the solar car. Irving in the electrical team has been working at NICTA on the Sunswift IV Observer Node (SION) that will replace the old PLEB (Pocket Linux Embedded Box) in the telemetry system. The PLEB was [...]
Sunswift II
Sunswift II 1997 – 2003 Sunswift II on display in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. Background In 1997, the team commenced work on Sunswift’s first entirely self-designed car. Sunswift II featured a three-wheeled design, a chromoly space frame, and cutting-edge innovations such as an in-hub wheel motor and Control Area Network electronics. From 1998 to 2003, the car was [...]
Sunswift IV
Sunswift IV 2009 – present Background Ivy was built in 2009 for the 2009 WSC. She was the 3rd vehicle that Sunswift had ever designed and built from scratch – although many successful elements from previous cars were retained in Ivy’s design. Achievements 6th overall in the 2011 World Solar Challenge, 1st in Production Class. 4th overall in [...]
Our Sponsors
GOLD The Faculty of Engineering of the University of NSW provides the UNSW SRT with a monetary grant, use of a range of facilities as well as valuable advice and support. The UNSW SRT helps promote the faculty at events such as UNSW Open Day and Sunsprint (model solar car challenge). NICTA is Australia’s Information [...]
Our Cars
The University of New South Wales Solar Racing Team have raced many cars since they began in 1996. Below is a list of the four main cars we have produced over the years. Sunswift IV 2009 – present Ivy on the first day of racing in the 2009 WSC Background Ivy was built in [...]
The Team
Sunswift is a university student-led solar racing team. thirty students from the Faculties of Engineering, Science, and Business at the University of New South Wales volunteer their time and skills to design, build and race a state-of-the-art solar-powered car. We would not be able to exist without the generous funding provided by our corporate sponsors, private donors, and UNSW. People [...]
