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WSC09: Day One
Early this Wednesday morning the Sunswift Team gathered at the workshop for the final pack of cars leaving at a respectable time of 9:30. On the way out of Sydney we made a final stop at Oran Park where all the drivers performed further emergency braking tests to ensure the mechanical integrity of the car and ability to control her. All drivers were comfortable with handling during skidding and tyre blowouts and kept the pit crew busy changing tyres. The car drives beautifully, hugging the road with conviction in sharp bends as well as on the straight and was a pleasure to control (despite the cramped quarters and bumpy road). This is credit to our mechanical team Luke and Campbell who have taken Sunswift mechanical systems to a new level of safety and ease of use.
...And we're back!
Good day ladies and gentlemen, Dan here for an update on our progress. I’ve taken over the helm of web updates so you’ll be hearing from me a lot during the next couple of days.
Before I start this decidedly overdue update, I’d like really like to apologize for the media blackout. As you can imagine the entire team has been sleep (and internet) deprived in the lead up to the start of WSC 09. We wanted to fill everybody in as much as possible but work on IVy got the better of us.
As I type this we are 2km South of Larramah sitting 3 feet from a diesel generator surrounded by harsh but beautiful terrain of the Northern Territory. It’s quite a scene. John, Etienne, Claudia and Caitlin are preparing cous-cous stir fry for the team. The array has been on our tilter-trailer for about half an hour charging the battery for tomorrow’s start at 8am, and everybody else is unpacking and getting the camp ready.
Let me back up a bit and fill you in on how we made it here. Scrutineering (the process of race officials signing off that your car follows the regulations, and is fit for highway driving) was tough. We had some minor but time consuming changes to make for us to qualify, and this left a lot of Sunswifters on very little sleep for way too long. We lived up at the Hidden Valley pits taking the occasional nap at Glen’s folks place, they treated us like royalty and we can’t thank them enough (Thanks guys!!!).
On qualifying day (this past Saturday), I’m happy to announce that IVy ran the track in 2 minutes and 16 seconds, placing us at 7th from pole position. The break test was a triumph for the Mechanical Team, whose breaks managed to pass the scrutineering test in a 6th of the distance required. On another positive mechanical note, after 8 hours sleep in 3 days the Mech guys managed to sort out the wheel alignment, angle of attack, a slight break run and fitted all the fairing properly. On the way up to Darwin the motor was pulling 2200W, and on the way down so far it has needed only 800W. This is a massive boost in efficiency.
Overall we were tired but thrilled with IVy’s performance during scrutineering. We left the pits at 8pm on Saturday and went to Glen’s for a BBQ, team meeting but most importantly sleep.
Following is an introduction to our fleet layout for WSC, and reports for each day we’ve been on the race as we’re able to post them. Not to worry, every one gets written, and sit ready to be put online.
Bottom shell released!
Today we took a big step forward in our WSC09 campaign, with the release of the bottom shell from its mould.
Over the last week, team members have been working night and day at our Partners, Boeing Aerostructure Australia, to build the most complicated carbon-fibre part that we will need: the bottom shell. This component supports the suspension, steering, driver, batteries, solar array and every other part of the car in what is known as a monocoque design. Campbell McLaren, the team member who analysed the structure, looked on nervously as we pulled it out, breathing a sigh of relief when he saw that the surface finish was so good! Soon, various stiffeners will be bonded into the bottom shell, and we will be able to see IVy on the road for the first time.Today we took a big step forward in our WSC09 campaign, with the release of the bottom shell from its mould. Over the last week, team member...
WSC09: Day Two
Most of the team had a good nights sleep despite the cold Yass air. It was a struggle getting up at 6am but we were out of the campsite before eight and on the road for a long and rather uneventful drive to Mildura. We drove slowly due to a strong head wind with trailer setting pace and stopped every two hours to refuel or change drivers like the rest stop below on the Hay Plains showing our convoy.
The fleet arrived in Mildura before dusk, set up camp and proceeded to balance the battery pack, strengthen the array and take on the challenge of trying to diagnose the source of a rub in the wheel motor, it may be another long night for a few of our team members.
Better Know a World Solar Challenge: The Fleet
We have 6 cars in the Sunswift fleet, who are all assigned to UHF channel 14. Their names and roles are as follows (and travel southbound in this order):
Scout aka ‘The Gopher’
Scout is responsible for ‘scouting’ ahead of the fleet for road obstacles and potential overtaking manoeuvres. Scout also tends to floor it ahead of control stops to scout for petrol stations so that the fleet can get refuelled and out of the control stop in the 30 minutes given by the regulations. Scout is quick and nimble and gets tasked with acquiring anything the fleet needs at a moments notice.
Lead aka ‘The Toolbox’
Lead has the tilter-trailer (the rig we use to attach the array onto and tilt towards the sun to charge the batteries – this tilting provides a massive boost in power after we have to top at 5pm each day to set up camp). Lead is responsible for calling oncoming traffic, and its presence required by regulations. It provides a controlled buffer between the solar car and the rest of the Stuart Highway. In addition they carry our generator and a lot of the toolboxes we need for camp.
Solar Car aka ‘The Pretty One’
You’ve seen the pictures and will see many more as internet connectivity improves. Our drivers are Clara and Alex, and have the arduous task of driving the solar car upwards of 70km/h on a highway in 30+ degree heat. Some air comes in to keep the car cool, but if too much did it would increase the drag of the solar car – which ultimately would mean they would be driving for longer to reach Adelaide.
Control aka ‘The Master of Ceremonies’
Aside from having the job of ensuring the solar car’s safety, Control direct the car at every movement. All radio communications goes the Control and they run the show. In addition our strategy guys are housed in the back of Control and provide the optimum speed for the solar car to travel at, taking into consideration sunlight, weather, topography, battery charge, amongst other things. They monitor the telemetry systems to make sure everything inside the solar car is working as it should be, from the motor controller temperature to the tyre pressure, Control monitors it all.
Trailer aka ‘The Suitcase’
Trailer carries our trailer for transporting IVy, but also fills the important role of calling overtaking vehicles. It’s important that Control know there is a car wanting to overtake, and having Trailer 500m behind Control allows for some time to make sure it is safe. Trailer also carries all our swags, luggage and spare tyres.
Cavalry aka The Cavalry.
Sam, Tim and Scotty are affectionately called the Cavalry as this is the most appropriate name we could think of. They are not technically part of Sunswift’s WSC ’09 team however they travel along with us and provide advice and assistance with things like safety procedures. Tom and Scotty have both been on WSC ’07 and so having their experience around is invaluable. And Sam is just generally awesome to have around.
That’s it for now folks. I’ll try get a few more “Better Know a World Solar Challenge” posts up before the end of the race.
SSIII (WSC05)
SSIII (WSC07)
Competitions
WSC09: Day Five
With high expectations we started the day once again with the solar car on the road. It was a frustrating few hours checking the mechanical systems, stopping for spat rubs and finally another of our old wheels delaminating. We finally put the solar car back in the trailer and drove the final distance to Marla where the list of things required for scrutineering are being attended to including Etienne's rear vision system, electrical schematics and tow hooks. All day Dave has been working on the strategy software to integrate our extensive weather data from WeatherZone and trying to put together a map of power consumption of the car. A live feed of the car on the road (updated every 5 sec) is working on our local computers and with a little luck we can get it live on the internet whenever we have reception on the race. So things are slowly progressing and in solar car style new challenges presenting themselves every day. Rocketboom: WSC
