Senior Capstone Project: Solar Vehicle Design Team
| Date: 29 November 2006 |
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Table of Contents |
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| Author:Rich Goetz | Team:Solar Car | Specialty: Electrical System |
Summary of Problem Statement
Keeping in synch with the mission goals and objectives of the Solar Vehicle Design Team (SVDT) to pass to future seniors a conveyance that can be a viable competitor in the American Solar Challenge, the electrical system must be able to withstand the rigorous demands of world-class competition for lengthy periods of time and under the extreme environmental conditions of road vibrations, uncomfortable ambient temperatures, and unexpected complications. This introductory problem staement explains the criteria and requirements for the design parameters of the electrical system.
Summary of Approach
The selection of a concept design strategy is not a matter of selecting a particular configuration of form fit and function, but rather how to incorporate as many favorable design characteristics into a single product. The many customer requirements, team objectives, and competition advantages are discussed in this section while a logical and systematic design strategy is formulated and justified.
Summary of Results
The modular design concept of plug-in circuit cards that use simple and reliable test connections is incorporated into the basic design of the U-Factor’s electrical system. Reliability, maintainability and supportability, expandability, accessibility are all represented in this simplistic design.
Lessons Learned
Keep it Simple has been the dictating philosophy from the start. This concluding section summarizes this work-in-progress and provides a primer for future SVDT members to pick-up where this team has left-off.
Turn-Over 2007
It is strongly reccommended that the predecessors of the SVDT read this section and avoid re-inventing the wheel or making the same mistakes that this cycle SVDT-2006 has learned through painstaking scientific process and humiliating embarrassment.
My office is available to any and all SVDT members interested in keeping the “U-Factor” viable for years to come. Just drop me a line at rickygoetz@juno.com or richard.goetz@us.af.mil
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