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Introduction

Description:

The engineering problem that needed to be solved was to create an R/C car built for racing. This car must be able to reach high levels of speed, along with, absorb impact upon landing jumps and steer around corners in rugged terrain. The R/C car built must have the tools and capabilities to compete in all events of the ASME Baja Competition. The races in this competition include slalom, motocross, and sprint.

 

Motivation:

This project was motivated by a need for an R/C car that would compete in the 2023 CWU R/C Baja competition in June. This competition was designed to allow future engineers with an interest in automotive to present their skills and learn from fellow engineers in a fun and competitive environment.

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Function Statement:

A suspension was designed that could absorb energy from rugged terrain. Steering was designed to handle directional control.

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Requirements:

The R/C car was designed to meet all the following requirements:

 

  • The suspension must support no less than 10 pounds upon impact of 1.5 feet above a flat surface.

  • Steering must turn with no more than a radius of 5 feet.

  • The suspension must allow at least 1 inch of clearance from the ground to the body.

  • Suspension must not compress more than 50% upon impact of the 1.5 feet.

  • Steering must be able to steer left and right at angles greater than 45 degrees.

  • During cornering radial drift must be less than 1 inch.

  • The suspension must be able to handle a total weight of 10 pounds.

  • The remote control that steers the R/C car must have a minimum distance of 50 feet.

  • Total cost of the suspension and steering must be less than $200.

  • All components of steering and suspension systems must integrate with one another allowing spacing greater than 0.25 inches.

 

Engineering Merit:

Successful completion of this project will require the skills and knowledge obtained over the course of the MET program. Design work implemented in this project were obtained through various courses in the program using Solidworks. The project required analyzing and calculations using statics, mechanics of materials, calculus, and physics in order to create designs built to withstand all the competition requirements. Free body diagrams is helpful with determining loadings and moments on different components of the R/C car. Mechanics of materials will use the free body diagrams to determine different stresses on the components of the car. Knowledge of calculus and physics assists in calculating energy equations and applying gravity to different aspects of testing.

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Scope of Effort:

Calculations, analysis, and design work attached to this portion of the R/C Baja project will focus on steering and suspension.

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Success Criteria:

Success for this project would be for there not to be any critical failures upon completion of racing sprint, slalom, and motocross.

 

Stakeholders:

Stakeholders involved in the completion of this project were Sean and Tanner for producing calculations, designs, and manufacturing of the R/C car. Other stakeholders include Dr. Choi, Professor Pringle, and the Industrial Advisory Board for overseeing the production and completion of the project.

Testing Results:

The results of testing was a success. For both tests, steering radius and drop, the car was successful in meeting the requirements. Table 1 and 2 provide the results from the steering test. Looking at the graph, blue represents max turning radius to the left and orange represents to the right. Grey represents the requirement that needed to be met. Table 3 and 4 provide the results of the drop test measuring the compression in the spring. Orange represents the requirement of a maximum compression of 50%. Blue represents the trials and actual compression percentages. 

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The results of the test were fairly accurate. The drop test used a slow motion camera, markings on the suspension strut, and the naked eye so the precision of the test wasn't perfect, however, close enough to acquire data and ensure that the car met the requirement. The steering radius was both accurate and precise. Both tests are valid and to ensure valid data, multiple trials were performed to ensure that the test was repeatable. Both tests were important to ensure that the R/C car would survive and perform well in all the events put on at the R/C Baja competition.

Turning Radius Test Results:

Table 1: Turning radius graph of results

Turn rad tab.PNG

Table 2: Turning radius results

Turn radius max.PNG
Drop Test Results:

Table 3: Shock compression graph of results

Table 4: Shock compression results

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