Testing

Components designed by Tanner Howington were tested including the steering components as well as the suspension assembly. Each component had a test. The suspension assembly had a drop test. The steering had a steering radius test. These tests were done to ensure that each component met its requirements. All the data that is gathered from the testing was used to improve all the components before the final competition.

The drop test was done by dropping the R/C car from 1.5 feet for 3 separate trials. The data recorded will be measuring the coils compression in using a slow-motion filming device. The height of which the R/C car was dropped and the angle of which the R/C car landed remained the same to ensure that the test was repeatable.

The steering test was done by creating tape circle with a radius of 5 feet around a cone per the design requirement. The R/C car must drive in a complete circle around the cone starting from inside the tape circle. The car must complete one circle without crossing the 5-foot radius line in both directions to meet the design requirement. The R/C car must also successfully complete the test 3 times to ensure that the test is repeatable.

The drop test required two separate attempts to complete. This is due to the rear shock tower failing on the first drop during the first test. To resolve this issue a drop test failure analysis was performed determining the thickness required for the piece that failed. The part drawings were updated and the drop test was re-performed and produced usable data that met the requirements. This analysis is listed as analysis 13.

Drop Test:

The drop test was designed to ensure that the RC car met the requirements of the shock springs not compressing more than 50% and the car surviving a drop of 1.5 feet. The test consisted of 3 separate trials documenting the compression percentage in the shock springs. Unfortunately, after the first stage of testing the rear suspension tower failed causing the data to become inconclusive. Analysis 13 was a failure analysis for the failed shock tower. The shock tower design was updated and the drop test was re-performed producing data that met the requirements.

Figure 1 - Drop Test - Top

This is an action shot of the drop test being performed. The yard stick was taped perpendicular to a flat surface and the car was dropped on all 4 wheels simultaneously.

Figure 3 - Weight of R/C car

This image shows the weight of the R/C car. This weight test was needed to ensure that the car met the requirement of being under 10 lbs. The actual weight of the car was also needed to produce the failure analysis after the R/C car failed the drop test.

Figure 2 - Drop Test - Bottom

This is an action shot of the drop test being performed. This image depicts the car at maximum compression after being dropped on all 4 wheels simultaneously from 1.5-feet and the rear shock tower failing.

Figure 4 - Video of failed drop test

This video shows the first attempt of the drop test prior to the failure analysis. This video shows the rear shock tower failing due to the reaction forces caused by the impact.

Figure 5 - Drop test - presentation to class

This video shows Tanner presenting to fellow classmates the drop test. During this presentation the failure analysis fixed the component in the shock tower that failed. This presentation demonstrated that the R/C car could survive the drop test.

Steering Radius Test:

The Steering Radius test was designed to ensure that the R/C car met the requirements of having a steering radius less than 5 feet and also that the car must be able to steer left and right with a steering angle greater than 45 degrees. The test consisted of two parts. The first part used a protractor to measure the angle of the wheels. The second part consisted of 3 separate trials documenting the steering radius to the left and to the right. A semi-circle with an arch radius of 5-foot ensured that the car met the 5-foot radius requirement.

Figure 6 - Turning radius - Start

This image shows the R/C car performing the Steering Radius test. This image depicts the car at the initial location

Figure 7 - Turning radius - Finish

This image shows the R/C car performing the Steering Radius test. This image depicts the car at the final location

Figure 8 - Turning radius (Right)

This video shows the car performing the Steering Radius test. The turning radius measured was the outside turning radius.