SOMERS POINT
STEM LAB
Local Motors STEM Challenge
Local Motors, a micro-manufacturing company located in Pheonix Arizona, is dedicated to creating innovative and unqiue products. Their newest marvel is the Strati, a small 2 person convertible car. At first glance this car may not seem unique and in many ways it is just like any other car you have seen before. Except, the Strati wasn't built like most cars. In fact, it wasn't built at all...it was printed. Local Motors has created the first 3D printed car and revolutionized the manufacturing process of the car industry.
The Somers Point Stem Lab has decided to compete with Local Motors by launching SPSL, a car manufacturing company. You have been hired by the new company to engineer their first 3D printed car. They want a vechile that is sleek, stylish and aerodynamic. Your design will compete with other top engineers in the SPSL Race Night and the winner of the competition will be deemed the company's top engineer!
Collaborate with a small design team to engineer an aerodynamic C02 car that will be built digitally and printed on a 3D printer.
The Task:
The Engineering Design Process
The engineers at Local Motors didn't design and build the Strati in a few days. The planning and preparation of the project took months before a final product was created. Research, brainstorming, and planning are key elements of the design process. This challenge requires you to design a speedy C02 car. What makes a car go fast? How will aerodynamics affect the car? What other factors will determine the speed of the vechile? These questions should be researched, answered, and applied to your design. Teams that research and plan will be the most successful.
Computer Assissted Design
In order to print an object, a digital model of the design must be built using CAD software. Tinkercad is a beginner CAD program that allows users to combine geometic shapes to create more complex figures. Using Tinkercad, you will replicate your design by dragging, dropping, resizing and combining basic shapes. This process can be quite challenging, however your final product will look professional and percise.
Virtual Simulation and Optimization
Aerodynamics play a major role in automotive design. Cars that are aerodynamic use less fuel and can travel at higher speeds. Professionals use wind tunnels to analyze how well cars displace air as they move. These machines are usually large and expensive. Autodesk Flow is a virtual simulation software that replicates a wind tunnel. You will import your digital model into the program and test the aerodynamics of your car. By doing so, you will able to pinpoint areas on your car that will cause it to slow down. You can then export your design back to Tinkercad to make improvements and optimize your vechile.
The Race Track
The SPSL Race Night Competition will take place at the Jordan Road School. Your car will compete against others on the Pitsco Manual Launch System. Two racers will set their C02 cars onto the track by guiding the steering line through the two eyehooks under the belly of each car. The cars will then be loaded into the launch system and each racer will hold a launch clicker. When racers see the green light illuminate, they will press the clickers and the race is on! The Pitsco system automatically records reaction and race times.
