HERE COMES
THE SUN
HARNESSING THE POWER OF THE SUN AND
BUILDING A VEHICLE WORTHY OF THE WORLD
SOLAR CHALLENGE IS ALL PART OF A DAY’S
WORK FOR OUR ENGINEERING STUDENTS.
But the race itself is not the only reason to participate;
big challenges are also about learning. Building the
car involves serious science to engineer impressive
outcomes. “There are lots of changes in the cars,
with progress in the solar panels and the composites
used in the structure, the batteries are better and the
electronics improve,” Associate Professor Zander says.
Mr Haynes points to carbon fibre construction and the
extra-lightweight solar panels as especially interesting
to work with.
The solar car challenge is also preparing the team
for the business end of engineering, both in project
management and budgeting. They have raised
$5000 through a Kickstarter campaign and secured
components, notably solar panels and carbon fibre
materials, from various suppliers.
But they are investments in education, not donations.
“It is all excellent value in student learning experiences,”
Associate Professor Zander says. And the team
knows it, with members acquiring the sort of practical
The team come from across a wide spectrum of
engineering—mechanical to mechatronics, petroleum
to aerospace. Some are combining their engineering
expertise with other business skills, like workshop
manager Lawrence Taylor-Bonham, who is doing
double degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Arts
(majoring in Spanish and German) and Jordan MillerOwen who is in his final year of mechanical engineering
and finance.
But for all their energy and expertise, can they win?
While the University of Adelaide team’s budget is
considerably less than some teams, making it a true
engineering challenge, the team believes they certainly
have a shot.
The University
of Adelaide’s
solar car will
be on display
at Ingenuity
on Tuesday
27 October at
the Adelaide
Convention
Centre.
Whatever happens, the real a