Bridgestone World Solar Challenge

Sep 2023 - Nov 2023

Description: The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge is a two year design competition in which university students from around the world build cars to be run solely on solar energy. The race takes place from Darwin to Adelaide across the Australian outback which is a 3022 km course.

Role: During the race I led the operations team of about four people, my tasks were to take care of all the administrative tasks. This included organizing accommodation, planning routes and procuring of supplies. It also included preparing meal plans and acquiring food.

Airfoil Parameterization Optimization

Mar 2023 - Jun 2023

Description: Airfoil Parameterization Optimization was made using X Foil, Python and MATLAB to suggest airfoils based on set parameters such as camber location, thickness and CdA. The algorithm used contains a huge database of NACA and other airfoils with their parameters. After a list of suggested airfoils is presented from the chosen parameters as well as ranked using the ranging parameter, Python and X Foil are used to do in depth calculation on a singular airfoil and gives out the Cl, Cd at various angles of attack to get an even more rigorous solution and choose the best suited airfoil.

Revamped Aerobody Design Process

Mar 2023 - Apr 2023

Description: As a member of the aero team at Blue Sky Solar Racing, while I was working on the airfoil parameterization I had the chance to dive deep in the the design process used by Blue Sky Solar in designing a car. I realized the inefficiency in the design process and set out to create a new process which resulted in more prospective designs faster. The earlier design process functioned as such; the aero team was to come up with two designs each week during the design process period and send that design to other sub-teams for approval. The inefficiency arises that many designs submitted were to be outright rejected by the other sub-teams for not having enough array space, not being draftable, not having enough space for the driver and the motor box, etc. That is why I had an in depth conversation with each sub-team lead about the basic requirements each team requires for the car and explain the aero team members these design requirements so that the prospective aerobody designs were more robust. Through this experience I learnt the intricacies of solar car design as well as the very important piece of knowledge that no matter how theoretically robust a design is if it is not feasibly manufacturable it is not a good design.