Event Year: 2022 Event Location: Cocoa-FL Competition: Junior Solar Sprint Division: 4-6 (JSS Green) School: NSU University School Team Size: 2
Team Information
Santa’s Sled
Car Name: Santa’s Sled
Team Name: Christmas Crushers
School Name: NSU University School
Team Members Names: Harper R. and Shivam K.
Design Documentation
Side ViewFront ViewBack ViewSide ViewTop ViewBottom ViewTop of View without Solar PanelFront View without Panel
Project Log
Date
Hours
Tasks
Obstacles Encountered
Modifications to Car
11/17
1
Learned about the competition. Looked at some sample cars. Drew the design for my car.
12/1
1
Cut the front of the piece of balsa wood for my body into a triangle hoping to improve the aerodynamics. I chose my wheels and axels.
Cut the car body.
12/8
1
Decided on black gears. I am putting a larger one on the motor and a smaller one on the axel. I decided on a long white panel instead of the blue one because the white one is lighter. I picked a small black binder comb to keep it on the guide wire.
12/15
1
Worked some more on my plan to decide where to put everything on the body. I used a t-square to draw lines on the body so that my wheels and axels would be straight and parallel.
1/5
1
I marked and hammered the gear onto the back axel and added the spacers and wheels. I marked the center and glued on the back wheels. I used a hammer to put together the front wheels with the spacers. I did not have time to glue them on.
1/12
1
I glued on the front wheels. I also worked on my circuit today.
Glued on front wheels
1/19
1
I finished my circuit (battery pack with switch connected to the motor). I glued on the battery pack and the motor. I got to test it for the first time in the hall on battery. It did not go straight. I had to adjust the wheels by heating the glue with the heat gun and moving the axel a little bit. My teacher is soldering the wires to the motor and alligator clips before next class.
Glued on battery pack and motor.
1/26
1
I added supports to hold up the solar panel and pieces of balsa wood to the sides to improve aerodynamics. I put cotton in the front to secure my ping pong ball.
solar panel supports, cotton ball in ball holder place
2/2
1
I put on the black binder comb. I decided to put one on each side to keep it balance and so I could run on either side. I put on the panel and tested it outside. It ran, but it seemed slower than the others.
Added black binder comb for guide wire. Put on solar panel.
3/2
1
I decided to try to improve the speed by changing the gears. I have to change the wheels, too, because the gears I chose will only fit on the thin axels.
The car did not go fast enough.
Decided to change the wheels from four large wheels to four small white wheels. Also, I am changing the black gears to white ones. The small one on the motor and the medium sized one on the new axel.
3/9
1
Working on the new wheels and gears. Finished with motor and back wheels and axel.
New back wheels with white gear on. Motor now has small white gear.
3/16
1
Front wheels on.
Front wheels on.
3/23
1
Tested car and it is not going straight.
Tried to adjust wheels so that it would go straight.
3/30
1
4/4
1
Tested car outside on solar panel.
Car is going slow and turning to the right.
4/6
1
I tested my car outside on panel.
4/7
1
Tested my car outside on panel.
4/19
.5
Ran my car on solar panel
4/20
1
School competition
The wheels fell off. I have to put them back on and make sure it is going straight.
Design Drawings
Design Drawings: Top View
Design Drawing: Side View
Finished Car Specifications
Car Size with Panel
Length: 33.0 cm
Width: 20.8 cm
Height: 9.5 cm
Weight with Panel
136.3 g
Wheel size
Front wheels: 3.6 cm
Back wheels: 3.6 cm
Gear Ratio
motor gear: axle gear 14 : 48 = 7 : 24
Materials Used
Material
Approx. Cost
New:
Solar Made solar panel
20.99
Motor
2.50
small white gear (from motor mount pack)
2.50
wheels, tires, axles, axel gears – Solar Made accessory bag
4.50
balsa wood
2.31
spacers for bearings (4)
0.26
battery holder with switch
3.85
pieces of black binder comb, 1 inch
0.07
velcro
0.14
Consumables:
masking tape
hot glue
solder
Recycled:
cotton
styrofoam
Test Results / Trial Runs
Test Runs 1 – date: 4/4/2022 Weather conditions: Partly cloudy We ran it on panel when the sun was out.
Observations of results: The car is going too slow. It is also going a little to the right. Any recommendations for improvements: I am going to try to change the gears so that I have a small gear on the motor and a medium gear on the axel.
Attempt
Time, s
Distance, m
Speed, m/s
1 – panel
9.5
14.5
1.53
2 – panel
10.2
14.5
1.42
Test Runs 2 – date: 4/6/2022 Weather conditions: Cloudy We had to run on battery.
Observations of results: It is running much better with the new gear ratio. It is running straight now too. Any recommendations for improvements: I have to try it on panel now.
Attempt
Time, s
Distance, m
Speed, m/s
1 – battery
6.6
14.5
2.20
2 – battery
6.8
14.5
2.13
Test Runs 3 – date: 4/19/2022 Weather conditions: Sunny and clear All my runs were on Panel today
Observations of results: It is going straight but I have to make sure I set it up straight. This is a shorter track. Any recommendations for improvements: I am going to try it on a longer track.
Attempt
Time, s
Distance, m
Speed, m/s
1
4.87
10
2.05
2
3.40
10
2.94
3
3.65
10
2.73
Test Runs 4 – date: 4/19/2022 Weather conditions: Sunny and Clear Ran on Panel
Observations of results: I ran it on the longer track and it went straight. Any recommendations for improvements:
Attempt
Time, s
Distance, m
Speed, m/s
1
5.41
14.5
2.68
2
5.38
14.5
2.70
3
5.31
14.5
2.73
Test Runs 5 – date: 4/20/2022 Weather conditions: Partly Cloudy We ran on both Panel and Battery depending on if the sun was behind the clouds
Observations of results: The wheels fell off now my car is turning right and I think the guide wire is rubbing. I wasn’t able to do my 3rd time trial. Any recommendations for improvements: I am going to move the front wheel on the left down to try to straighten it. I will try a different size guide wire guide.
Attempt
Time, s
Distance, m
Speed, m/s
1 – panel
7.43
20
2.70
2 – battery
8.75
20
2.29
Vehicle Features Video
Additional Information
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One thought on “Christmas Crushers”
WOW! This is so in-depth! Your design is unique and makes it stand apart. Great job on the diagrams, logs/charts, and this webpage!
WOW! This is so in-depth! Your design is unique and makes it stand apart. Great job on the diagrams, logs/charts, and this webpage!