Event Year: 2025
Event Location: Cocoa-FL
Competition: Junior Solar Sprint
Division: 7-8 (JSS Blue)
School: Kennedy Middle
Team Name: Photon Panthers
Project Name: Project Photon
Team Size: 3

Kennedy Middle School’s
Team Photon Panthers
Theme: As Much Power as Possible!
Team Members: Mack H. (7th), Shianne F. (8th), Riley K. (8th)

Project Log

2/28/25 Today we had to get a new motor for our solar car because we had the wrong type through the whole duration of building the solar cars. Since we had to get the correct type of motor, there needs to be reworks to the chassis. We finished development of V7, made wires that connect to motor directly and lead somewhere else to connect -Mack

3/3/25 Development of v8 final design begins, main difference is body modifications to help with weight tests. Testing to see if I can optimize and go for speed instead of torque. -Mack

3/4/25 Switched gears to optimize speed. -Mack

3/5/25 Car is ready for testing, but due to weather (overcast) I can’t test with solar panel, tested with a battery instead. -Mack

3/6/25 Glued the motor to the holder. -Mack

3/7/25 Assembled the gear rack and tried using a solar panel with the motor. There were some issues that are being fixed. The solar car was used on a 50 foot track close to the real track but shorter. -Mack

3/10/25 The wire fell off the motor. -Mack

      3/12/25 The wire was soldered back onto the motor. -Mack

3/19/25 I realized that I need to change the motor position but I have no access to the car currently. -Mack

3/27/25 due TOMORROW, HAVE TO SWITCH GEAR RATIO. Switched to prioritize torque

3/28/25 tested. Didn’t measure length and it’s slow. Applying dry lubricant. Applied dry lube test 2 pending. Test 2 complete, not enough sun. 🙁 -Mack

3/8/25-4/2/25 working on car/ website. -Mack

4/3/25-4/7/25 working on website -mack shianne riley

4/3/25-4/7/25 testing -mack

Car specs

• Weight: 31 grams 
• Chassis: 4 cm thick
• Chassis: 6 cm long
• 34.1 diameter WHEEL 4.1 thick
• Gear ratio: 10/50

COMPONENTS

Body: 0$ reused

Solar panel: 0$ reused

Motor: 0$ reused

Motor holder: 0$ reused

Nuts: 0$ reused

Bolts: 0$ reused

Spacers: 0$ reused

Straw: 0$ recycled 

Wheels: 0$ reused

Axle: 0$ reused

Gears: 0$ reused.

Dry lube: 0$ reused

Hot glue: 0.0125$

Battery_pack: 0$ reused

Forward/Back_move_part_for_solar_panel: 0$ reused

Left/Right_move_part_for_solar_panel: 0$ reused

Test Results

Test 1:

Weather: sunny

Date: 4/3/25

Time: 12:20PM

Power Source: Solar panel

Distance: 100in

Time: 3.56 sec

Speed: 28.08 in per sec

Under direct sunlight it goes decently fast.

Switch alligator clip to a spiky clip.

Test 2:

Weather: indoors

Date: 4/3/25

Time: 3:45

Power Source: Battery

Distance: 100in

Time: 2.38 sec

Speed: 42.01 inch per sec

Near 2x times as fast with battery than solar panel, tested with string

If competition goes to battery power, put rubber bands on the rear wheels for grip

Weather: indoors due to rain and overcast

Test 3:
Date: 4/8/25

TIme:12:40

Power Source: Battery

Distance: 100 inch

Time: 2.58

Speed: 38.08 in per sec