EnergyWhiz

Empowering Student Innovation for a Clean Energy Future

The Ray Catchers

Event Year: 2022
Event Location: Cocoa-FL
Competition: Junior Solar Sprint
Division: 4-6 (JSS Green)
School: Orlando Science Schools
Team Size: 3

Car name: Ray Catcher School name: Orlando Science Elementary / Middle School.

Team: Quinn V. 6th grade & Aiden N. 4th grade

Notes:

On day 1, we colored the car chassis to give it a fun design

On day 7, we attached the motor & the solar panel to the pre-colored chassis & tested it.

On day 14, we tested the car outside our school with the panel.

On Day 21, we redesigned our car because it is fully functional

4 Weeks later, Today is the 6th of April and we are testing our car on a track at our school.

Top Of Car
Right Side
Front
Rear
Bottom

Test Results

These are the results for the Solar Panel /Battery, 5 meters

Test 1 Battery – 6.99 seconds

Test 2 solar panel 5.69 seconds

Test 3 solar panel 10.9 seconds

What we would do to improve the car is to get a bigger gear ratio for the motor and a smaller gear ratio for the axis. so the cars average speed is

Finished car specifications: 10 & 1/2 inches long, 5 inches tall, gear ratio 20 to 40, weight: 290 grams wheel size 1 & 1/2 inch on the rear 1 &1/4 inch for front

Supplies: plastic cup, velcro (X2) Pitsco Solar car kit, green straw, and a hot glue gun.

Costs:

Plastic cup 90 cents

velcro 40 cents (X2)

Pitsco Solar Car Kit 39 Dollers

straw 8 cents

Hot glue 3 dollars worth

Vimo link

6 thoughts on “The Ray Catchers

  • I like that you stated giving your car a fun design. Sometimes an Engineering project can seem boring and difficult, but also can be fun and exciting if you want it to be. Congratulations on your car.

    Reply
  • Great concept! I’d love to know how many times you had to modify the car using the Engineering Design Process.

    Reply
  • I am so excited to see this in person on Saturday! I have seen this car being carried around the school each week for the entire school year and for it to finally make it to the competition in Cocoa is amazing. I know that one of you also used this project as your STEM Fair project and was able to show the class what you are working on. This looks like a solid design and I think it will do well at the competition. See you there!

    Reply
  • WOW! This is so impressive! I can tell you put a lot of time and thought into this project. Keep up the awesome work!

    Reply
  • Aiden and Quinn, I love the name you chose for your project, the Ray Catchers. I noticed on Day 21 you said you redesigned the car. I am curious what obstacles you came across to need to redesign the car? Working with a pair is such a great way to show cooperation and collaboration!

    Reply
  • Awesome! I would love to check it out in action.

    Reply

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