Intro
Problem: Design and implement the steering and suspension system for an RC Baja Vehicle
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Approach: Utilize various engineering analyses and modelling software
to create the best possible vehicle for the ASME RC
Baja Competition held in the Spring
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Desired Outcome: Successfully complete all three portions of the RC Baja Competition which include the Drag Race, Slalom Course, & Baja Course without failure.
Motivation
- Desire to learn more in the project development cycle
- Desire to create a usable project showcasing milestones
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- Desire to have exposure to what it means to "engineer" something
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- Desire to learn to utilize learned skills in program in real-world applications
Concept Images
The final design utilized two different suspension types with one for the front and one for the rear
Figure 1.1: Front Suspension Design
Figure 1.2: Rear Suspension Design
Results
The testing done on the vehicle showed that while the vehicle was finished, there was still more work to be done. Due to time constraints some of the issues found during testing could not be fixed before the competition date. Considering test one the solution to the failures of the data would be to purchase another set of stronger shocks. For test two, the engineering team had to have the steering system turn sharper at full bore but also increase the overall length of the vehicle as its final shape restricted turning movement. The range test was the only test that saw complete success as the vehicle can operate well outside of the fifty-foot minimum.
Table 1.1: Data Received and Analyzed from Drop Test
Table 1.2: Data Received and Analyzed from Steering Test
Table 1.3: Data Received and Analyzed from Range Test
Conclusion
The final outcome of this project was an incredible learning experience for the engineering team in a variety of facets. The vehicle development cycle changed massively between the planning and construction phase creating a product that was far different than the initial plan for the project come competition time. Unfortunately, due to a number of issues regarding wheel glue and driveshaft security, the vehicle performed poorly in the competition. The engineering team felt even though the vehicle underperformed, it was still a great success regardless of winning or losing in the competition. This was because the knowledge gained from the development cycle had taught the engineering team far more about small scale RC car functionality and project development as well as how to and how not to maintain communication when discussing progress and what each team member needed. This experience was much more indictive of project success as the engineering team has agreed that given another chance, a more educated approach to the development and construction cycle could be done leading to a far better product.