16th April 2020....(catch up on the last month!)
Shamefully, we've realised that it has been over a month since we last put up a blog post. So today, I thought I'd take the opportunity to sit down and write a catch up on all things CAUC from the last month...and what an unprecedented month it has been!!
I appreciate that every man and their dog is aware of the current worldwide pandemic of Covid-19 and the disruption Corona-virus is causing, but for our own record and to document for future (...not that I think any of us will forget in a hurry), this was the month that extra curricular activities were suspended, schools shut and exams cancelled before the UK went into lock down.
As I'm sure is the same for everybody - In what has, and currently remains to be a very uncertain time, CAUC's main priority has been to keep, as Mr G would say, making positive progress. Despite being suspended, we wanted to try and maintain some element of normality, continue to look at the positives and turn lemons into lemonade.
Of course, we are all extremely disappointed not to be able to meet or race this academic year - so instead, we are doing the next best thing.....Virtual Car Team on Zoom! Shifting our focus to finalising the designs for the new car....whilst (hopefully!) becoming experts on Solid Edge and OpenFoam in the process!!
Here's how we've been getting on:
VIRTUAL CAR TEAM WEEK 1:
We certainly, absolutely, did not spent the whole TWO AND A HALF hours talking, playing Charades, Pictionary and Hang-man rather than actually working on the car designs?! Of course not. No way, we definitely wouldn't do that!!!!!!!
(P.S If we are counting things like Pictionary and charades as team building, then maybe we did play a couple games...after all, team building is just as important - right?!)
(P.P.S As much as she says she is, Becksy is NOT the next Picasso!!!!!)
FRIDAY 27TH MARCH - Wear a Hat Day for Brain Tumour Research*
Next date on our 'lock down' calender was the Wear a Hat day to raise awareness for Brain Tumour Research. Originally, we had hoped to have a huge team selfie to show our support for Mr G. But with everything going on we had to settle for a collage of individual selfies instead!
....Getting our practice in for the #GPSELFIE competition that's for sure...especially from our very own Greenpower Beanie Squad!
VIRTUAL CAR TEAM WEEK 2:
Following last weeks competitive team building session, this week, once we'd had our obligatory catch up, we got down to business and cracked on with Solid Edge - discussing the pros and cons of our most recent design. Lucy even treated us to a quick drawing to explain one of her ideas (with quick being the optimum word!). Whilst the idea was great...lets just say she too joins Becksy in team ''not quite the next Picasso!!'' :P)
Introducing our latest design and newest recruit.....NODDY!!!!!
VIRTUAL CAR TEAM WEEK 3:
Whilst Noddy was getting himself up to speed with the Greenpower competition, Rachel was an absolute superstar and spent her week simulating our latest design on OpenFoam ready for discussion in Week 3's Zoom meeting.
Unfortunately, following the simulation results - Noddy and his car didn't quite pass our rigorous testing!!!!!!! Therefore it's back to Solid Edge to have another play and tweak!!.
VIRTUAL CAR TEAM WEEK 4:
Having spent the week modifying our designs - the objective for Week 4 was to discuss the latest changes and canvas the teams thoughts.
As you can see, the design is only slightly different!!!!
This week, we also had a number of CAUC pets come to join the discussion! Lucy's cat certainly kept us entertained as she persistently attempted to walk / sit on Lucy's computer - successfully putting it into flight mode in the process!!!
Shout out to Richard and Rachel - who stayed on the meeting long after we would have been 'kicked out' of the tech suite - as they worked together to fix Rachel's issues with OpenFoam. Thankfully they managed to sort the issue....so I'll give you one guess to what will be discussed next week!!!!
This brings us nicely to the end of our post...you have now been fully caught up on CAUC's antics during lockdown!! :D
We hope everyone is well, keeping safe and not going too stir crazy at this time. Huge kudos to Greenpower and everyone else for manufacturing PPE and thanks to all the key workers amongst us for keeping the country running.
We certainly can't wait to get back out on track, catch up and see what you've all been getting up to. But until then take care and we'll catch up with you soon.....no doubt in another blog post documenting our progress on Zoom! :P