9th February 2021
Virtual Car Team Week 37: Bringing NASA to Sandbach...
Next week, during Half Term, a large number of our team were meant to be heading across the pond to spend the week in Texas at the NASA Space STEM Education Programme. Unfortunately, given the current global situation, this trip had to be cancelled.
So with CAUC unable to get to NASA, we thought we would do the next best thing - bring NASA to us....with a space inspired design challenge!!
Challenge Brief:
Greenpower are hosting their first ever race on the Moon. Our task is to design a buggy that is able to transport 2 x Team Members and the necessary equipment from our 'paddock', across the moon to the race starting line.
Before beginning the challenge, we watched a short YouTube video on the NASA lunar buggy to get a little bit of inspiration and a greater understanding of the Moon's terrain.
Afterwards, we split up into our two teams. This week, the adults decided to get involved in the fun. So instead of 'Team Dylan' vs 'Team Basil' we had Adults vs Students.
The only rule - at least three members of each team had to draw something on the design.
40 minutes on the clock, it was time to get creative....
When the time was up, we all headed back into the main room to share our designs and choose a winner.
Initially, neither team were that forth coming in presenting first. So, in order to decide, we used the very sophisticated decision making method of 'Rock, Paper, Scissors'!!!!
Unfortunately for the adults, Katy's choice of paper beat Em's rock therefore it was over to the adults to present first.
As you can see from the diagram, their buggy looks very similar to a flatbed van, made completely from Carbon Fibre. The key features of note are as follows:
-Self Levelling suspension wheels
-Storage box on the back to house the Silverline tool kit, telemetry equipment and the very essential snack box!
-Spare oxygen tank and clothes rail to hang up overalls and helmet
-Solar Panels to give the batteries a final charge when heading to the start line
-Cabin contains the Kettle (...another essential piece of equipment!) and a digital board that can display pit board instructions.
Not that impressed with the adults attempt, it was over to the students to share their design...The Bubble Buggy!!
This buggy is made from 'Transparent Wood' - a new material that is light, environmentally friendly and doesn't rot!
Key features for this design are:
-No wheels - the buggy is a bubble so it can float over the moon. The bubble does however have feet which house the batteries. This is to add weight to the bubble at the bottom and ensures that it doesn't spin or end up floating away.
-The bubble is able to transport three people with space behind to store all the necessary race day equipment
-A CAUC flag and digital pit board are attached to the side of the buggy
-Cockpit contains a snack cannon; a hands free device that is voice activated and fires snacks into your mouth when driving a long. (.....Genius idea if you ask us!!!!)
Having presented both teams ideas, the only thing left to do was choose a winner. With no judging panel this week, we set up a poll for members to select their favourite design.
Results in....the winner is....
*DRUM ROLL PLEASE*
The Students!!!
Are we surprised? Absolutely not. If you are going to design a voice controlled snack cannon, you will always get our vote!!!!!
To finish the evening, we had a go at a quick space inspired quiz...putting to the test our general knowledge of the Solar System.
That brings us to the end of another evening on Zoom. It may not have quite been the trip to Texas we were excited for, but certainly fun nonetheless. Anybody else interested in a Greenpower race on the moon?!?!
We've got a break next week as it is half term (...and pancake day!!) so we'll see you in a few weeks time!!