Recently in News Category

Today the North American Solar Challenge released an initial version of the regulations for the upcoming 2010.

http://americansolarchallenge.org/event/nasc2010/tech/NASC2010Regs20090505.pdf

As these are an initial revision, questions and comments are encouraged by NASC.

On Friday Cody Massar and Daniel Welty, along with two members from the Solar House Team, Luke Sudkamp and Cory Brennan, and Dr. Hirtz, the Interim Director of the Center, presented during the lunch for the University's Engineering Advisory Board.  We discussed how both teams work to improve systems related to renewable energy problems. Covering production, storage, use, and optimization, the presentation went very well. Some of the members attending included high ranking officers of both the University and well know corporations.

Dr. Paul Hirtz was recently named the Interim Director for Student Design and Experiential Learning Center.  He was the Assistant Director under Dr. Stone until Stone retired earlier this summer.

Hirtz is an alumni of the team, serving as Team President from 1997-1999, and working on both Solar Miner 1 and 2.  He currently works as an official for the North American Solar Challenge, helping most recently with the 2008 race.

The press release can be found at:

At a webinar Thursday evening for solar car teams, it was announced that if 10 teams commit the $4,000 entry fee by January 1, 2009 there will be a track race this summer.  While the exact dates were not given, they are looking at having it at the Cresson Motorsports Ranch in Texas, the same location as we had scruitineering and qualifying for the 2008 NASC.  While we have not committed at this time, we are planning for it.  It will be the second running of Solar Miner VI, but with some improvements since the last time.  As always, your support is what makes it possible for us to go out and compete in these events.

Solar Miner VI ran flag-to-flag this afternoon in its final test before Sunday's big race, but not without a lot of suspense. Last night through this morning the Miners were plagued with circuit board problems that defied explanation, but just before lunch the crew found the crossed circuits and headed to the track. More.

Many people have been asking about t-shirts for Solar Miner 6 in the upcoming race. I must appologize that we don't have them ready at this time as we have in years past. Don't fear though, we are working on getting them ready for you, but the car has been our first priority.

UPDATE: The video is now available.

Unveiling was a success, with well over 50 people in attendance, and 14 team alumni. You can watch the event here

UPDATE: Solar Miner 6 has been unveiled. To watch the event, please visit http://solarcar.mst.edu/videos/unveiling08/

Solar Miner 6 will be unveiled this Saturday, March 15th, at 3:00pm. For those of you who will be in town, you can come see the event in person at Leach Theater in Castleman Hall on campus. With the forecast weather it will be a good chance to warm up and dry out.

For those of you at home we are attempting this year, for the first time, to broadcast the event on the web. To watch, please visit http://solarcar.mst.edu/videos/streaming/index.html for instructions on how to watch. Please remember that this at 3pm Central time, for those of you in other parts of the country.

If you cannot watch then, we plan to post the video online later for those who are interested. More information on that after the show.

With the recently made canopy, the outside shape of the car is almost complete. Before we could begin manufacturing the canopy, we completed the body and chassis, then modeled those in the computer, and designed a canopy around what we built. The windshield, made out of Duraplex, is then put into the canopy.

The lathe and mill are working long hours to machine the parts necessary for the suspension. Chris Pieper begun painting the car with a primer coat, and the first coat of white paint should begin soon.